She has always been a leader, a quality that she first explored through her work with the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) program. Initially encouraged by a friend to join, Shannon quickly found her passion for the organization.

“I used to be a little shyer when I was younger, so he was like, ‘It’ll help get you out of your shell,’” she said. “I stayed with it because I enjoyed the message so much.”

Her dedication to spreading awareness about the dangers of vaping and substance abuse has led her to take on a significant role in organizing impactful events, including a mock car crash.“

This was something I thought would really get the message out there, like we shouldn’t be doing this and the major consequences of it,” Shannon said.

In 2023, she worked alongside her fellow officers and advisor to bring the mock car crash to life. While fundraising issues have pushed the event to every other year, Shannon remains committed to the cause.

Athletics also plays a pivotal role in Shannon’s life. Having been involved in sports for years, she credits softball as the most influential in her life.“

Softball has been the sport I’ve played the longest,” she said. “It’s helped me get out of my shell. It’s become a safe space for me.

”Throughout her 12 years in the sport, Shannon has traveled across the East Coast, playing in competitive travel tournaments from Boston to Florida. Her dedication and hard work earned her a spot as first-team all-state catcher last year.

“It’s given me a chance to travel and see these amazing places in our country that you wouldn’t even think of as tourist destinations,” she said.

Beyond athletics, Shannon is preparing for a career in health sciences. She was recently accepted into the athletic training program at Commonwealth University Lock Haven campus. There, she also plans to continue playing softball for the university.

Her high school career has been a perfect blend of sports and academics, with Shannon finding a passion for science classes like anatomy, AP biology and physics.

“I’m a science person,” she said. “I really enjoy it. Pretty much any science class you give me, I really enjoy it.

”Shannon’s love for athletic training has also been strengthened by hands-on experience. She shadowed the school’s athletic trainer for three years, learning the ins and outs of sports medicine and applying that knowledge at football and basketball games.

“It’s just helped me learn how to manage my time really well,” she said. “It helped me realize I care as much about my academics as I do the athletic part of it.

”Looking ahead to her future, Shannon not only aims to work as an athletic trainer, but has a long-term goal of doing so as part of a professional sports team, such as the NFL.“I want to help people in sports get back to what they love,” she said. “I think it’s a good mix of something I’ve loved for years and something I’ve been interested in for a long time.



”For Shannon, balancing extracurriculars, athletics and academics has been a challenge, but one that has taught her valuable life skills. When asked what advice she would give to incoming freshmen, she stressed the importance of time management and dedication.

“Time management is honestly like one of the most important things in high school,” she said. “It really helps if you set a schedule for yourself and follow it every night.”