She may be a senior, but there is no letting up for Moriah Henry. Not with a chance to gain free college credits, earn scholarships and just maybe be standing at graduation as valedictorian.
“My mom always says ‘you did not work this hard to just stop now,’” the daughter of Billie Henry said.
Moriah is treasurer of the National Honor Society and has a 3.97 grade-point average, putting her at the top of her class with a few of her classmates. While the group supports and helps each other, Moriah admits she would love that top spot.
“It would be cool to someday tell my kids, ‘you have to work hard because I was valedictorian,’” she said.
In the meantime, it is her younger sister, Lydia, who hears it from Moriah.
“I think I get on her more than my mom does,” she said. “I encourage her to try her best because I think it is important. If we are getting a free education, why shouldn’t we take advantage of it?”
Keeping those high marks isn’t made any easier by a very heavy course load. She is taking advanced English, calculus and physics all through the College Credit Plus Program. She is earning college credits from the University of Findlay and will likely be a sophomore in college before she even steps foot on a collage campus next year.
Looking at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University and the University of Akron, Moriah plans to study engineering. She is still debating between electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering. She was involved in Lima Senior’s career tech engineering program last year.
A product of the district’s arts magnet program, Moriah is very involved with the music program at Lima Senior. She is in the Masterworks Choir, Scarlet and Gray Show Choir and Spartettes. She plays the clarinet in the symphonic Band.
“My mom likes music and has always encouraged us to do those types of things,” she said. “And then the magnet program really brought that out.”
Moriah, who hopes to sing in a choir at the college level, was a member of this year’s All Ohio State Fair Choir and plans to return next summer. She is considering then returning to the choir as a staff member.
Moriah is also a member of Lima Senior’s Key Club and Student Government. She previously played soccer and plans to play softball for the Spartans this year. She was on the school’s first bowling team last year and is excited to continue this year.
“I loved it,” she said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Moriah thanks her mom for helping her keep organized in order to fit all the extras into her schedule while keeping her grades up. She also works 20 hours a week at McDonald’s. She admits to not always getting a lot of sleep.
“It definitely gets busy. I just have to make time (for school work),” said Moriah, who is also very active in the youth group at First Baptist Church.
Being involved in music helps Moriah handle her busy schedule and helps to break up her school day. She also credits her teachers at Lima Senior.
“The teachers here are really supportive,” she said. “And they really push you.”