About the Cover Photographer
Brigette Carruth, the Our Town Cover Photographer, started In Focus Photography in 2003. Her varied work includes corporate head shots, families, and bridal photography. She is an active member of her church, teaching 7th grade Sunday school and playing the flute in the orchestra. In her spare time, she enjoys watching her boys play basketingball.
Brigette's Contact Info
770-617-3805
On the Cover
Brooke Dorris
Paulding County has many reasons to be proud. One of them is the beautiful young lady gracing our cover. Meet your 2010 Miss Paulding County’s Outstanding Teen – Brooke Dorris.
Brooke lives in Dallas with her family; Mom-Dana, Dad-Jeff and younger sister Mallory. Both Dana and Jeff work for Allstate. The Dorris’ have lived in Dallas for 3 years, along with their two dogs Sam and Dory. As a family, they love to travel and visit new places.
Brooke is a very mature young lady, with a good head on her shoulders. She’s not only a talented singer, but she plays both the piano and the viola. Brooke has won many scholastic honors and has held several leadership roles at her school, North Cobb Christian School. (NCCS is very proud of Brooke. See ad on page 19). She sings in the school chorus and is the only freshman accepted into the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Though Brooke has many accomplishments in her 14 years, perhaps her greatest achievement is that she is a survivor of heart disease. At only 20 months old, Dana took Brooke to the doctor for what she thought was a cold. After hearing an unusual murmur with her heart, the doctor sent them to Sibley Heart Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for evaluation, just to be safe. After several tests, the doctor told Dana and Jeff that Brooke had a congenital heart defect called an atrial septal defect or ASD, and would require open heart surgery. Though rare, five years later, Brooke’s sister was born with a similar defect and also required open heart surgery.
Brooke has never let this slow her down and is now a teen on a mission. Her platform in the Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen program is Project S.A.V.E of CHOA. Many children go undiagnosed with heart defects and can die from sudden cardiac arrest. It is the mission of Project S.A.V.E. for every school in Georgia to have the proper equipment, an automated external defibrillator (AED) and the proper training to prevent sudden death. (Please see more about Project S.A.V.E on page 24 & 25.)
Brooke says: “I want to work toward having an AED in every Georgia school and train the staff to use them. By having an emergency plan in place for sudden cardiac arrest and implementing Project S.A.V.E., we can save lives. It would be so rewarding to certify all Georgia schools as a heart safe school.”
We are so very proud of Brooke. Her future goals include attending the Julliard School and performing on Broadway. We think Brooke is a great role model for all young girls and we wish her all the best!