Wednesday, May 22, 2002
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Wednesday, May 22, 2002 |
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Valedictorians and salutatorians By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
In two days high school seniors in Fayette County will don cap and gown and attend the final assembly of their high school careers. The top two students of each school's senior class, the valedictorian and the salutatorian, will give a graduation speech reflecting on the past and looking towards the future. Gina Atwater is Fayette County High School's valedictorian, while Daniel Craig Anderson is the school's salutatorian. Atwater a member of the marching band, National Honor Society, Beta Club and Peer Mediation, among others will attend Emory University in the fall and plans to major in film studies. She has received the Emory University Woodruff Scholarship as well as the Bell South National Achievement Scholarship. "I would just like to take this opportunity to thank God and my family for their constant support and unconditional love," said Atwater, who will talk about how success comes from within in her graduation speech. Atwater will miss the people she has known since elementary and middle school but will not miss the arbitrary rules, cliques and social pressures of high school as well as the "Coke machine" that stole her money. Anderson, who will attend Cornell University and plans to major in chemical engineering, is also a member of the marching band and National Honor Society as well as the academic team and the Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra. Anderson cites Frau Mechtild Vogt as his favorite teacher for challenging him academically and mentally and introducing him to German culture. He will miss the marching band the most because it is the only activity that provides him a sense of family. One thing he won't miss is being forced to run two miles in under 16 minutes. Anderson plans to talk about maintaining individuality in a changing world and its necessity for future successes and the progression of society. Megan Lynn Bernard is McIntosh's valedictorian and Megan Bartles is the school's salutatorian. Bernard will attend Princeton and plans on majoring in either math, engineering or pre-med. Bernard was a member of the varsity soccer team as well as Key Club, Superhero Club, student council and National Honor Society. She received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Scholarship and plans to talk about the many life lessons she and her colleagues have learned in high school and how they can be used as they shape their futures. Bernard, an NSCAA Scholar Athlete All American, said she will miss the friends she has made over the years. Her favorite high school memory was defeating Starr's Mill in her sophomore year. "It was one of the first games that I felt I had an integral role in capturing the win," said Bernard. "I also felt that all of my offseason training the year before had paid off." Bartels will attend Rhodes College and will possibly major in international studies. She received the Morse Scholarship from the school, which will provide $20,000 a year, as well as the McIntosh Tip-Off Club Scholarship and the National Merit Finalist Scholarship at Rhodes. Bartels was a member of the varsity basketball and volleyball team as well as president of the Beta Club and the Young Republicans. "Above all, I will miss the friends I have made through all my activities and classes," Bartels said, while stating that she will not miss the rigid structure and lack of trust that high schools have for their students. Her favorite high school memory is of attending football games on Friday nights. Bartels plans on talking about the importance of remembering where one comes from when entering a new phase of life in her graduation speech. Sandy Creek's valedictorian is Erika Sloane Lentini while its salutatorian is Camille Smith. Lentini will attend the University of Georgia, from which she received the Charter Scholarship, in the fall and plans to major in pre-med. She was a member of student senate, Key Club, Beta Club, National Honor Society and the debate team among others. Her graduation speech will discuss the impact that teachers can have on a student's life but that ultimately it is the student's desire to do well that will lead them to greater things. Lentini said she will miss the simplicity of high school and its set routine but says she will not miss having to have a hall pass or not being able to leave campus without parent or principal permission. Her favorite memory from high school is the feeling that one gets on the last day of school, knowing that there are three months to relax before school starts up again. Smith received the National Achievement Scholarship and will attend Duke University in the fall. She plans to major in engineering. Smith was a member of Beta Club, national Honor Society and Key Club and plans to talk about optimism of the future and the challenge to make the most out of life during her graduation speech. Smith said that she will miss the people and the comfort of a familiar place but will not miss the restrictions of high school, the social pressures or walking in the hallway during class changes. She thanks her parents for being so supportive of her. Starr's Mill's valedictorian is Jonathan Ferro and the salutatorian is Apurva Doshi. Ferro will attend the United States Air Force Academy and plans to major in mechanical engineering. He will receive a full ride to the Academy as well as $15,000 per year for ROTC. Ferro was a member of student government, Beta Club, Key Club, National Honor Society and math team. His speech will center around the "good old days" and how the past has defined who we are today. Ferro said he will miss his friends, some of whom he has known for 13 years, when he heads off to college in the fall. His favorite memory of high school was the trip to New York City in his junior year. Ferro also cites Coach Stephen Pruitt, who taught him in CP Chemistry, AP Chemistry and Chemistry II, as his favorite teacher in high school. Doshi will attend Georgia Tech in the fall but has yet to decide on a major. He has received the Hope scholarship. Doshi was a member of National Honor Society, academic team, debate team and French club. The theme for his graduation speech will be enjoying the past but not dwelling on it. Doshi said that he will miss his friends when he heads off to college but claims he will not miss the rules, lack of freedom and busy work of high school. He also cites Coach Pruitt as one of his favorite teachers at the school. His favorite high school memory is of being selected "Duke" of the sophomore class. Graduation exercises will take place Friday, May 24. Fayette County's and McIntosh's commencement exercises begin at 6 p.m. while Sandy Creek's and Starr's Mill's exercises begin at 8 p.m.
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