Cassandra Louise Horton Parents’ Names: Dave & Kim Horton Scholarship (s) Earned: Palmetto Fellows/$26,800, Clemson University Trustee Scholarship/ $4,000, Philip H. Prince Alumni Presidential Scholarship /$4,000, Shelvia Ogburn Scholarship/ $4,000 Awards Received: Hanahan Exchange Club Outstanding Student of the Month, Swim Team Captain’s Award, Renaissance Student of the Month, Hanahan High Honor Roll, Clemson Biology Merit Exam Division 3 Honorable Mention, 2nd Place Clemson Biology Bowl, Hanahan High School SAT Wall of Fame, Academic Letter, and High Honor Roll Offices Held: Captain of Girls’ Varsity Swim Team, President of Robotics Team, Co-Captain of Academic Team, Vice-President of National Honor Society, Vice- President of Science Club, Vice -President of Renaissance Club Extracurricular Programs/Activities: Varsity Swim Team, Academic Team Robotics Team, National Honor Society, Science Club, Renaissance Club College attending: Clemson University	Emily Catherine Sieger Parents’ Names: Edward & Helen Sieger Scholarship(s) Earned: Palmetto Fellows Scholarship/$26,800, Teaching Fellows/$24,000, Comcast Leaders & Achievers Scholarship/$4,000, Furman College Honors Scholarship/$60,000 Awards Received: Berkeley County Academic Award, Berkeley County Leadership Award, Governor Citizenship Award, Social Studies Department Award, MVP Energy Challenge Award, Honorable Mention at Clemson Biology Merit Exam, 3rd Place Clemson Biology Merit Exam Bowl, 2nd Place District FBLA Competition, 2nd Place Family Circle Writing Contest, Hanahan High School SAT Wall of Fame, Academic Letter, and High Honor Roll Offices Held: Editor of Yearbook, Editor of Newspaper, President of National Honor Society, President of Renaissance Club, Secretary of Future Educators of America, President of Science Club, Public Relations Officer of Science Club Extracurricular Programs/Activities: Palmetto Girls State, Manager at Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream, Sunday School Teacher at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church College Attending: Furman University	Payton Sinclair Wanstreet Parents’ Names: James & Patricia Wanstreet Scholarship(s) Earned: Palmetto Fellows Scholarship/$26,800, University of SC Scholars’ Scholarship/$40,000, Hanahan Exchange Club/$2,000, Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship/$6,000, Charleston Southern University/$44,000, Anderson College/$76,200, Georgia Tech Prestige Scholarship/$20,000, Hanahan Athletic Booster Club/$925 Awards Received: Hanahan High School Honor Roll, Hanahan High Hawk Award/ Baseball, Most Valuable Swimmer Award, Captain’s Award /Baseball, Captain’s Award/ Swimming, Hanahan High School SAT Wall of Fame, Academic Letter, and High Honor Roll Offices Held: Team Leader-Senior Engineering Design & Development Project, Captain/Baseball Team, Captain/Swimming Team Extracurricular Programs/Activities: National Honor Society, Academic Team, Quest, Engineering Club, Varsity Baseball Team, Varsity Swim Team College Attending: University of South Carolina
Kara Charnelle Edmond Parents’ Names: Dennis & Ethel Young Scholarship(s) Earned: Palmetto Fellows/$26,800, Coca Cola Scholars/$10,000, Edith & James Bostic Scholarship/$10,000, Xavier University Scholarship/ $58,000, Tulane University Founder’s Scholarship/$68,000, Anderson University/$76,200, Clemson University School of Materials Science and Engineering Scholarship/$4,000, Charleston Southern University/$108,000 Awards Received: Hanahan Exchange Club Outstanding Student of the Month, Renaissance Student of the Month, National Honor Roll Recognition, Spanish Medal of Honor, JROTC Medal of Honor, Spanish Departmental Award, Superior Junior Cadet Decoration Award, National Merit Commended Student, 1st Place Clemson University School of Materials Science and Engineering Summer Research Program, Hanahan High School SAT Wall of Fame, Academic Letter and High Honor Roll Offices Held: President of the Spanish Club, National Honor Society Community Liaison, Command Sergeant Major of JROTC Battalion Extracurricular Programs/Activities: Trident Medical Center Candy Striper, 4-year-olds Spanish Tutor, Student Renaissance League, National Honor Society, Spanish Club Member College attending: Xavier University of Louisiana Travis Nathan Jackson Parents’ Names: Carl & Lisa Jackson Scholarship(s) Earned: Palmetto Fellows/$26,800, Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship/ $6,000, I.P.T.A.Y. Academic/$10,000, Hanahan Athletic Booster Club/$975, Clemson University WT & RM Patrick Scholarship/$6,000 Awards Received: Hanahan High Hawk Award for Soccer, Best Defensive Player Award for Soccer, Hanahan High School High Honor Roll, SAT Wall of Fame, and Academic Letter Offices Held: National Honor Society Treasurer Extracurricular Programs/Activities: Varsity Soccer, Varsity Football, Academic Team, Varsity Tennis, East Cooper Baptist Church Leadership Team College attending: Clemson University	Kara Charnelle Edmond Parents’ Names: Dennis & Ethel Young Scholarship(s) Earned: Palmetto Fellows/$26,800, Coca Cola Scholars/$10,000, Edith & James Bostic Scholarship/$10,000, Xavier University Scholarship/ $58,000, Tulane University Founder’s Scholarship/$68,000, Anderson University/$76,200, Clemson University School of Materials Science and Engineering Scholarship/$4,000, Charleston Southern University/$108,000 Awards Received: Hanahan Exchange Club Outstanding Student of the Month, Renaissance Student of the Month, National Honor Roll Recognition, Spanish Medal of Honor, JROTC Medal of Honor, Spanish Departmental Award, Superior Junior Cadet Decoration Award, National Merit Commended Student, 1st Place Clemson University School of Materials Science and Engineering Summer Research Program, Hanahan High School SAT Wall of Fame, Academic Letter and High Honor Roll Offices Held: President of the Spanish Club, National Honor Society Community Liaison, Command Sergeant Major of JROTC Battalion Extracurricular Programs/Activities: Trident Medical Center Candy Striper, 4-year-olds Spanish Tutor, Student Renaissance League, National Honor Society, Spanish Club Member College attending: Xavier University of Louisiana Travis Nathan Jackson Parents’ Names: Carl & Lisa Jackson Scholarship(s) Earned: Palmetto Fellows/$26,800, Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship/ $6,000, I.P.T.A.Y. Academic/$10,000, Hanahan Athletic Booster Club/$975, Clemson University WT & RM Patrick Scholarship/$6,000 Awards Received: Hanahan High Hawk Award for Soccer, Best Defensive Player Award for Soccer, Hanahan High School High Honor Roll, SAT Wall of Fame, and Academic Letter Offices Held: National Honor Society Treasurer Extracurricular Programs/Activities: Varsity Soccer, Varsity Football, Academic Team, Varsity Tennis, East Cooper Baptist Church Leadership Team College attending: Clemson University

Cassie Horton is a "Who."

If there was a "Who’s Who" list of those expected to go on to accomplish great things, this honors student at Hanahan High School would most certainly be on it. The 18-year-old Daniel Island resident was recently named one of the "Top 5" graduating seniors at Hanahan, a distinction that does not come as much of a surprise to those who know her.

"Cassie is, well…tenacious," said James Harrelson, a Hanahan High engineering instructor and one of Cassie’s mentors. "She has a vision for her future, sets goals and accomplishes them. (She) is tough minded, yet has a good sense of humor. She always finds time to help others and sets a great example for others to follow."

"Cassie is definitely a shining star at Hanahan High School," said Rodney Thompson, Cassie’s principal. "She has bought into the theme of ‘High Expectations’ and has completed the most rigorous course work that Berkeley County Schools offer. Her delightful attitude and caring spirit will truly be missed at HHS."

Good grades have been a way of life for Cassie for as long as she can remember (her lowest was a "91 or 92" in biology last year). In addition to her high academic achievements, she has also received multiple awards, including the Hanahan Exchange Club "Outstanding Student of the Month" award, the Swim Team Captain’s Award, Hanahan High Honor Roll, Hanahan High School SAT Wall of Fame, Academic Letter, and a Clemson Biology Merit Exam Division 3 Honorable Mention.

What motivated her to become such a diligent and dedicated student? Surrounding herself with other smart people helped.

"My best friend is valedictorian," said Cassie, from the Etiwan Park home she has shared with her family for the last 10 years. "My best friend outside of school is also near the top of her class…but it was my mom more than anything."

"We always have a rule," added her mom, Kim. "Homework first!"

When it came to scoring high on tests, Cassie had a system that worked well for certain subjects.

"I took down handwritten notes and then I would go type them up the night before the test and it would help me remember them!" she said.

In addition to her school work, Cassie has also excelled in a number of extracurricular activities over the years. She’s been captain of the girls’ varsity swim team, president of the Robotics Team, co-captain of the Academic Team, vice president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Science Club, and vice president of the Renaissance Club. She admits, sometimes it was tough to get it all done…on time.

"Procrastination is a big problem that I have," she said, laughing. "I’m the queen of procrastination! As a result, I don’t get a lot of sleep."

Her formula for balancing it all is simple, she added.

"I think it’s just motivation. I’ve always been motivated to do as well as I can."

The dividends of that motivation are starting to pay off for Cassie. She earned a $26,800 Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, a $4,000 Clemson University Trustee Scholarship, a $4,000 Philip H. Prince Alumni Presidential Scholarship, and a $4,000 Shelvia Ogburn Scholarship. She has decided to attend Clemson University in the fall.

"When I got a letter from Clemson saying that I had $9,700 worth of scholarship money for my freshman year, I was bouncing off the walls for about three hours!" she said.

Her mother couldn’t be more proud.

"I always told (my children) to do their personal best in whatever they did," recalled Kim, who has another daughter currently attending college at Appalachian State University . "She just took it to heart."

Cassie plans to major in chemical and biomolecular engineering while at Clemson. She hopes to eventually earn a doctorate degree and work in medical research.

"I fully expect to read about Cassie being a leader in her chosen field, and developing some new technological advance," added Harrelson. "I am proud to call her an honor graduate of the Hanahan High Pre-Engineering Academy."

Cassie, and 162 other Hanahan High School seniors will graduate on June 4 at the North Charleston Coliseum.