Eight of this year’s Tower Award recipients shared their words of wisdom with current Presentation Academy students, faculty and staff at a panel discussion September 5, at Presentation.

Fatimah Alawami ‘23 believes that coming out of her shell has been one of the many gifts Pres has given her the space to do. This environment pushes us to leave our comfort zone, to ask ourselves those uncomfortable questions, and to truly learn from our mistakes. That is one of the amazing things about being a Pres girl as it has transformed me into an aware, intuitive, and assertive woman and leader. Having supportive teachers that I look forward to talking to everyday is another key component to my experience at Pres. Being able to trust my teachers with my personal struggles, to hug and receive reassurance and advice, or simply stopping by their classroom for a laugh have been connections I am beyond grateful to have made.

Through hard work and determination, Presentation Academy track and field star Ta’Mya Davis ’23 has achieved her dream of competing at the collegiate level. Ta’Mya committed to Campbellsville University, aspiring to compete in both sprint and field events.

Unfortunately, it looked like her dream might not happen. During the first game of basketball season this year, she suffered an Achilles rupture in her right leg while going up for a layup. “I fell to the ground and instantly felt like it was over – I don’t have my scholarship anymore.”

Presentation Academy volleyball co-captain and outside/opposite hitter Grace McGregor ‘23 will take her volleyball talents to Campbellsville University where she will be coached by fellow Pres Girl Head Coach Peyton Johnston ’17.

When she first shadowed at Presentation Academy, Allie Conover ‘23 found herself a comfortable home. A place she could be herself and find others who would accept her for who she was. When she first walked through the old but still beautiful front doors with the friends she met at Freshman Orientation, she knew she was at home.

At Presentation you are more than a name on a list and a number in a building. I finally felt like I mattered. I had so many opportunities I didn’t have before. In the summer leading up to my first year I tried out for the volleyball team and made JV. My enthusiasm and determination to get back to the same level as everyone else after not playing for two years was strongly embraced and supported. I was chosen to go on the Varsity only trip to the bluegrass tournament and quickly fell in love with the program. That program now holds some of my fondest memories.