Gallatin High's valedictorian and salutatorians. What's next, who helped and favorites
Gallatin High School's class of 2023 has 363 graduates receiving diplomas Friday, May 19 on campus.
Twelve of those graduates are enlisting in the military covering all four major branches, Gallatin Principal Ron Becker said. Typically around three students per class join the military at Gallatin.
"The class is full of high character, high quality students that we expect to do good things in their future," Becker said. "We are excited to see and hear what all they accomplish in life."
Valedictorian
Sophia Say
College or career plans: To attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to major in mathematics.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "Watching all of my best friends graduate a year before me and learning to step outside my comfort zone and form new relationships my senior year."
Are you looking forward to speaking at graduation (asked prior to graduation)? "I am looking forward to speaking because it's a great honor, however I am a little nervous because I've never spoken in front of a crowd that large before."
Extra-curricular activities and outside interests: Wavettes dance team, tennis team, school ambassador, Beta Club, student council executive board, Interact Club,, peer leader, National Honor Society, cotillion.
Person who influenced you during high school: Betsy Anderson (math teacher and student council advisor).
Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Ricardo's Mexican Restaurant, Taylor Swift and "Gilmore Girls."
Salutatorians
Madison Dawes
College or career plans: To attend Belmont University as selection in the Global Honors Program. To study psychology on a pre-med track.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "Embracing change. Between COVID and things at home I have had to grow amongst inconsistency."
Are you looking forward to speaking at graduation (asked prior to graduation)? "Yes and no. Because elementary Madison dreamed of this, but she did not know middle school Madison would develop stage fright."
Extra-curricular activities and outside interests: Cross-country and track, bowling team, student council, Key club, FCA, HOSA, DECA, cotillion. "Outside of school I love to read and go out with friends and family."
A person who influenced you during high school: "(Counselor) Lori McCormick and Jim Van Dyke have been my biggest supporters and have pushed me to be my best have inspired me to have more confidence."
Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Chick-fil-A, Rhianna and "New Girl."
Kathryn Wims
College or career plans: To attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to pursue a degree in kinesiology and to eventually achieve a doctorate in physical therapy.
What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "Learning to manage my schoolwork, extracurriculars and time with friends and family without sacrificing my well-being. Ultimately, I had to make a schedule, develop time management skills, complete work in advance and learn when to say no."
Are you looking forward to speaking at graduation (asked prior to graduation)? "I am nervous about delivering a speech at graduation because this will be my first time speaking in front of such a large crowd, but I am also very excited. I would love to leave my classmates with an inspirational and memorable message.".
Extra-curricular activities and outside interests: Key Club, National Honor Society, HOSA-future health professionals, National Technical Honor Society, Interact Club, bowling team and dance with Centerstage Performing Arts Academy for 13 years.
A person who influenced you during high school: Social studies teacher Jim Van Dyke. "He has a way of taking a group of very different students and molding them into a tight-knit friend group where I have made my closest friends. He is honest, witty, social and encouraging with all his students and has always pushed me to pursue my greatest potential. Mr. Van Dyke has played an integral part in making high school so enjoyable for me and I am very thankful for his willingness to go above and beyond for me and many of my classmates."
Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Sapporo, Kelsea Ballerini and Taylor Swift and "Gilmore Girls."
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gallatin High's valedictorian and salutatorians and how they did it
