Clarke Central High School senior Katherine Queen sits in the Eve Carson Memorial Garden on May 1. Queen received the Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award for the 2023-24 school year, which she perceived as an immense honor. “I (want to use) my college degree to help people as a neuroscience major, being able to make progress (in) the field of either medicine or surgery,” Queen said. “Anything like that can help people and I think that’ll carry on her legacy.” Photo by Aza Khan
The Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Awards recognizes students who embody the spirit of its namesake each year.
To honor the legacy of 2004 CCHS graduate Eve Carson, the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education established the Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award in 2009. Each of the 21 schools within the Clarke County School District selects a 5th, 8th, and 12th grader who embodies the spirit of inclusiveness, open-mindedness and acceptance of the award’s namesake.
Carson, a Clarke Central High School Class of 2004 alumna and student body president at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was a special person according to Sophia Campbell, a CCHS science department teacher who graduated with Carson.
“Eve was an amazing human. She never met a stranger and built relationships with everyone she met. She was (a) stellar athlete and student (and) she lit up any room she entered. Definitely, no one you could ever forget,” Campbell said. “This award allows us (to) remember Eve’s legacy, and recognize individuals who show those same traits. Her light shines on.”
World Languages department chair Emily Hulse worked with Carson on the swimming and diving team while Carson was a student and remembered her fondly.
“Eve had a special way about her that made everyone she came into contact with feel important and valued. She had a genuine demeanor and was able to find common ground with everyone she met, despite any differences they may have had,” Hulse said. “She truly cared about others and was passionate about making the world a better place. I knew her best through coaching her on our swim team. She exuded positivity at every practice and meet, and had wonderful relationships with her teammates.”
School Counselor Heidi Nibbelink says the award is a tangible way to recognize excellence in the student body.
“This award is an annual reminder that there are amazing young people among us who embody Eve’s enthusiasm for lifting everyone up,” Nibblelink said. “Eve’s life is a lasting part of CCHS’ legacy. Her words are painted on the wall in the Media Center: ‘Learn from every single being, experience, and moment. What joy it is to search for lessons and goodness and enthusiasm in others.’”
Clarke Central High School varsity soccer player Katherine Queen, a senior, stands with her family at the CCHS Soccer senior night on March 14 in Billy Henderson Stadium. Queen reflected on the importance of Eve Carson’s memory and how it played a role in her soccer career at CCHS. “We talked about (Eve Carson), especially on the soccer team, she played for the Clarke Central girls soccer team, a long time ago,” Queen said. “Coach Chris Hulse, who (was) a coach (my) freshman and sophomore year, always talked to us about her and we have Eve Carson every year, as well.” Photo by Isabelle Duncan
CCHS English Co-Chair David Ragsdale leads a committee of CCHS personnel and manages the nomination process for the award. Ragsdale solicits nominations from the faculty and then compiles the academic information for each nominee to present to the committee for selection.
“I’m grateful to work with a dedicated group of professionals who are interested in not only remembering Eve’s legacy but in recognizing students on campus who have lived up to her example,” Ragsdale said.
The committee deliberated over nominated candidates for the 2023-24 Eve Carson Humanitarian Spirit Award and selected Katherine Queen. Queen is a varsity soccer player, a Public Relations officer for the CCHS Community Service Club and Minds Matter Club, and Vice President of the National Honor Society.
According to Karena LaRosa, retired CCHS social studies department teacher and CCHS Community Service Club sponsor, Queen is a servant leader.
“Katherine was always at meetings and volunteer opportunities as well as coming up with ideas for reaching out to the community,” LaRosa said. “I never had to ask her twice about anything or follow up on her completing her duties. I just sat back and offered suggestions and advice when necessary. This was the easiest club sponsorship I ever did.”
“Katherine was always at meetings and volunteer opportunities as well as coming up with ideas for reaching out to the community. I never had to ask her twice about anything or follow up on her completing her duties. I just sat back and offered suggestions and advice when necessary. This was the easiest club sponsorship I ever did.”
— Karena LaRosa,
Retired CCHS social studies department teacher and CCHS Community Service Club sponsor
Nibbelink has also worked with Queen and praised the senior.
“Nearly everything Katherine does involves an element of bringing people together. She is amazing about taking what she learns academically and immediately applying it to make the community a better place,” Nibbelink said. “Both formally through serving as a leader for multiple service clubs and informally through starting a game of pick-up soccer or four-square, she’s intentional about building community and connections with everyone around her.”
Queen was chosen as the award recipient from a class of 400 CCHS students and aspires to embody Carson’s characteristics in her future endeavors at the Georgia Institute of Technology as a neuroscience major next fall.
“I hope to continue her kindness (because) it was always emphasized to me how much of an impact she made on the people around her,” Queen said. “It’s nice to know that people have recognized some of my efforts throughout high school (and) to receive an award that (is) based on someone who was such a great person.”
