Cherokee High School congratulates Cherokee’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year, Gianna Thornton. As a young girl, Gianna adopted Martin Luther King, Jr. as her role model. According to the school, Gianna was amazed at how one man’s energy and dedication made a difference in the lives of so many people. Gianna has truly been inspired to follow in his footsteps. She has approximately 1000 hours providing service to an inner-city stunt clinic, organizing a holiday stocking drive for kids, cooking for inner-city poor and homeless, coaching cheerleading for underprivileged children, mentoring young adults both at Cherokee and in the community, working with Special Olympics in the track and field division as well as volunteering with the Animal Welfare Association, Safe Community Trick-or-Treat, and the Marlton Rec Council.
Cherokee believes Gianna has truly lived Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream making a difference in many, many lives.