Meet the 2023 Metro Nashville Public Schools valedictorians, salutatorians

Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

One aspires to be an astrophysicist. Another has plans to study civil engineering. Several have their sights set on careers in health care. Some will head to Ivy Leagues, while others will stay around Middle Tennessee.

The 2023 valedictorians and salutatorians across Metro Nashville Public Schools represent a graduating class that endured great challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting their freshman and sophomore years. The students were honored during an MNPS board meeting on April 25.

“They have skills. They have ambition. They are creative and critical thinkers, and they are going places," Director of Schools Adrienne Battle said during the meeting.

Watch the students get honored at the April 25 meeting below.

This year's top students represent a diverse mix.

"They include musicians and dancers; a five-time state wrestling medalist and a 1,000-point-scoring basketball player; multiple students from MNPS’s School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and the Interdisciplinary Science and Research program; student government leaders; and two students who already have earned a two-year college degree along with their high school diploma," a news release from MNPS said.

Here's a look at the full list of the 2023 MNPS valedictorians and salutatorians.

Antioch High School

  • Parker Buchanan, valedictorian

  • Annilet Gomez Montelier, salutatorian

Big Picture High School

  • Rachel Cohen, valedictorian

  • Jared “Jack” Barnes, salutatorian

Cane Ridge High School

  • Kylan Wilson, valedictorian

  • Kelsey Lusk, salutatorian

Early College High School

  • Zoe Weigel, valedictorian

  • Kylie Hilsen, salutatorian

East Nashville High School

  • Anaya Turnipseed, valedictorian

  • Sanaa Copeland, salutatorian

Glencliff High School

  • Bao Le, valedictorian

  • Rosa Abrego, salutatorian

Hillsboro High School

  • Carl Schmidt, valedictorian

  • Mohamed Sankari, salutatorian

Hillwood High School

  • Samirakhon “Sami” Makhkamjonova, valedictorian

  • Samantha Mullins, salutatorian

Hume-Fogg Academic High School

  • Roger Chen, valedictorian

  • Lisa Kim, salutatorian

Hunters Lane High School

  • Galilea Ramirez, valedictorian

  • Makayla Inmon, salutatorian

Maplewood High School

  • T’Kiah Carter, valedictorian

  • Sheryll Vestal, salutatorian

Martin Luther King Jr. High School

  • Greg Gomez, valedictorian

  • Eben Negasi, salutatorian

McGavock High School

  • Carissa Kim, valedictorian

  • Jayden Gaddes, salutatorian

Nashville School of the Arts

  • Laura Ellis, valedictorian

  • Caia Cupolo, salutatorian

John Overton High School

  • Kennedy Cross, valedictorian

  • Hermena Mikhael, salutatorian

Pearl-Cohn High School

  • Aliyah Dhies, valedictorian

  • Doyel Cockrill III, salutatorian

Stratford STEM Magnet School

  • Benjamin Strausbaugh, valedictorian

  • Jacob Cesario, salutatorian

MNPS Virtual School

  • Conor Patton, valedictorian

  • Kailey Wilson, salutatorian

Whites Creek High School

  • Jo’Misha Fenton, valedictorian

  • Aaron Moreno, salutatorian

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet the Nashville schools 2023 valedictorians, salutatorians