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Palmetto High School student Stacey Clarke is the
second member of her family to be selected as a Silver Knight nominee.
Two years ago, her brother Scott, also a Palmetto student, was
nominated.
Stacey Clarke
Clarke said that her mother is her inspiration.
"I admire the way she handles tough situations,
and I am especially proud of the way she truly lives a Christian life
in everything she does," Clarke said. "She doesn't just use
empty words, she really practices what she believes every day."
Clarke seems to be following in her mom's footsteps.
An active member of the youth group at her church, First Baptist
Church of Perrine, Clarke plans and edits the youth group's monthly
newsletter, choreographs dances and performs in the church's Christmas
and Easter pageants.
She also attends her youth group's monthly visits to
the Miami Rescue Mission, where they visit the Women's and Children's
Shelter, participate in holiday activities or just chat.
"Often we help out with special activities, but
most of the time we just visit with the mothers and children there and
try to provide a little warmth and hope to people who have a lot of
sadness and difficulty in their lives," Clarke explained.
Clarke started her monthly visits to the shelter five
years ago on her birthday.
"It was right before Christmas, and our youth
group decided to go to the mission and help them celebrate the
holidays," she said. "It was the first time, and we weren't
planning to do it again, but we enjoyed it so much that we've been
going back every month since then."
Clarke also is an honors student and is involved in a
variety of school activities and clubs. Her favorite subject is
English.
"I like writing and I'm a very analytical person.
I love to interpret things, and that's what English literature is all
about," she said. "Of course, I love to read. To Kill a
Mockingbird is my favorite. It brings out the best and worst of human
nature, but the best always wins. That's important to me."
Clarke hasn't decided on which college to attend,
although she has applied to several. She hopes to use her love of
literature to help her in a career in advertising and marketing.
"Last summer I got a job in a company that
marketed music on the Internet, and I got to work with their marketing
department a little," she said. "I really liked it, and I
think a career in advertising would allow me to use my
creativity."
She also really likes commercials. Her favorites
include the Geico commercial with the gecko and the Meow Mix ad where
the cat calls his owner.
Clarke said she is honored and excited to be nominated
as a Silver Knight.
"I think the whole point of the Silver Knight
awards is so that when people look at the things we kids are doing
that it will encourage others to get out there
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