Savannah Reid

Colbert County High School

Leighton, Alabama

Savannah Reid is a senior at Colbert County High School in Leighton, Alabama. She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the assistant editor of her school’s newspaper, and was a performer with the school’s choir and a soloist in the school musical. Savannah volunteered with the local food bank and is currently involved in many of the community ministries coordinated by her house of worship, Leighton Baptist Church. An excellent student, Savannah is described by teacher Sheila Holland as “the student that every teacher desires to have in his/her class.”

Savannah triumphed over much adversity to reach such a level of respect from her peers and teachers. In his nomination letter, business education teacher Matthew Osborn wrote, “Savannah’s perseverance through incredibly difficult circumstances is an improbable achievement in itself.”

Difficult domestic situations have been common in Savannah’s life from a very young age. From living in abandoned houses to being the primary caretaker of six other children in her home, Savannah had to grow up quickly. In addition to these struggles, Savannah experienced the horrific tragedy of witnessing her younger sister drown in 2007.

As the years passed, Savannah was aware that her home life was a toxic situation, so she made the decision to start fresh. Landing at the home of her aunt and uncle in Alabama, Savannah asked if she could live with them for her senior year in high school and they readily agreed. “I realized how much better a life I could obtain if I lived with my aunt and uncle,” Savannah wrote.

With a stable home life, Savannah has flourished at Colbert County High School. “Savannah is an exceptional student with a delightful temperament,” Mr. Osborn wrote, “She is always willing to go the extra miles and help in any way that she is able…Savannah is an encouragement to everyone she encounters.”

For triumph over tragedy—for perseverance in the face of overwhelming obstacles—for outstanding scholastic, community service and leadership achievements, Savannah Reid is justly recognized as one of the Young Heroes of Alabama for 2013.