Senior Zaili Gantt, the Clarke Central High School recipient of the Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award, stands outside of the James M. Crawford Memorial Arena on May 3. The award was made in 2009 in remembrance of Carson, a CCHS 2004 honor graduate who died in 2008, and is given to a student from fifth, eighth and 12th grade from every school in the Clarke County School District by the Foundation for Excellence. “It was really rewarding to know that my efforts and the way I carry myself and interact with my peers is noticed by the faculty and my teachers and coaches,” Gantt said. “I got the award in eighth grade as well. I (would) definitely say I’ve changed as a person but I haven’t changed my morals, values and the way I treat other people which is big for me.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
Senior Zaili Gantt is the 2022 recipient of the Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award because of her personality and interactions with peers.
The Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award was presented to senior Zaili Gantt during Clarke Central High School’s Honors Night on April 28.
The award was made in remembrance of Carson, a CCHS 2004 honor graduate, and has been given to students since 2009 following her death in 2008. It is presented to one student in fifth, eighth and 12th grade from every school in the Clarke County School District by the Foundation for Excellence.
For Buddy Sims, a longtime CCHS teacher who retired in 2012, Carson was an impactful student within the CCHS community and the award serves to commend those who manifest her traits.
“The award honors the ideals that Eve shared with us,” Sims said. “In a world where people value and respect each other less and less, Eve left us an example of how people should treat each other respectfully and with kindness and understanding.”
Special Education department teacher Stacey Scott, CCHS Class of 2003 alumna, was a peer of Carson and also remembers her personality and character.
“(Carson) found a way to connect with people,” Scott said. “That was really her personality; she enjoyed people and she sought out others that weren’t necessarily like her.”
Similarly to Carson’s personality, one reason Gantt believes she received the award is her demeanor and ability to connect with her peers, and she is glad to have been recognized for these traits.
“How I carry myself around my peers (was significant to receiving the award). I try to be a friend to everyone, not just people in my grade but of all different classes,” Gantt said. “But I think the biggest thing (is) how approachable or personable I am (and) being a friend to everyone.”
“I absolutely think (Gantt) is deserving (of the award) because she is such a bright light and will do good things. She has been an incredible addition to Clarke Central and makes the world a better place. Zaili is so kind and generous, she is honorable because of the way that she treats people.”
— Lily Meyers,
Senior
Senior Lily Meyers has been a peer and teammate of Gantt and has experienced her personality and the way she carries herself firsthand.
“I absolutely think she is deserving because she is such a bright light and will do good things. She has been an incredible addition to Clarke Central and makes the world a better place,” Meyers said. “Zaili is so kind and generous, she is honorable because of the way that she treats people. She is smart, athletic and nice.”
Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel David McMickle has taught Gantt throughout her four years in JROTC and thinks highly of her.
“I think she has integrity. She’s a moral person,” McMickle said. “She’s very intelligent (and) perceptive. I think she’s a leader. Her mind is always racing, trying to think about what needs to get accomplished.”
Gantt plans to continue to take part in multiple opportunities for community building while attending Georgia State University. To do this, she has looked for clubs that have the same ideals she holds currently.
“I’ve definitely been looking into a lot of clubs at Georgia State that have the same values of the things that I enjoy now. One of them particularly being the Red Cross Club, and (other clubs) that do a lot of outreach with people, helping build leadership and things like (that),” Gantt said. “I feel like both of those clubs will help me continue the (good) behavior and my positive spirit of giving throughout college and hopefully the rest of my life.”
