OVERVIEW
Meiya is an exceptional student, steward, athlete, and artist. Meiya competes and excels in academia, the arts, stewardship/service, and athletics. She has one many awards in each of these disciplines. This website details those achievements and gives an intimate glimpse into the life and works of Meiya Rollins.
St. Jude Leadership Society
Meiya has kicked off her 2024 fundraising efforts by teaming up with the Town of Arlington to host the 1st Annual Color Run for St. Jude Children's Hospital on May 25th at Forrest Street Park at 5:00 PM.
All Ages Welcome!
Choose your course from 1/2 mile, 1 mile, or 2 miles and run or walk through colorful clouds as you make your way to the finish line! All participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt (provided by the Town of Arlington) as well as free snacks, and free swag while competing for prizes and awards!
Sponsors Needed!
Calling on local businesses for support. Visit the link below to see how your business can help!
Free T-Shirts for Participants
Example Only
Colors May Vary
Example Only
Colors May Vary
T-Shirts Provided by the Town of Arlington
BREAKING NEWS:
Meiya was just chosen to represent ACS in competition with the rest of the district for a Tennesse School Board Association Award and Scholarship!
"Good Afternoon, Meiya, Please see the email below! Congrats on your nomination for the 2024 TSBA Student Achievement Award! You were selected to be ACS' entry! Please complete the application at the link below and ask anyone I have copied on this email for assistance if needed. Thank you and Congratulations, again!"
-Jeffery G. Mayo, Superintendent
Meiya Combining Her Passions!
Meiya is also a finalist in this year's Arts in the Airport competition where she will be turning this digital mock-up into a very large acrylic painting.
Meiya is also slated to be featured in an upcoming issue of inspire magazine.
Recent Accomplishments
Ole Miss Writing Competition 1st Place!
Meiya won First Place in the Sixteenth Annual University of Mississippi Writing Competition for her essay 'The Ultimate Symbol of Femininity: The Cat' and will soon be featured in Celebrations Magazine!
Poetry Publishing
Meiya's poem, 'The Artist's Process,' was chosen by Appelly Publishing to be included in their latest anthology: 2024 Rising Stars Collection.
The Anthology is scheduled to be released in July of 2024. This will be Meiya's second published work, each of which occurred in 2024.
Meiya was Recently Accepted into the TN Governor's for the Arts program.
TN Governor's School for the Arts
Meiya was Recently Accepted into the TN Governor's for the Humanities program.
TN Governor's School for the Humanities
Meiya was recently chosen to attend the CAM, Contemporary Arts Memphis, Summer Fellowship Program.
Meiya is deeply honored to be accepted into all of these amazing programs! Unfortunately, the program dates run concurrently and Meiya can only attend one of these programs. It is not without a heavy heart that Meiya chooses to accept the fellowship at CAM.
Meiya is looking forward to the opportunity to study under Derek Fordjour and heighten her love and understanding of the natural world around her while honing her skills in interpreting this world and expressing her feelings attached to it.
Current Projects
St. Jude Color Run
Commission a custom work of art from Meiya today! All proceeds go to St. Jude to get them one step closer to their goal of a 100% success rate among cancer survivors.
The EmpowerHer Hygiene Project
Meiya is working with Sister Supply, along with Arlington High School Administrators, to bring free hygiene products to the ladies restrooms at Arlington Community Schools. More information coming soon!
Sports
USA Swimming
Meiya has been swimming competitively since 2017 and has been swimming for the Memphis Thunder Aquatic Club since 2018. She has a NCSA profile where you can view competition video, see stats, and learn more. Recruiters must log in to connect. Use the USA Swimming link to search by name and view Meiya's times.
(Video Available)
Arlington High School Swim Team
Meiya placed in the Shelby County Championships in a total of six events as a varsity team swimmer. The events and positions are as follows: 100 IM (7th), 200 IM (6th), 100 IM (8th), 50 Back (10th). 100 IM (7th), and 50 Back (8th).
Arlington High School Track & Field
Meiya's initial season begins in March of 2024!
Arlington High School XC
Meiya's initial XC season began in the late summer of 2023. Unfortunately, she suffered a stress fracture during her fourth competition, yet was still able to finish 37th in the 5000 Meter with a time of 21:33:60. Sh is now fully recovered and ready to tackle next season!
Shelby County Youth Sports Arlington Track Team
This is Meiya's first experience with Track & Field. She does plan to join the Arlington High School Track Team in 2024. Meiya has been running the 3000m, the 1500m, and the 800m. She has placed 1st in every race this season as of 04-20-2023. On 05/06/2023, Meiya broke the Shelby County record for the 3000 Meter Run! The time to beat is now 12:24:61. Meiya also beat the record for the 1500-meter run and the new time to beat is now 5:44.34.
Meiya placed first in the 2023 Shelby County Grand Championship for the 3000, 1500, and 800-meter runs!
The Arts
Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards
(2024)
Meiya was honored with a Drawing & Illustration Silver Key Award for Think Twice, and a Photography Honorable Mention for Open to View at the Brooks Museum of Art in Memphis, TN
16th Annual West Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition
Meiya secured her first gallery showing, outside of her high school, which featured two artworks at the West Tennessee Regional Art Center on display from 01/16/24-02/26/2024.
Arlington High School Annual Art Show 2023
In 2023, at the AHS Annual Art Show, Meiya sold her first work of art. The portrait of David Bowie can be found here:
Agricenter International Ag Day Student Art Contest 2023
Meiya won 3rd Place for a colored pencil drawing reflecting the theme "Agriculture as Part of Your Life." The award included a luncheon, a $25 cash prize, a Certificate of Recognition from the Mayor of Shelby County, a Certificate of Achievement from Agricenter International Education and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, and a Certificate of Recognition from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Independent Study & Arlington High School
Meiya has been sculpting, drawing, painting, baking, decorating, and creating digital works of art since the age of two years old. Many of her works are displayed in a digital gallery on this site.
Chorus
(Arlington Middle and Arlington High)
Meiya was enrolled in Chorus from 6th to 9th grade and enjoyed learning her voice and studying music theory. After her freshman year, she felt as though she had taken her vocal training as far as she was interested in and enrolled in fine art.
Memphis College of Art
In the summer of 2019, Meiya completed the Animations Concepts summer course.
The Orpheum - Broadway Bootcamp
Meiya attended boot camp in the summers of 2018 and 2019. She appears waving to us in the First Day Scenes video and gives some delightful performances in both showcases.
Clubs & Societies
National Arts Honors Society
(2023 to Present)
Meiya helps her community through the arts by engaging in activities like painting holiday scenes on local business windows and making decorative blankets for the homeless shelter.
National Honors Society
(2023 to Present)
Meiya volunteers at local events to ensure the success of community activities.
National English Honors Society
(2023 to Present)
Vice-President
Meiya participates in writing competitions and helps organize special events like local book drives.
St. Jude Leadership Society
(2023 to Present)
Peer Advisor
Meiya raised over $2,500 for St. Jude Children's Hospital last year via art commissions, a game of Ladderball, and the Rhotundra Run (video and more here).
Model UN
(2022 to Present)
Meiya repeatedly travels to UN Conferences for participation. She recently visited the State Capitol for a Youth in Government conference where she co-authored a bill to pay off student debt for foster care case workers.
YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT TRI-STAR CONFERENCE
Collegiate Academy
(2022 to Present)
Meiya is currently a member of this prestigious club that requires rigorous coursework and stewardship to maintain membership.
Student Council
(2022 to Present)
Meiya is active in her student government and focuses on human rights and equity in policy.
NATIONAL CONVENTION / WEST TN LEADERSHIP
Active Minds
(2022 to Present)
Meiya is active in supporting and advocating for the mental health of her peers and others.
Latin Club
(2022 to Present)
Meiya is a Latin scholar who continuously works to improve her understanding of linguistics.
Art Club
Junior Representative
(2022 to Present)
Meiya has been a member of the Art Club since 6th Grade, but she put her classroom time into Chourus for the last four years. She enrolled in Art 1 as a sophomore and is being promoted to Art III as a junior (skipping Art II). In 2023, at the AHS Annual Art Show, Meiya sold her first work of art. The portrait of David Bowie can be found here:
Advocates for Human Rights
(2021 to Present)
Media Committee, Board Member
Meiya has been the Head of Media since joining in 2021.
National Beta Club
(2021 to Present)
Historian
Meiya currently serves as the historian and has attended Statewide Conventions.
Stewardship, Service & Activism
Service
ACLU
(2023 to Present)
Meiya regularly engages with members through text messaging campaigns.
Town of Arlington Christmas Tree Lighting
(2023)
Meiya picked up trash and made sure the trash cans were being emptied.
AES Tiger Fest
(2023)
Meiya supervised crafts for the children.
St. Jude Marathon
(2023)
Meiya attended with the Student Council and NHS to support the
athletes
AHS Track or Treat
(2023)
Meiya passed out candy to the children.
River Arts Fest Memphis
Meiya helped children create various types of art.
Active Minds Health Fair
(2023)
Meiya assisted staff and mental health professionals in the setup and
teardown of event booths.
Best Buddies Valentines
(2023)
Meiya donated teddy bears to special needs children.
AHS Freshman Orientation
(2022)
Meiya helped transfer students understand the inner workings of
Arlington High School and gave tours of the school grounds.
Arlington High School Football Game
(2022)
Meiya collected donations for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Best Buddies Secret Santa
(2022)
Meiya donated toys to special needs children.
Shelby County Middle School Swim Meets
(2022)
Meiya performed as a runner and a timer at swim meets.
Zombie Prom
(2022)
Meiya participated as a member of the set’s paint crew.
Memphis Police Department Prom Closet
(2022)
I donated dresses so that other Shelby County Teenagers could attend
their prom.
Town of Arlington 'Christmas on the Square'
(2019)
Meiya set up and supervised activities for young children.
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park Annual Easter Egg Hunt
(2018)
Meiya set up the egg hunt and supervised the event.
Activism
Meiya was proud to attend the George Floyd Protests led by Devante Williams of Memphis in the spring of 2020.
Meiya continues to work for equity and equality.
Academics & Achievements
High School
Meiya won 'Outstanding Statesperson' at the 2024 Tennessee YMCA Youth in Government conference at the State Capital in Nashville, TN in April of 2024.
Meiya won First Place in the Sixteenth Annual University of Mississippi Writing Competition for her essay 'The Ultimate Symbol of Femininity: The Cat' and will soon be featured in Celebrations Magazine!
Meiya visited the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art and the Frank Lloyd Wright Bachman-Wilson house with her AP Art History Class in February of 2024.
Meiya was honored with a Drawing & Illustration Silver Key Award for Think Twice, and a Photography Honorable Mention for Open to View in the 2024 Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards at the Brooks Museum.
Meiya attended the Scholastic Art Trip to the Brooks Museum in February 2024.
Meiya secured her first gallery showing, outside of her high school, which featured artwork in the 16th Annual West Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition on display from 01/16/24-02/26/2024.
Meiya attended the 2023 YMCA Sponsored Model UN Competition in Murfreesboro TN in November 2023.
Meiya attended the West TN Leadership Conference at Bellevue Baptist Church in October 2023.
Meiya attended the St. Jude Leadership Society Conference in Memphis, TN where she met St. Jude executives in July of 2023.
Meiya won the Awareness Award for a talk she gave on What it Means to be a Leader from the St. Jude Leadership Society in 2023.
Meiya raised $2,511 for St. Jude as a member of the St. Jude Leadership Society 2023.
Meiya attended the Student Council Leadership Day at the Capitol in Nashville, TN April 2023.
Meiya attended the Scholastic Art Trip to the Brooks Museum in April 2023
Meiya sold her first work of art at the Arlington High School Annual Art Show in 2023.
Meiya won 3rd Place in the Agricenter International Ag Day Student Art Contest of 2023.
Meiya attended the National Beta Club Conference in Nashville, TN in November of 2022.
Meiya competed in the 2022 YMCA-sponsored Model UN Competition in Murfreesboro, TN in November of 2022.
Meiya attended the West TN Leadership Conference in October of 2022.
Meiya traveled with her history teacher, Mr.Jefferey Holloway, to France, Italy, and Switzerland in June of 2022.
Middle School
Meiya graduated as the salutatorian of Arlington Middle School in 2021.
Meiya received a letter from the White House dated March 15th, 2021 congratulating her on receiving
the 2021 President's Education Award.
Meiya joined the Black Lives Matter Protests in the spring of 2020 and marched through downtown Memphis in solidarity.
Meiya was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society on March 13th, 2020.
Meiya was a member of the Junior Beta Club throughout Middle School.
Meiya achieved Perfect Attendance every year in Middle School.
Meiya entered the Duke TIP program and took her first ACT exam during 7th grade in 2020.
Meiya Received the Highest Grade Point Average in 6th Grade Enriched Language Arts Award in 2019.
Meiya received the Highest Grade Point Average in 6th Grade Science Award in 2019.