Looks Bright: Senior leaving positive legacy
Published 2:01 pm Saturday, March 21, 2015
- Randy Harvey, a senior at Destrehan High School, is recognized this season for excelling as a student athlete before a football game.
DESTREHAN — Randy Harvey, a senior at Destrehan High School, exemplifies the school characteristics of high expectations, responsibility, trustworthiness, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship.
Harvey is a role model to his peers and epitomizes DHS’ 2014-2015 theme, “excellence is not a skill; excellence is an attitude.”
Working hard to achieve his goals, Harvey exhibits a positive attitude in all aspects of student life. His dedication to his family, school and community is supported by his extensive list of accomplishments, leadership roles and school involvement.
Most recently he was awarded the 2014 Louisiana State Wendy’s High School Heisman Male Winner with a scholarship offer of $1,000. Harvey’s awards also include: 2015 All State Academic Composite Team – Soccer, 2014 All State Academic Composite Team – Football, 2014 Great American Rivalry Series Scholar Athlete of the Year awarding $500, WGNO “Scholar of the Week,” 2014 WWL A+ Athlete Award Winner awarding $400, 2014 Times-Picayune Fan Awards “Best Placekicker” Award, DHS Honors Student of the Month – three times, Outstanding AP student – five times, 2013-2014 First Team All-District – Soccer, DHS “Principal’s Scholar” four years, DHS Honor Roll four years, 2014 LYASC Leadership Award Nominee and 2012 DHS Science Fair Winner – first place District and second place State.
He is also enrolled in the Advanced Studies Program and a member of Mu Alpha Theta.
Harvey continues to serve in many leadership positions at Destrehan High School. Having a standard of excellence in place, Harvey feels it is important to sustain this expectation, influencing those around him to do the same.
“DHS has blessed me with a large platform, and I want to use that to positively impact the incoming students to achieve excellence and give back to the school that has given so much to me,” he said.
Some specific leadership roles Harvey has held include: president of the National Honor Society 2014-2015, president of “Next Generation” Christian Outreach Programs 2014-2015, youth leader in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, DHS Student Council senator, “Kick-Off” mentor and member of the first ever Student Advisory Council for St. Charles Parish Public Schools.
Although team captains are normally not elected for DHS athletic programs, Harvey takes pride in filling leadership roles in each sport he has been involved in: baseball, football, soccer and track. He provides leadership to his teammates vocally, as well as by example.
Harvey has also participated in Talented Art over his past four years at DHS.
“This is mostly because Mr. Robert Fisher has to be one of the most incredible individuals I have ever met and is easily my favorite teacher of all time,” Harvey said. “He allows us to be our true selves in our class and express that through our art.
“Mr. Fisher is one individual that will go above and beyond for almost anyone, especially those who he has built bonds with. I will forever remember my adventures in Talented Art at DHS because of him.”
This past summer Harvey traveled to Piedras Negras, Mexico, on a Christian missionary trip to help at an orphanage. He also is a member of Desire Youth Ministries, which provides necessary services to needy schools in the New Orleans area.
Harvey is also involved in Next Generation Christian Outreach Programs, 2014 Walk-On Leukemia Foundation, City Park Trash Bash, Destrehan Plantation Fall Festival, Little Things Make a Big Difference Program and Habitat for Humanity.
One of his favorite memories from DHS was the Junior Ring Ceremony, where Harvey’s class was united and recognized as the Senior Class of 2015. This event signified the beginning of an amazing journey as school leaders.
Harvey is the son of Ray Elwyn Harvey and Dora Zaragoza Harvey. After graduation, he plans to attend Tulane University, majoring in architecture.
Harvey wants to become an architect and specialize in the designing of athletic facilities and stadiums. He has been offered a $125,000 scholarship from Tulane.
He feels Destrehan High School has prepared him by providing rigorous college-level courses. He credits his preparation to tremendous teachers making a personal effort to instill the necessary information to succeed.
“I would be nowhere without God’s love and care, and I thank him for allowing me to prosper in such a tremendous environment,” Harvey said. “He has blessed me with a strong work ethic, as well as two wonderful parents who have been my everything over the past four years. I couldn’t do it without them, and I am so thankful to have them in my life.”
— By Olivia Messina
Editor’s note: The following is the fourth of a 10-week series, “Senior to Senior,” where a River Parishes high school 12th grader profiles one of his or her peers.