Who is Julianna Saunders?
Enloe has its fair share of musical enthusiasts, but few are as passionate as Julianna Saunders, senior at Enloe High School, an active member in our choral department, and a frequent volunteer. Julianna (otherwise known as JuJu), is beloved by many. With a bubbly personality and a warm smile, she brings a welcoming environment to any class or club she is a part of, supporting her fellow students and mentoring the underclassmen around her. Her mark on Enloe High will be one we all remember for years to come, and she will forever be loved by our student body, our faculty, and the many organizations she took part in while at Enloe.
Musical Impact at Enloe
Between Crescenloe and her various other musical influences at Enloe, Julianna keeps a packed schedule. But, she loves nothing more than to act as a mentor to younger members of our school choir and award-winning a cappella group, Crescenloe. As co-president and musical director for the majority of their compositions, her enthusiastic and passionate approach to music has flooded the rest of the group with inspiration and positivity, giving everyone a chance to settle in their own talent and shine on stage. Through a passion for singing and composing, JuJu has expanded upon her abilities and widened the threshold of her talent. Students and friends alike all agree that she is not only talented, but generous in her willingness to help others and impact their lives with a positive outlook and a kind heart. “She always expresses her belief in me and pushes me to do well,” says Enloe student Maray Williams. “I always have such a fun time with her and she is such a wonderful person to go on adventures with, no matter where we are.” Whether through music or friendship, Julianna acts as an encouraging mentor to everyone she meets, boosting the self-esteem of those around her with a warm smile and creating a fun atmosphere wherever she may be.
An Active Volunteer
As food pantry coordinator, Julianna makes an effort to ensure everyone in need of extra supplies is taken care of. However, the process of getting these resources to those in need is more difficult than one would expect. We often see where our donations are going, but we don’t ever see how it works, and what ends up happening because of our efforts. As a member of Enloe Food Ark, Julianna can be a part in these steps of donation which we often don’t get to see. “It’s more hands-on than normal volunteering. With volunteering all the time … I feel like sometimes I don’t know where my time is going. But I know by getting to go help and visit CASA, I get a [good] grasp on what the beneficiary is doing,” she says.
Being a part of Food Ark is incredibly important to Juju, not only for helping our community, but also directly impacting Enloe-supported organizations. Being an active member and food pantry coordinator offered a unique perspective for Julianna in how life can be so different from those around us, her compassion to help went further than just donating, but seeing every step of the way for how it would get to the people.“I was so happy to be able to give back to the Enloe community,” Julianna remarked, remembering just why she joined Food Ark to begin with.
There are many ways to volunteer, and Julianna doesn’t stop at donating. Recently, Julianna went to visit young students at Washington Elementary to help and educate them on the importance of STEM in our society. Getting to hang out with little kids while educating them and supporting young mental development at the same time was so important for Julianna. It bridged her interest in educating others and her love for children, stemming from her close relationship with her nieces and nephews. “It was usually all girls, which was just awesome. Getting to teach them about STEM stuff and introducing them to something I’m so interested in,” Julianna says. She really appreciated being able to educate the young women of our future society. It’s people like her who will develop a new generation of motivated learners, showing such passion for the math and sciences and creating a memorable learning experience.
Her Proudest Achievement
Attending Gov School was the achievement Julianna takes the most pride in. A summer program described as an open opportunity for young minds to discover a more advanced path in the arts and academic field, Gov School allowed her the ability to be independent and gave her a glimpse into what college life would be like for her. With no one from Enloe joining her in choral music, philosophy, and any of the other courses she chose to take, Gov School felt like a small chance to experience a life where she could focus on her studies on her own. The opportunity to attend such a prestigious program gave her even more courage to pursue her dream in arts and sciences.
College and beyond high school
With a long line of educators backing her, she was raised in an environment where learning is not only accepted but encouraged. Out of respect for her parents, siblings, and extended family, Julianna wants to honor her family and follow in their footsteps by pursuing higher education to make her impact on the world. Determined to follow a path of neuroscience, her success in bringing medical research to the counter is certain. In the fall semester of 2025, she will be attending the University of Rochester in New York to begin her long and fulfilling journey in science and genetic research.
Julianna has always seemed to have a knack for improving our world. After all, it takes a kind heart to go into a career that will further research in debilitating diseases. Loved by her friends, classmates, and teachers, Julianna has brought a sense of joy to everyone she’s met. We’ve all loved experiencing high school alongside her smiling self. As a school and a community, we at Enloe wish her luck on her journey in research!
