PERRYVILLE – A senior at Perryville High School, has earned a prestigious award and scholarship from the Better Business Bureau.
Ayla Schuler accepted the Better Business Bureau 2024 Student of Ethics Award during the Oct. 16 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics formal luncheon hosted at the Missouri Athletic Club ballroom in downtown St. Louis.
She was selected among several hundred high school students from across Missouri and southern Illinois for demonstrating high ethics through leadership, community service, overall personal integrity, and academic accomplishments.
Students submitted letters of reference, high school transcripts, written essays, and more to be considered. Ayla presented her winning essay to approximately 200 attendees during the luncheon and award ceremony.
The award includes a partial scholarship available to use at her college of choice.
At PHS, Ayla is an active member of National Honor Society and is an honor roll student. She is involved in Marching Band, Concert Band, and Chamber Choir and was selected by her teachers to serve as Section Leader in all three disciplines. She auditioned and has been awarded spots in All-District Choir three years in a row, last year was chosen for Honorable Mention Choir, and most recently was selected 2nd Alternate for All-State Choir to be held in January.
She has brought solos and ensembles to All-District Solo and Ensemble every year of high school so far. For the last two years, she has made All-State Solo and Ensemble and was awarded, in total, five silvers and one gold for her performances in the percussion, vocal, and piano fields. Ayla has been accepted as a percussionist in the SEMO Honor Band for two years and was chosen Student of the Week twice during high school.
She has also been involved in the Academic Team, Spanish Club, Exploration of the Arts, Inter-Club Council representing Band and Choir, and Yearbook. On top of her extracurriculars, she has taken three college credit classes and two honors classes.
Ayla works as a Lifeguard at the Perry Park Center Aquatic Center and plays piano for the residents of Independence Care on holidays. She plans on attending SEMO for her Bachelor’s in vocal education/piano primary and then continuing her education for a doctorate in conducting.