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When she got to Lanett three years ago, senior Shaunna Villasana-Brown just wanted to do her work and get out into the world. At the end of her high school career, she is able to look back and appreciate everything that has happened since she became a Panther at the start of her sophomore year.

In her final year of high school, Villasana-Brown was in a position to compete for valedictorian with her friend Hailey Robinson. While Robinson was able to claim valedictorian, Villasana-Brown finished as Lanett’s salutatorian for the class of 2020.

“We were trying to uplift each other and try to be the best that we can,” Villasana-Brown said. “[Robinson] became the valedictorian and I became the salutatorian. We just congratulated each other. When we found out, we were just excited.”

Villasana-Brown transferred in from Demopolis when she was a sophomore. Originally, her high school plan was to just come in, do her work and get out. That plan has changed a lot in the three years since she became a Panther.

“Just from being [at Lanett], I just wanted to make something of myself and find new experiences,” Villasana-Brown said. “When I found out [that I was named saluatorian], I was like ‘that’s really cool.’”

In her three years at Lanett, Villasana-Brown was involved in various sports and clubs. Her list includes the math club, beta club, robotics, national honor society, volleyball, track and Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) among others.

Track and JROTC were her favorite two extracurricular activities. Track gave her lasting memories with her friends while JROTC gave her a look into the military.

“JROTC gave me a view of what the military is like, plus it helped me build my leadership skills and communication a whole lot,” Villasana-Brown said. “Track, I met a lot of new friends, made memories, and it was just fun all together.”

Once she graduates, Villasana-Brown plans to enter the United States Marines. Her dream of entering the military came from her uncle, who used to tell her stories about being a Marine while she was growing up. Alongside the stories, she did her own research.

“Once I got older, I started to research, and they provide a lot of opportunities that I would need to further myself in my future and better myself,” Villasana-Brown said. “I’m also the type of person that enjoys rules, so that’s one of the best ways that I can enjoy myself by doing what I am told.”

Her plan is to become a combat engineer once she is a Marine.

“I like building things. I like figuring out what they do and different ways to make it work, that’s why I joined robotics,” Villasana-Brown said. “I want to be active in the military, not just sitting behind a desk, so the best thing that I saw that they had was a combat engineer.”

Due to COVID-19, Villasana-Brown will take time off from school. When she turns 18, she will sign with the Marines so she can go to next year’s boot camp.

Villasana-Brown and the other 43 Lanett seniors will graduate on Saturday at 10 a.m. EST in Morgan-Washbourn Stadium.

“I definitely have a bunch of memories. I had a lot of fun and pushed myself harder than I thought I would have,” Villasana-Brown said. “I made a lot of friends. I just had a great experience all together.”

When she got to Lanett three years ago, senior Shaunna Villasana-Brown just wanted to do her work and get out into the world. At the end of her high school career, she is able to look back and appreciate everything that has happened since she became a Panther at the start of her sophomore year.

In her final year of high school, Villasana-Brown was in a position to compete for valedictorian with her friend Hailey Robinson. While Robinson was able to claim valedictorian, Villasana-Brown finished as Lanett’s salutatorian for the class of 2020.

“We were trying to uplift each other and try to be the best that we can,” Villasana-Brown said. “[Robinson] became the valedictorian and I became the salutatorian. We just congratulated each other. When we found out, we were just excited.”

Villasana-Brown transferred in from Demopolis when she was a sophomore. Originally, her high school plan was to just come in, do her work and get out. That plan has changed a lot in the three years since she became a Panther.

“Just from being [at Lanett], I just wanted to make something of myself and find new experiences,” Villasana-Brown said. “When I found out [that I was named saluatorian], I was like ‘that’s really cool.’”

In her three years at Lanett, Villasana-Brown was involved in various sports and clubs. Her list includes the math club, beta club, robotics, national honor society, volleyball, track and Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) among others.

Track and JROTC were her favorite two extracurricular activities. Track gave her lasting memories with her friends while JROTC gave her a look into the military.

“JROTC gave me a view of what the military is like, plus it helped me build my leadership skills and communication a whole lot,” Villasana-Brown said. “Track, I met a lot of new friends, made memories, and it was just fun all together.”

Once she graduates, Villasana-Brown plans to enter the United States Marines. Her dream of entering the military came from her uncle, who used to tell her stories about being a Marine while she was growing up. Alongside the stories, she did her own research.

“Once I got older, I started to research, and they provide a lot of opportunities that I would need to further myself in my future and better myself,” Villasana-Brown said. “I’m also the type of person that enjoys rules, so that’s one of the best ways that I can enjoy myself by doing what I am told.”

Her plan is to become a combat engineer once she is a Marine.

“I like building things. I like figuring out what they do and different ways to make it work, that’s why I joined robotics,” Villasana-Brown said. “I want to be active in the military, not just sitting behind a desk, so the best thing that I saw that they had was a combat engineer.”

Due to COVID-19, Villasana-Brown will take time off from school. When she turns 18, she will sign with the Marines so she can go to next year’s boot camp.

Villasana-Brown and the other 43 Lanett seniors will graduate on Saturday at 10 a.m. EST in Morgan-Washbourn Stadium.

“I definitely have a bunch of memories. I had a lot of fun and pushed myself harder than I thought I would have,” Villasana-Brown said. “I made a lot of friends. I just had a great experience all together.”