Seniors Anna Katherine Cates and Christina Kinder have been nominated to represent Darlington in the Rome Noon Optimist Club Student of the Year competition. Cates has been nominated in the All-Around Student category and Kinder in the Community Involvement category.
Cates is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and Spanish Honor Society. A Furman Scholar, she has received the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award; the Georgia Certificate of Merit; the Hanks Medal; two Class Scholarship Awards; and E.L. Wright Awards for English 1, English 3, AP Biology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and AP U.S. History.
In addition, Cates serves as president of the Y-Cabinet and Spanish Club; captain of her varsity cheerleading squad and soccer team; and an Admission Tiger Expert. She has participated in the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce High School Leadership Rome Program, the U.S. Naval Academy Summer STEM Program, and the Darlington Center for Integrity and Leadership. She is the daughter of Christi and Bruce Cates of Rome.
Kinder is an AP Scholar with Honor and a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Spanish Honor Society. She has received an E.L. Wright Award for Anatomy and Physiology. Kinder is involved in Junior State of America, Science Club, Spanish Club, and also serves as an Admission Tiger Expert and a captain for Darlington School Soccer Academy.
Outside of school, she has participated in the National Student Leadership Conference for Medicine & Healthcare as well as the National Student Leadership Conference for Psychology and Neuroscience. She also received the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award of Excellence at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Conference.
Kinder's passion for serving others led her to co-found Donate Health Inc., a service organization that collects and ships first-world medical supplies to clinics in Guatemala, along with Cates. The two were inspired to do so after participating in a Refuge International mission trip to the country. She has also enjoyed volunteering at the local YMCA in different capacities. Christina is the daughter of Amanda and Dr. Brian Kinder of Rome.
Finalists for each category will be selected in early March and winners will be recognized at the Student of the Year Banquet on March 21.
