RALEIGH, N.C. — This week’s High School Scholar of the Week comes from Chapel Hill.

Alicea Davis, 17, was nominated for her ambition and drive in school.

Davis is the co-captain of the East Chapel Hill High School cheerleading team.

“Cheerleading is honestly an amazing outlet, honestly I've been so happy every single time I come to practice," Davis said.

She says if someone on the team does something wrong, everyone has to do push-ups. 

But Davis is used to being tough. She was diagnosed with cancer at just 4 years old.

“I wanna do what the nurses did for me. I loved all of the people who helped me," Davis said.

Davis says she wants to go into nursing or education.

UNC Chapel Hill is her dream school.

To help her get one step closer to achieving her dreams, Sen. Valerie Foushee presented Davis with this week's High School Scholar of the Week award.

“I am incredibly excited to congratulate you Alicea Davis on your many accomplishments and for being named a Spectrum High School Scholar," Foushee said.

“I was just completely shocked, completely and totally," Davis said.

But why should she be?

The senior has a 4.13 weighted GPA.

She participates in the NAACP Youth Council and works at several jobs after school, including as a coach for Chapel Hill gymnastics.

Desiree Davis-Omburo nominated Davis and is her choir teacher.

“She's one of those once in a lifetime students that just stands out head and shoulders above her peers because she just takes a lot of initiative," Davis-Omburo said.

At the peak of the pandemic, Davis-Omburo says Davis came up with the idea of having choir Zoom class dance parties to improve morale.

But she’s as serious as she is fun.

Davis was also a 2021 participant in the Governor's School in Choral Music.

Her strong vocals led her to a leading role in the school’s "Hairspray" musical during her sophomore year.

“I'm just thrilled for her that she's being recognized for her character, her talent and her hard work," Davis-Omburo said.