At North Atlanta, sports play a huge role in student life, and most students are aware of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA). This organization sets the rules and regulations for high school athletics to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Many students assume that there are only adults making the decisions, but in reality, students get a say in what decisions are made through their Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). This year, one of North Atlanta’s very own, Senior Ava Carhart, was chosen to represent as an “at large” member, which means she’s not just representing North Atlanta’s region but the state of Georgia as a whole.
A two-sport varsity athlete and a die-hard Clemson fan, Carhart has always had a huge passion for sports. From scoring goals in lacrosse to constant wins on the golf team, and President of the Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), Carhart is not only a great athlete, but also a great leader, making her perfect for representing the state of Georgia. “I would say I am very accountable and a great listener,” she said. “This makes me good at solving problems and making sure that everyone’s voices are heard.”
With it being her second year on the council, looking back, Carhart first applied for the position of representing 6A in May of her sophomore year after Andre Regan, North Atlanta’s Athletic Director, suggested the idea to her. She had to go through three stages in order to be picked for the position. “ I applied through the website, and I had to go through three stages of interviews and write an essay,” she said. “I was one of 40 people who were picked.”
Great at giving back to her community, Carhart, along with other SAAC members, has organized events that have housed over 300 student-athletes all over the state of Georgia. SAAC has also been able to host speakers from all over to talk to athletes, and Carhart has been a part of organizing these events. “We as a team were in the past able to invite speakers who have spoken all over the country to speak to student athletes,” she said. “Hopefully, this year we will be able to accomplish that and more.”
Being a leader already is not easy, but being a great leader is even harder. Carhart has shown exemplary leadership not only on the lacrosse field and golf course but in SALT and, of course, in SAAC. Congrats, Ava, and represent Georgia athletes well!
