Lauren Story of Hot Springs

Lauren Story has attended Cutter Morning Star for her entire school career – and what a career it’s been! As one of three valedictorians in her class, the honors graduate maintained a 4.1 grade point average while outdoing herself in everything from cheerleading to sports to band.

“Band’s probably been one of my biggest achievements,” says the statuesque brunette. “I made all-region band five times.” Lauren plays the French horn (an instrument she says is not as heavy as it looks). This called for some fancy footwork as she did double duty during football games: “I’ll perform cheerleading first, then run over and get my instrument and march in the band.”

Chosen All-District in track and All-Conference in basketball, Lauren was also one of three All-Star Cheerleaders this year. With so many activities (including the volleyball team), she manages to juggle her commitments gracefully. “Extra-curricular activities

are my job!” she adds with smile. Her new focus is now on going to college -- she’s leaning toward Henderson State University and a major in Biology, as well as realizing that she’ll soon be missing little sister Shelby, also a Cutter Morning Star student. Lauren comes from a family of athletes -- her Mom was a CMS basketball player and Dad played football and basketball before graduating from Hot Springs High. “I get my height from my Dad,” Lauren says, explaining that her mother is five-foot-three. “She was a point guard and I play center,” she adds.

From first grade, when Lauren started playing softball at Hot Springs Boys and Girls Club, her talent for athletics grew along with her passion for sports. “I love to swim – I was on swim team at the Y for a while, but had too much going on,” she says, adding, “I wish we could have had a swim team at my school!… I didn’t want to live my life with any regrets, so I thought if I did everything, I wouldn’t regret anything.” This full-steam-ahead approach

carried her through days filled with four different practices (counting various teams and the band). Some days she would be at school from eight in the morning until eight in the evening.

Coach Bobby Hannon says, “I have had the pleasure to coach Lauren in track and be around her for a number of years. What a great person she is to represent Cutter Morning Star High School! Her two wonderful parents, Greg and Michelle, have raised a daughter who has a great attitude, dependability, and the ability to get along with others. If you’re talking about being an athlete and, most importantly, being an outstanding student, you’re talking about Lauren Story her picture should be in Webster’s Dictionary next to the words ‘student athlete.’ She’s a special person.”

Lauren shares the title of 2009 Basketball Homecoming Queen with best friend Bethany Jackson. “It was actually a tie,” she explains. “We went from 20 senior girls down to two on our basketball team, so were both Homecoming Queens together. It was fun -- we’ve been playing basketball together since fourth grade.”

When asked the secret to such a can-do attitude, Lauren mulls it over and replies: “Don’t freak out! There have been times when I just freaked out and let stress get to me. But I realized something: Have fun with it, and you can do anything you want.” It’s plain to see that Lauren Story is a prime example of the success of this wise and winning formula.