Taylor Jackson (from left), Heidi Wiles, Kacy Jones and Jenna Prewitt get instructions for walking onto the football field that evening for Williamsburg Independent Schools' Homecoming celebration.
“Kacy is a great example of a student taking initiative, taking opportunities that have been set before her and really running with them," says Kayla Henderson, a school counselor. In addition to high school classes, Kacy will have completed her associate's degree online in April. Kayla describes Kacy as a student who pushes through adversity rather than letting it defeat her.
In addition to playing tennis and tutoring second graders, Kacy keeps an eye out for her 8th grade brother, Colin, driving them both to and from school and watching the NFL games on television together. They're big Cincinnati Bengals fans. They are the fourth generation on both sides of their family to call Williamsburg home, and she and her brother attend services each Sunday at Emlyn Baptist Church.
Kacy is nervous about leaving her hometown for the University of Louisville, where she hopes to study to pre-med and become an anesthesiologist. While sad about the prospect of her leaving Williamsburg, her parents and step-parents are all very proud.
Even though both her maternal grandfather and birth mother attended what is now called the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kacy wants to leave town for a while to explore the world.
“Williamsburg is a small town," Kacy says. "I feel like I need to venture out ... for a part of my life so that way I can see what's out there.”
Preparations for homecoming continue in teacher Maggie Jackson's office. Homecoming happens to fall during Spirit Week and students will be wearing Halloween costumes.
Kacy gives her friend Ethan Reed a gift basket ahead of his knee surgery in a few days. They have known each other since kindergarten and their mothers went to Williamsburg Independent Schools together.
At the end of band practice rehearsing for homecoming, Kacy waits to put her trombone away.
After escorting a kindergarten student around the school for trick or treating, Kacy walks back through the halls to continue helping to run the school's Halloween Bash.
Kacy and her best friend, Heidi Wiles, take a moment during cheerleading practice to watch the other cheerleaders work out and practice final moves for an upcoming competition.
Kacy learns the importance of teamwork and support through cheerleading.
Kacy and her mom, Melissa Sulfridge, and stepmom, Courtney Anderson, discuss her dress for Homecoming.
Kacy and her mom, Melissa, get her grandfather, Wayne Creekmore, ready to have her walk the field for Homecoming.
Waiting to walk the field for Homecoming, Kacy looks up into the stands to find her mom and grandmother.