Haley Hawkins, an 11-year-old fifth grader at Mt. Laurel Elementary, is Shelby County Reporter Student of the Week. Dr. Bill Naugher, principal at Mt. Laurel selected her for the honor.

&8220;Haley Hawkins is an exceptional student at Mt. Laurel Elementary School, and I am proud to recommend her as Student of the Week,&8221; Naugher said.

&8220;She is a fifth grade student with a straight A average. As a matter of fact, she has had straight As all through elementary school. She is also a member of our fifth grade choir.&8221;

Naugher continued, &8220;In addition to her academic excellence, Haley’s leadership qualities are unsurpassed. Recently, she was elected as our first Student Government president at Mt. Laurel. She is dependable, responsible and always thoughtful and kind to others. We are very fortunate to have her and her family at our school.&8221;

Haley is the daughter of Susan and Scottie Hawkins. She has one brother, Garrett, a 9-year-old third grader at Mt. Laurel.

She is the granddaughter of Icy Gordon.

Haley said her favorite subject in school is math, &8220;Because I just like numbers and I was always good at it.&8221; She said she also likes writing.

While Haley said she has always liked all her teachers and likes all of them now, when pressed to pick one, she said she liked Beth Ansley, who teaches fourth grade.

&8220;She was very creative and she just always had a different perspective on teaching subjects,&8221; Haley said.

Haley is an A Honor Roll Student who was named Best All Around (academically) last year. She was named Student of the Month twice and is a Gifted Resource Center student.

Haley said she really likes to sing, has appeared in plays and also likes to play softball.

She said this year she will play softball in the Chelsea City League and last year played first base at Heardmont on the Bruisin’ Babes.

Haley is also a basketball cheerleader for the Chelsea Youth Club.

She said her favorite superhero is her mother, &8220;Because it’s like she and I have this connection. And she is the person I’m closest to.&8221;

Haley said she wants to attend Auburn University during her first four years of college and then, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

She said she wants to become either a cardiologist (heart doctor) or a pediatrician.

She explained that her grandfather, Gene Gordon, was a medical doctor and that she likes working with children. She also said she has mitral valve prolapse, a heart condition which has made her very aware of the medical perils of the heart