She Is ‘A Fierce Friend’ & Volunteers: Wallingford Star Student

WALLINGFORD, CT — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Rosina, who nominated Donna of Wallingford.

How do you know the star local student?

Parent

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

Donna is not only an excellent student with practically a 100 average and very high scores on standardized tests, she is a good person with a good sense of humor. She fought to be on K-Kids to help volunteer in 5th grade because she was tired of me saying no to the early starts years prior, and when she joined she immediately went for secretary (and got it) and put her all into every meeting and donation round, even happily volunteering to gather and count donations during recess time for several days in order to help out. She was eager to turn 10 so she could volunteer to help teach kids at her dance studio, and jumped on it the first year with two classes, and this year one. Donna volunteered to be a tutor from second to fifth grades and would come home and happily talk about her kids' progress, or ask or research ways to help certain kids.

She is a fierce friend, defending people against mean comments or bullying if she sees it around her. Donna is a voracious reader who loves Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series, but is always on the hunt for new series and books to expand her experience and fall in love with something else; she has had a book in her hand since she was one and we could fill a room with the books she has read.

She is an athlete, completing her first season of cross country in 2022 as top 7 of her team (the only sixth-grader) and has been dancing since she was three: tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop, last year starting to solo in competitions that earned her high gold, gold, and 5th place overall. Donna has been doing theater since she was six, as ensemble cast in Wallingford Community Theater productions and then West End Players as Glinda in 5th grade, Square Foot Theatre as Kassim in Aladdin Jr and now ensemble in the middle school production of Rock of Ages. She brings a great sense of humor and work ethic to everything she touches, and while she is a busy kid she leans into and thoroughly enjoys down time: playing with her sister, video game night, and PJ Sundays.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

Donna is a good person. More than just a good student, which she is, she is at the core a good person.

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Donna!

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know an outstanding student?

Nominate them here.