Sydney Holton is a 17-year-old standout senior at Buford High School. The daughter of Michelle (a teacher at Buford Middle School) and Keaton Holton and big sister to Buford Senior Academy fourth grader Delaney, Sydney, who has been proud to be part of the Buford family since her freshman year, is passionate about performing.
Being highly involved in three fine arts areas, Sydney spends 12 long hours at BHS each day, rehearsing with her peers for her next big concert or show after class. She is a “triple threat” at BHS, enrolled in chorus, dance and drama. She is a thespian officer and is in musical theater; she is a member of the BHS Chamber Chorus and star performer in Variety Shows; and she is a member of the advanced dance class and is a featured dancer, having danced for 13 years. Sydney plans to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater in college with hopes of a career in the arts.
“Taking dance, musical theater and chorus have been so incredibly influential to me as they have strengthened my character, given me a family and given me opportunities to perform,” Sydney said. “Every time I’ve taken the stage, I feel such great fulfillment and love towards everyone I’m performing with. It is such a blessing to tell stories and share beautiful art to communicate important themes with an audience.”
Sydney has been a part of two team state championships in One Act Play (2019 and 2020) and a team state championship in Literary (2021). She was also awarded an individual state championship at the 2021 Literary Meet for Humorous Oral Interpretation. She was recently named to the All Star Cast at GHSA’s 2021 state One Act Play competition for her role as Meg in “Little Women.” At BHS’s 2021 Thespian Awards, Sydney was awarded Best New Actress, Best Supporting Actress and she received the Rising Star award.
Sydney is also academically advanced. She works in the BHS Writing Center as a peer tutor and editor. She has a 3.8 unweighted (4.0 weighted) GPA, having already taken AP world history, AP U.S. history, AP language and composition and she is presently taking AP statistics, AP literature, and AP environmental science courses. Her favorite teacher is Mrs. Bethany Phillips.
“I love the material we’re learning and the environment she creates in her classroom,” she said.
Athletically, Sydney has competed with Buford’s dance team for three years and is the team’s captain. GHSA recognized dance as a competitive sport in 2018, and Sydney and her teammates have competed at region and state competitions, performing mesmerizing athletic stunts.
In her free time, Sydney enjoys quality time with family and friends and reading. She particularly loves ’90s music, fashion and movies. She is interested in old architecture and antiques and loves museums and visiting new history and art exhibits. She even has a membership with the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.
The source of Sydney’s success is in large part to her mom, she says.
“My mother has been the most influential person in my life because every good part of me I’ve learned from her,” Sydney said. “She is the perfect example of who I want to become and the way I want to serve others. She has shared all my greatest passions with me such as the arts, literature, music and history. She has constantly encouraged me to work hard, love others and be the best version of myself. It is because of her strength and support that has allowed me to make it this far.”
Sydney says she feels blessed to have been a part of the Buford community and hopes to be remembered as someone who was kind and supportive. She encourages her younger peers to “pursue their passions despite any hardships, roadblocks or frustrations.
“Right now may be hard, but the future promises opportunity when you’re willing to work for it,” she said. “I hope to leave a lasting impression upon the people and programs I leave behind. I will look proudly and fondly upon the time I’ve had at Buford.”
The Buford City Schools Student of the Week spotlight is made possible by the generosity of the City of Buford.
