MASON — One young lady has taken command of her senior year at Wahama High School.

Katie Hendricks, 17, is an honor student who is highly involved in school activities, as well as in her community. Not only is she enjoying her last year and making lasting memories, but she has recently been recognized with quite an honor.

During the recent Tri-State Marching Band Festival, held at Marshall University, Hendricks became one of the only girls in the school’s history to win the overall field commander award. Along with the title and trophy, she received a golden whistle.

“It is really special to me to win this award,” Hendricks said. She added that this is probably her favorite memory of her senior year so far.

Hendricks has been around music her whole life. She comes from a family who is just as involved as she is. Her parents, Chip and Crystal Hendricks, are instructors at WHS. Her mother is also the choir director, while her father directs the band. Her grandfather, Gary Stewart, who formerly directed the band at Point Pleasant High School, now directs the concert band at the University of Rio Grande. Melissa VanMeter, Hendricks’ aunt, is the assistant principle at WHS and is a former music director at River Valley High School. Needless to say, music is more than just a big part of her life.

While being involved in band for six years, Hendricks has played the flute for one year and the piccolo for two years. She also participated in the color guard for a year before being the field commander for the past two years.

“I like being field commander because it’s unique,” Hendricks said. “I like being under pressure and I know that if I win, it’s because I did it on my own.”

Hendricks said a lot of work goes into being a good field commander. Not only do you have to tryout, know the commands for the band, and practice, but you have to be judged by a panel. She added that Rachel Reynolds has really helped her during the past three years.

This young lady knows a thing or two about doing a good job with her task. This season, she has won first place at numerous competitions including ones at Spring Valley High School and James Monroe High School. She also beat out 38 other bands at the Tri-State competition to win the overall award.

In other activities, Hendricks enjoys choir. She began singing in church, then really became involved when she started school. From elementary school up until now, Hendricks has been in plays, and was named All-State Choir in both junior high and high school.

At WHS, Hendricks serves as the Senior Class President, Student Council President, National Honor Society Secretary and also has been involved as Varsity Cheerleader, Dance Team member, Hi-Y member, and seventh grade Homecoming attendant. On top of all of that, she is a two year member of the Hugh O’Brien Foundation.

According to Hendricks, being involved in so much is a lot of hard work.

“As class president, it is sometimes hard to please everyone, especially when it comes to agreeing on some things,” Hendricks said. “And as Student Council President, the hardest part would be organizing Homecoming.”

The 17-year old said she doesn’t have much time for hobbies, especially during football season, but she is looking forward to the dinner theater that the band puts on for the community as a fundraiser and of course the trip the band will be taking to Disney World.

“I try to take advantage of what time I have,” Hendricks said.

When she does find the time, you may find Hendricks in her community serving as a wrestling statistician. She also enjoys volunteering in Charleston with the Hugh O’Brien Foundation. Hendricks attends Faith Baptist Church. She is in the youth group there in addition to the youth group at Lifespring Community Church.

While her senior year is nearly half over, Hendricks said that prom and dinner theater will be really sad this year. But she is looking forward to graduating and taking the next step towards her future.

“Wahama has been great,” Hendricks said. “We are a smaller school and everyone knows everyone, but I enjoy it because everyone is nice to each other.”

The University of Charleston has Hendricks eye as far as colleges go, especially their Pharmacy program. She commented that she doesn’t want to go to far from home because she plans to return to the area eventually.

Does she plan to be as active in college as she has been in high school? Hendricks said it all depends on her schedule, but she would like to continue to be involved in choir.

Seniors for Senior Spotlight are chosen from all three area high schools and are nominated by the principles, counselors and faculty.