Mackenzie Union, Photographer, Reporter
Mackenzie Union is a senior Magnet student in her first year as a Chant staffer. Since entering NC three years ago, Mackenzie has taken advantage of opportunities to visit places outside the U.S. through the Magnet program. She visited England and Ireland over the summer of 2015 and Belize during her freshman year.
During that Belize trip, Union developed a passion for marine biology that hasn’t faded over the course of three years. Mackenzie still fondly remembers snorkeling through Belize’s Barrier Reef, observing dazzling, graceful fish swim and live amongst one of the planet’s greatest displays of life and nature. After graduating high school in May, Mackenzie hopes to attend Flagler college in St. Augustine, Florida, a small school with roughly 3,000 students, and major in marine biology.
After taking AP Environmental Science her whole junior year, Mackenzie gained awareness of nature’s dire and precarious situation, especially with regards to its future. After earning her degree Union plans to work to conserve endangered species and their habitats’.
Union has always loved literature and writing. Her passion stems from a childhood filled with books and stories. She still loves to reread and watch J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter phenomenon. Over the past few years, Mackenzie has grown towards writing with a passion, using it as a way to fill free time and express herself. This led to her joining The Chant after hearing a push from friend and fellow staffer Gabby Weaver.
At NC, Union participates in cross country and Relay for Life. Union uses these as a way to get involved in the community and stay active. She describes herself as quiet and occasionally shy. Sophomore Lindsay O’Neil described Mackenzie as “quiet, nice, and very smart.”
Profile written by Michael Smith
