'A great break from the real world:' Garaway's Samantha Miller loves being outdoors

Editor's Note: The Times-Reporter is profiling one senior from each of the school districts in Tuscarawas County coinciding with graduation. They were nominated by school administrators.

SUGARCREEK ‒ Garaway senior Samantha Miller enjoys spending as much time as possible in the outdoors, whether it's golfing, hiking the Appalachian Trail or hunting deer and turkey with her father and her younger brother.

"It's great break from the real world and the technology that we have to deal with on a regular basis," said Miller, daughter of Kyle and Angie Miller of Sugarcreek. "It's just great to disconnect from that and not have to worry about answering emails or text messages or getting homework assignments done. It's a big stress reliever for me."

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Golf is a big part of Miller's life. She played on the Garaway varsity girls golf team three years in high school.

"My whole family golfs," she said. "It's practically in our blood. So, the whole time I was growing up, that's what we do throughout the summers. My cousins and I would be out on the course all the days of the week, playing and practicing."

Her grandfather, Tim Immel, was Garaway's golf coach before he retired from teaching.

She plans on attending Ashland University in the fall and will play on the women's team there. She will be studying sports management and accounting. After college, she hopes to stay in the golf industry.

"My main goal for career is to get a job traveling the country, helping to manage golf tournaments for either the PGA or the LPGA," Miller said.

Her favorite local venue is the Zoar Village Golf Course, "a really pretty course," she said.

Hiking and hunting

Miller has participated in Garaway's annual hike on the Appalachian Trail for the past three years. The students will hike 8 to 10 miles a day for three full days and two half days each year on the portion of the trail in Virginia.

"We actually get our phones taken from us for the whole trip," she said. "So, we're kind of disconnected and just out there to enjoy nature. We don't have to worry about answering anybody or worrying about homework. It's a great break."

Another one of her favorite outdoor activities is hunting with her father and her brother, Austin. She has been hunting since she was in elementary school.

The three enjoy eating the game they harvest, though the rest of the family does not partake. Venison from deer cooks up well in an air fryer or on the grill, she said. Wild turkey also does well in an air fryer, though it's sometimes tougher than farm-raised turkey.

Other school activities

Her other activities at school included serving on student council and being a member of the National Honor Society. She played flute in the concert band her freshman and sophomore years but gave it up because her main focus was the golf team. She also plays the piano.

What advice does she have for next year's seniors?

"Enjoy it, because it does go very fast," Miller said. "This is definitely one of the fastest school years of my life. There's a lot going on, so enjoy it all. Soak in all the memories that you have left with your classmates."

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: 'A great break from the real world:' Garaway's Samantha Miller loves being outdoors