Top performers; valedictorians, salutatorians

This Friday night will mark the graduations for the Class of 2006. Over 1,600 students all across Fayette County will don their cap and gowns, smile for the cameras and will stride across the stage to receive their diplomas. Fayette County and McIntosh will hold their graduation ceremonies at 6 p.m., while Starr’s Mill and Sandy Creek will hold their ceremonies at 8 p.m. If there is rain, the ceremonies will be held the following morning at 10 a.m.

Fayette County High School, 526 graduates

The valedictorian for Fayette County High School’s Class of 2006 is Chelsea Clark, while Nasar Onyeuku is the salutatorian. Clark, daughter of Robin and Christopher Clark, has a 4.071 GPA and will be attending Georgia College and State University with plans on majoring in Chemistry. A four year member of the marching band, Clark has also been a member of the school’s Beta Club, National Honors Society, French Club and French Honors Society. A member of the God Squad at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Clark has also danced with Carla’s Dance Factory for 14 years.

Onyeuku, son of Alfred and Felicia Onyeuku, has a 4.0 GPA and will attend Furman University with plans on majoring in Chemistry. Onyeuku was a member of the varsity soccer team, National Honor Society and Beta Club. His favorite high school memory is dancing in English class with his buddies, Chris Stallings and Cameron Carruthers.

McIntosh High School, 365 graduates

The valedictorian for McIntosh High School’s Class of 2006 is Thomas Lucak and the salutatorian is Anne Elizabeth Buckle. Lucak, son of Kim and Brad Lucak, has a 4.0 GPA and will attend the United States Naval Academy with plans to major in Chemistry. He was the co-captain of the school swim team and was President of National Honor Society, co-President of Key Club and was an Eagle Scout with Boy Scouts of America Troop 279. Lucak’s favorite teacher was Daniel Cumpson.

Buckle, daughter of Charles Stewart Buckle and Deborah Cornett Buckle, has a 4.0 GPA and will attend the University of Tennessee with plans to major in Political Science and Journalism while minoring in French and Music. Her favorite high school memory was singing the national anthem in front of 30,000 people at an Atlanta Braves game with many family members, friends and McIntosh teachers in attendance. Buckle was Captain of the track team for the past three years and has also run cross country and been a varsity cheerleader, She has been a class officer for all four years of her career and has been a member of the National Beta Club, National Honors Society and National French Honor Society.

Sandy Creek High School, 300 graduates

The valedictorian for Sandy Creek’s Class of 2006 is Christine Dunphy, while the salutatorian is Kristen Burnett. Dunphy, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Dunphy, has a 4.19 GPA and will attend Georgia Tech with plans on majoring in Engineering. Dunphy has been a member of the Math team, Spanish club, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, track and cross country teams and various church activities. Dunphy, a Eucharistic minister at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, also sings in a band that plays for a middle school ministry. Her favorite high school memory is rapping on the morning announcements during a run for class secretary in 10th grade. Although she didn’t win, she had fun and received positive feedback.

Burnett, daughter of Randy and Sue Burnett has a 4.0 GPA and will attend the University of Georgia with plans on majoring in Pharmacy. Burnett has been a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Beta Club and the school’s soccer and volleyball teams. Her favorite high school memory is being on the fourth ranked volleyball team in the state during her sophomore year. Her favorite teacher was Dr. Pattiz, who always pushed her to do her best and prepared her well for college.

Starr’s Mill High School, 471 graduates

The valedictorian for Starr’s Mill High School’s Class of 2006 is Kento Masuyama and the salutatorian is Courtney Marie Yarbrough. Masuyama, son of Yuzaburo and Emiko Masuyama, has a 4.0 GPA and will attend Georgia Tech with plans on majoring in Aerospace Engineering. Masuyama has been a member of the varsity track and cross country teams and has also been on the Academic and Math teams, as well as participating in Science Olympiad and playing cello and guitar. His favorite high school memories involve a lot of running, both on the cross country and track squads, but also around Six Flags on a physics field trip, rushing to gather data for the “real life” physics problems.

Yarbrough, daughter of Kim Yarbrough, has a 4.0 GPA and will attend Georgia Tech with plans to major in Mathematics. A member of National Beta Club, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, Yarbrough also cites the Physics field trip to Six Flags as her favorite high school memory. Her favorite teacher is Richard Smith, in A.P. U.S. History.

Landmark Christian School, 63 graduates

The valedictorian for Landmark Christian School’s Class of 2006 is Ashlyn Brooke Bozeman, while the salutatorian is Aaron Thomas. Bozeman, daughter of Stan and Julie Bozeman, has a 4.51 GPA and will attend Mercer University with plans on majoring in Pharmacy. Bozeman has been Vice-President of National Honor Society, Vice-President of National Beta Club, a member of the Student Leadership Academy, Student Senate, the junior varsity cheerleading team, as well as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and an after-school mentoring program. Her favorite memories from high school are the trip to Washington D.C. as a junior and the senior trip to Camp Winshape. Bozeman’s favorite teacher was Dennis Wilson.

Thomas, son of Jeanne and Clyde Thomas, has a 4.45 GPA and will attend Rice University with plans on majoring in Biochemistry. Thomas was a member of the varsity tennis team. His favorite high school teacher was Mr. Wilson because he is a good teacher.