Danielle Mims
Santa Rita High School, junior
Age: 17
Parents' names: Celeste and Buzz Mims.
Favorite class: Danielle likes her agricultural science class the best.
Activities in school: She's a member of Santa Rita's National Honor Society and participates in FFA, which formerly was known as the Future Farmers of America but today is referred to only as FFA to reflect the changing field of agriculture.
FFA encompasses more than 300 careers, and Danielle has learned to arrange flowers and judge cows, horses and goats.
"There's a lot of diversity," she said.
Activities outside of school: She spends her Saturdays feeding baby birds and cleaning cages at the Forever Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center on Tucson's east side.
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Danielle also finds time to take part in various activities at her church, New Life Church.
Whom would you have lunch with if you could have lunch with anyone? Having lunch with a photographer from National Geographic would make Danielle's day.
"I would like to find out all about the person's job and the places and animals they photograph," she said.
What books are you reading now? "Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment" by James Patterson and a book from the "Warriors" series by Erin Hunter.
Whom do you admire most? Her younger brother, Chris.
"I never think of him as my younger brother," she said of her 16-year-old sibling. "I can always go to him for advice."
Plans after high school: College is in her future, but Danielle isn't sure of the school.
Dream job: If she could be both a wildlife artist and a photographer, she'd be living her dream.
"I want to be famous for my photos and artwork," she said.
Dream car: Danielle would like to own an alternative-fuel car, but "it won't be an ugly box," she said.
Favorite place in Tucson: Reid Park Zoo, for the peacocks.
"I love their peacocks," she said. "They have a white one. I love taking pictures of it."
Hidden talents: Art is her passion, and she loves to draw, etch and paint.
Vouch: "Danielle is truly motivated to succeed in all she does," said Joann Femrite, department chair for exceptional education at Santa Rita. "She puts forth 110 percent effort and maintains a sense of humor while doing it."
Student of the Week runs every Tuesday through May. In addition to being featured in the story, each student receives a plaque donated by Tuller Trophy and a certificate from the Office of the Pima County School Superintendent. Plaques must be picked up at Tuller Trophy's location at 525 N. Sixth Ave.
If you'd like to nominate a deserving student, go to www.azstarnet.com/sn/studentoftheweek and fill out the nomination form. Students also must fill out a form. Find links to past winners at the same site.
