Achievements: Scholar With Distinction all four years by maintaining a grade-point average exceeding 3.8 on a 4.0 scale. As a three-year member of Northrop's speech team, she won a sectional championship as a sophomore, was a first alternate for Speech Nationals in Memorized Duo as a junior, and was district champion for the Congress category and finalist at the Las Vegas National Speech Tournament for Congress as a junior. She was active her last three years with the drama department, performing in seven stage productions.
Activities: Her community-service activities have included collecting blankets for refugees in the Darfur region of Africa, organizing Northrop's first participation in the CANstruction project to reduce hunger, and speaking the last two years at the local Veterans Day ceremony. She volunteered at the Salvation Army and volunteered extensively to help with 2008 local and national election campaigns.
Comments: Sterling Sentinel judge Greg Hockemeyer describes Griffetts as “a speaker of national stature and local sensibilities.”
Plans: Griffetts intends to combine her love of speech and U.S. history by becoming a social studies teacher. After starting her career, she would like to serve on her local school board and may consider seeking election as mayor or a state senator.