Ironwood Ridge High School, senior
Age: 17
Parents' names: Ed and Michele Dunlap
Favorite class: Sarah said she can't pick between anatomy/physiology or Model United Nations.
Activities in school: Model United Nations; formerly in an environmental club.
Activities outside of school: Sarah has a 14-year-old Appaloosa named Kodi and spends up to two hours a day riding and caring for her horse. This is quite a surprise to her parents, since her mother is afraid of horses and since Sarah has only gotten her father to go riding once. Sarah, who has been riding since she was 6, also volunteers with the Tucson Dressage Club and has completed an equine veterinarian internship.
Whom would you have lunch with if you could have lunch with anyone? Monty Roberts, dubbed "The Man Who Listens to Horses," is a well-known trainer of championship horses. "I like the alternative way he trains horses, as opposed to harsher methods of training and just forcing yourself on a horse," Sarah said.
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What books are you reading now? She's reading "Oedipus the King" for school. For pleasure, she's reading "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins, the second in the "Hunger Games" series. She just finished "How Horse People Are Just Different" by Tim Mays, which explains equine mysteries such as how horse owners can happily spend their paychecks on their horses.
Whom do you admire most? Equestrian and Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden. "I like the way she rides. She's a gentle rider, but she's still really successful."
What's your favorite song? "How to Save a Life" by The Fray.
Plans after high school: Sarah said she hopes to attend a program for veterinary school but plans to attend the University of Arizona for at least two years.
Dream job: Equine vet. "I just love horses so much that I'd like to be able to help them, and working with them as a career would be ideal." Her backup plan would be to go into international relations with a minor in political science.
Dream car: Aston Martin DB9 — a car that tops out at 186 mph and runs about $150,000. "But since that won't happen and I probably couldn't actually drive it, I like my Jeep," she said, adding that her silver 2007 vehicle works better for saddles and such anyway.
Favorite place in Tucson: The barn at her instructor's house, where she keeps her horse.
Hidden talents: She's teaching her horse how to bow. She makes a great carrot cake, she said, noting, "I can bake pretty well, but I don't do it very often because it tends to bore me." She can also read fast, consuming the entire Harry Potter series in one week flat.
Vouch: Rosemary Godron Panuco said Sarah has been her riding student for five years. "Not only is Sarah an excellent student, she is incredibly responsible for her age. At the barn and at all levels of horse shows, she's the 'go-to' person who will get done what needs to be done."
- Rhonda Bodfield
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.
