Savannah Arts Academy senior named superintendent's student of the month

David Rahl, a senior at Savannah Arts Academy, was named the superintendent's student of the month for January 2025 after school staff highlighted his academic and musical achievements and said he has learned to advocate for himself while living with dyslexia.

School staff described Rahl's record to the audience, noting he earned all A's in three college classes through a dual-enrollment program, competes on the Panthers varsity track team, participates in church activities and practices martial arts in addition to pursuing music. A presenter said Rahl performs on piano and guitar and sings in choir and modern band.

"I love just performing for people and just making other people happy and sharing my passion with," Rahl said. He told listeners he had taken a difficult experience and used it to motivate his school and music work: "And I took something that was very terrible in my life or something hard like a disability, and I turned it into something great and used it to, do better with music and to become a great student."

A staff member introduced Rahl's record and praised his dedication, saying, "He's just super talented, and he is just a prime example of what a student can, what they can achieve when they work really hard and are committed to their craft." The staff member asked listeners to congratulate "the superintendent's student of the month for January 2025, David Rahl."

Rahl described his future goals in music: "Being able to, sing in a choir and perform in modern band and be able to perfect my musical gift, I want to go professional with it. Maybe, like, convey my songs to the rest of the world and see where it takes me, whether that be classical or more contemporary." The program closed with announcer Ken Slats saying, "With your student spotlight, I'm Ken Slats."