Demi Whisenhunt is a senior at Oak Ridge High School and has achieved a 4.0 GPA. 

She enjoys helping at homeless shelters as well as animal shelters, churches and other organizations in the community. What’s more, she was invited to attend the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists in Washington, D.C. last November and received an award from the academy at the conference. 

Upon her invitation to attend, Whisenhunt admits, “In all honesty, I thought it was a joke. [I couldn’t believe that] I was chosen to attend.” 

One of her favorite parts of the experience was watching a live surgery. Whisenhunt says, “Being in a room with fellow peers from across the nation that had the same passion as me was absolutely life-changing.” 

She has plans to further her education in medicine with an interest in emergency treatment and recognizes that other jobs offer flexible hours, less schooling and travel, but she believes the ability to save lives outweighs all of the benefits of different career paths. 

One piece of advice that has influenced her and that she believes is important for others to hear is to live each day like it’s your first—in other words, live every day in awe and wonder at what’s around you, as if it’s your first experience with everything. —Rachel Meeker

FAVORITES

Escape: The beach

Guilty pleasure: Vegan ice cream

Meal in town: Sunflower Natural Foods Restaurant 

Local landmark: Rainbow Bridge, Folsom Lake, Salmon Falls

Movie: Across the Universe 

Musician/band: S3RL, ODESZA

Saying: “I’m feelin’ peachy keen, jelly bean. I’m a happy camper.”

This month, in Style’s annual compilation of high-achieving high school seniors, we give you each school’s selections for local teens setting the pace—whether in academics, athletics, philanthropy, or all of the above. Read on and get inspired by the words and achievements of these 2015 super grads.