Allie Katherine Bowman - Siloam Springs High School

Allie Katherine Bowman, a student at Siloam Springs High School, has been nominated to be an Academic All-Star by school counselor, Sandi Colvin. “Allie is an outstanding young lady who has maintained above a 4.0 GPA while taking a rigorous course load during her high school career,” stated Colvin. “Allie is involved in athletics, TSA competitions and has completed many hours of community service.”

This community service includes volunteering at church in the nursery as well as helping widows in the church. Allie has approximately 30 hours being a volunteer coach and served as captain of the Siloam Springs High School senior volleyball team her senior year. She is a member of Mu Alpha Theta (national honors math club), National Honor Society, and Technology Student Association, where she held the office of secretary/treasurer. In total, Allie has completed more than 400 hours of community service, both school sponsored and individual. “I have found more joy in this time than I thought possible, and see it as time well spent,” noted Allie.

Allie has a 4.15 GPA with an ACT score of 33. She has applied to both University of Arkansas and Ole Miss, with plans to attend University of Arkansas-Fayetteville in the Honors College of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering.

“Allie is an Uplink mentor (program designed to help freshman students to be successful) at the high school,” added Colvin. “She loves to give back and is respected by her peers. I know Allie will be successful and has a bright future ahead.

Allie has actively participated in volleyball, Technology Student Association (regional, state, and national competitions), Mu Alpha Theta (math competitions), National Honors Society (various community service opportunities), softball, and Uplink (freshman mentoring). She has taken advanced coursework including AP Physics, AP Stats, AP U.S. History, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus, College-American Government, English Composition I, and English Composition II. She has received many awards and honors including AP Scholar Award, Highest Achievement in Principles of Engineering, TSA Competition State Champion in Problem Solving (twice), Siloam Springs High School Senior High Volleyball Heart Award, Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers’ Association French I Extemporaneous Reading Champion, Siloam Springs Senior High Volleyball Varsity Captain, Siloam Springs Senior High Volleyball Coaches’ Award, Arkansas 6A High School Volleyball All Conference Honorable Mention, Excellence in Pre-AP Chemistry, and Excellence in Pre-AP Biology.

“A lot of my friends and teachers know me as a committed student athlete, but what they don’t know is that I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” added Allie. “PTSD is different for everyone, but it always comes from a certain event in someone’s life that was terrifying or scarring in some way.” For Allie, this event occurred in 2010 while on vacation with her grandparents. The Little Missouri River rose about 20 feet above the normal level and swept away their camper while they were still in it. Since then, she has struggled with anxiety and flashbacks. “Over the past eight years, I have learned to cope with my anxiety and push through those walls that have been put up,” said Allie. “That is my significant achievement. I have learned to become successful as a student and as an athlete, despite the obstacles that were put in my way.”