Academic All-Star – Franklin High

Published January 25, 2017

The Academic All-Star award is given to students who exhibit a positive attitude and a commitment to excellence in the classroom. Each Academic All-Star is chosen by his or her principal and receives a framed certificate, free food from Chick-fil-A and Sonic Drive-In and a free gift courtesy of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More in Franklin.

She plays multiple instruments; she excels in various sports; and she loves rigorous coursework.

Turns out, there’s not much 16-year-old Gracie Cockerham can’t do, which is why administrators at Franklin High named her the school’s Academic All-Star for the 2016-17 school year.

“Gracie is the perfect choice for this award,” said Franklin High Assistant Principal Jason Eubanks. “She has excellent grades; she scored a 30 on her Practice ACT in October; and she’s a member of the girls’ soccer team. She’s an all-around great student.”

As a sophomore, Gracie says she loves going to school at Franklin High.

“I have a good friend group here, and it’s really hard not to fit in,” said Gracie. “There are so many diverse people. Also, I really like school in general, and I like to learn.”

Her favorite thing to learn is science, which makes sense because she wants to go into the field of health medicine when she gets older.

“I took two science classes this year because I love it so much,” said Gracie. “I’m taking chemistry and physics. I like it because it’s easy to use in real life. I’m big into fitness and sports, so when I go and do workouts I’m able to know what’s happening inside of me and why it’s healthy.”

Outside of school, Gracie likes to read. She is also on the school track team, the soccer team and she plays both piano and guitar. Being the oldest of six children, Gracie is hoping to earn a college scholarship so that she help cover the cost of higher education. She says it’s also important that she take advantage of the opportunities that have been given to her and set a good example for her brothers and sisters.

“It seems as though my mom didn’t really have as many opportunities as I do,” said Gracie. “This school district is way better than the one we came from so it just seems like the right thing to do. And I generally just enjoy learning. I like to know more stuff.”