This year's recipient of the “Heart of Optimism” Award is Mary Katherine “MK” Gunn. She lives out the Optimist Creed in every aspect of her life.

Throughout her Elberta High School years, Gunn has led her peers with optimism and service. She has been an active member of Peer Helpers, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), National Honor Society, the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce as a junior Ambassador, EEH Athletics as the Head of Sports Media Staff and Sports Media Specialist, St. Bartholomew Catholic Parish as an Altar Server and Youth Group Member as well as the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy. She has also volunteered with the club’s annual Mullet Festival and other various Optimist service activities.

Last summer, Gunn became the first FCCLA national president from Baldwin County since 1975 and served as the youth voice for almost 200,000 members. During her term, she hosted three conferences, including the 2022 Capitol Leadership, the National Conference in Ohio and the 2023 National Leadership Conference in Colorado.

Gunn also sits on the FCCLA board of directors, something few 17-year-olds can say that they’ve done for a national nonprofit. Her leadership in FCCLA has helped funnel her passion for informing people and teaching them about things that she is passionate about and making it something that comes to fruition. She most definitely brings out the best in others.

Mary Katherine will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall to pursue a double major in art education and public relations with an emphasis in sports communications where she hopes to have a future as an educational outreach specialist or public relations director. While attending Alabama, Gunn has committed to shoot photography for Crimson Tide Photos, the official photographers of the University of Alabama athletic department.

She has received the University of Alabama-Alabama Prestige Scholarship worth $54,700, a competitive scholarship that is awarded to the top student in each Alabama high school to recognize their outstanding achievements both in and out of the classroom.

Gunn has also been awarded $24,500 from other schools and outside scholarships, including the Joshua Hall Memorial Baldwin Proud Scholarship, and is still awaiting word on many other scholarships as well. She has also earned her Guest Services Golden Opportunities certification.