From the Buford High School Variety Show to musicals like “Bright Star” and “The Drowsy Chaperone,” senior Dylan Appling has been a shining presence on the school’s stage — he has additional stage credits in the BHS productions of “Aladdin Jr.,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Honk Jr.” and “Little Women.”
“The arts sector of Buford is where most of my friends reside,” Dylan said, “and it’s where I have made my best memories on and off Buford’s stage. I gravitated towards the arts in high school because I’ve always loved music, but also because of the constant feeling of support from my peers and teachers.”
The GHSA AAAAAA state runner-up for boys solo for 2022, Dylan is also a member of the Buford High School Literary Team, which took first place in the 2022 State Literary competition held in March. The championship is Buford’s 13th consecutive win and 19th in school history.
Dylan also participated in the Governor’s Honors Program as a voice major in summer 2021 and is a member of the Thespian Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. He is also a member of Chamber Chorus and Advanced Musical Theater and is a One Act Competition participant.
“Whether it be the Variety Show or a theater performance, each of these continue to better me as a performer and build more memories with my best friends,” Dylan said. “Each performance I have ever been in has also improved my self confidence, and it makes me more confident to take on the real world.”
If he could perform in any show, Dylan said he would choose the musical “Bonnie & Clyde,” which premiered in November 2009 in San Diego, California, and debuted on Broadway in December 2011.
“The music from that show is phenomenal and the storyline is constantly intriguing and packed full of action,” he said.
A “lifetimer” in Buford City Schools, Dylan also excels academically. He has a 4.0 GPA and is an AP Scholar with Distinction, an honor given to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Dylan is also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. He is a member of Beta Club and Key Club.
After graduation, Dylan will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall with plans to major in political science and environmental science on the pre-law track.
“My dream is to find a career that supports my hopes in seeing the entire world and learning as much as possible about various cultures,” he said.
Dylan is the son of Vicki Burrell and Scott Appling. He has two siblings, Alex Appling, who attends Augusta University, and Grace Burrell, who attends the Grady School of Sonography.
During his free time, Dylan enjoys listening to music, thrifting clothes and spending time with friends. Oftentimes, he can be found on the lake.
“I enjoy wakeboarding, wake-surfing, water skiing — really anything that has to do with water,” he said.
The Buford City Schools Student Spotlight is made possible by the generosity of the City of Buford.
