One Monticello Life: Erica Hood
Published by Joe Burgess May 25th, 2008 in Feature: OML.This week’s One Monticello Life person is the youngest that has been featured, since I took over the site last year. But as a Drew Central High School Senior, she has made a big difference in small school, a long way from Monticello.
Erica Hood is the daughter of Steve and Amanda Hood. She graduated from Drew Central High School last Tuesday night.
At Drew Central, she was enrolled in the Honors Dept., which is also referred to as the “college prep” level of study. She was also able to complete some college courses, as well.
Her plans are to attend UAM for two years, and then transfer to UCA, to complete her degree in speech and language pathology.
Erica has been a member of the FBLA, library club, choir, statistician for the Drew Central baseball team for three years, and was elected as the senior class vice president. She not only served as the “yearbook business manager”, but was selected as the “Arkansas yearbook business manager of the year.”
Erica was also chosen to be Drew Central’s Homecoming Queen and Prom Queen.
She has been selected to be a part of the National American Miss Program, which only includes 30 young ladies, out of 1,000 that were interviewed. This will be held in Rogers, AR, on July 5-7.
Erica’s senior project was brought to MonticelloLive’s attention by her principal, Frank Ferguson.
Erica (4th from right), and her mentor, Michelle Carter (3rd from right), are shown here with her “students” and some of the supplies that were donated to Lizana Elementary School.
“All Drew Central seniors perform a senior project, and although most are not thrilled about it in the beginning, they all seem to be pleased with the feeling of accomplishment, that they soon achieve,” said Mr. Ferguson.
What began as an activity to merely check off a graduation requirement in her English class, has led to a life-changing event. As Erica was looking for an idea to complete her Senior Project, she “adopted” a school that had been affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Mississippi Superintendent of Education referred her to a school in Harrison County, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
“When I was trying to decide on a topic for my project, I knew I wanted to do something that would actually help others. The most recent disaster I knew about was Katrina. I also knew I wanted to work with kids,” Erica added. “When I first started working on the project, my actual destination was going to be New Orleans. I wrote my senior research paper on the psychological and emotional effects of tragedy on children. I based my research on experiences children in the New Orleans area had during the hurricane. But when the Mississippi director told me to get in touch with Harrison County School District, in the very southeast corner of Mississippi where the eye of the storm came through. I immediately knew they would benefit from my project.”
Click here to read the entire article about her senior project for the school.
Her principal, Frank Ferguson will include a video about her efforts to be shown as the opening of the National Senior Project Instute, which will be held in New Orleans, this year.
Mr. Ferguson commented, “The more we can help kids develope skills for the real world, the better off we all become.”
Erica and her family are members of Calvary Baptist Church, where she is involved in the youth group, and will be teaching Vacation Bible School.
Erica has a German shepherd, named Harley, and a shitzu, named Bandit.
Her favorites include:
Restaurant—Ameca
TV Show—The Hills and C.S.I.
Movie—The Notebook
Actor—Matthew McConaughey
Music—Country
Book—The Bible
Sports teams—Pirates and Razorbacks
Congratulations go out to Erica for the honors that she has received, but she also deserves to be recognized for thinking about helping others, and not just bettering herself, as she selected her senior project.
Thanks, Erica Hood, for sharing your One Monticello Life.
Possibly Related:
I just read this lovely article about my darling granddaughter, Erica. I must say it was very through and covered many things Erica has accomplished. She has been a very special person almost from the day she was born. Her faith in God has given her the strength and perseverence to try everything she ever wanted to do– such as play basketball when she was the tiniest girl on the team–baseball, the same thing– entering and winning many beauty contests when again she was smaller than other girls she was competeing against. She has matured into such a beautiful, gracious young woman who has a heart as big as her beautiful smile. My son and daughter, (inlaw) have raised a most unusual girl who holds on to her faith in God above all things. She is truly the light of my life and I applaud all that she is and does. Thanks so much for this article about this very, precious and special child of God— Erica Hood.
Marylyn Hood