Meet Hendersonville's Pope John Paul II's 2023 valedictorian and two salutatorians

Hendersonville's Pope John Paul II Preparatory School class of 2023 graduated 128 students at the Grand Ole Opry House.

We asked the school's valedictorian and co-salutatorians questions as they look ahead and back.

Valedictorian

Sara Grubbs

College or career plans: Earned the Distinguished Tennessean Award for Sumner County from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where she will attend college in the fall. To major in neuroscience and will triple minor in sociology, Spanish and pre-health on a pre-med path.

What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "My biggest challenge to overcome in high school was when I lost my friend and teammate during my sophomore year. That was a difficult time because we were going through COVID as well, so sophomore year was really tough for all of us. But through all of that, I gained a strong sense of community and grew much closer to my cross country team, and I am definitely going to miss them all when I go to college."

Did you look forward to speaking at graduation? "Although my graduation has passed, I was very nervous, but also excited to speak. I’ve never been very comfortable with public speaking, but I was really grateful for the opportunity to speak for the people I love as a final sendoff to college. I enjoyed being able to recap our memories and the special things we had been through together, and that made it a lot easier for me to get up on that stage."

Extra-curricular activities and outside interests: Four year member of the cross country and tennis teams and captain of both as a senior. National Honor Society and student body representative as a junior and senior. Worked part-time during the school year at Long Hollow Pizza for two years and now work there full-time. "I love coffee, puzzles, spending time with my family, going out on the boat and hanging out with my friends."

Extra-curricular activities and outside interests: Model United Nations and Youth in Government programs. Cross country and track in the spring all four years; captain of both teams as a senior. "I love learning new things about history, especially the 20th century, and governments across the world. "

A person who influenced you during high school: Parents. "They showed me what it means to not only be a good student, but a good person. They taught me to work hard, but also to not put too much pressure on myself. They told me I should enjoy my time in high school, but also look forward to the future with excitement."

Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Sanders Ferry Pizza, Cody Johnson and "New Girl."

Salutatorians

Drew Sikes

College or career plans: Plans to attend Xavier University and major in history with the intent to go on to law school.

What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "Probably balancing my enormous course load with a fall and winter sports, and with extracurriculars and my social life."

Did you look forward to speaking at graduation (asked prior to graduation)? "I was very much looking forward to speaking at graduation, even though I am not a big public speaker."

Extra-curricular activities and outside interests: Model United Nations and Youth in Government programs. Cross country and track in the spring all four years; captain of both teams as a senior. "I love learning new things about history, especially the 20th century, and governments across the world. "

A person who influenced you during high school: "I was influenced greatly by both of my cross country coaches (Caleb Childers and Betsy Pierpaoli) and one was also later my AP Government teacher (Childers)."

Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Carrabba's Italian Grill. "I am not big into TV or music though."

Noah Young

College or career plans: To attend Lipscomb University to major in Accounting and Finance on a pre-law track.

What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "Sometimes balancing extracurricular activities with a rigorous academic schedule was challenging, so I had to learn to stay motivated and organized."

Did you look forward to speaking at graduation (asked prior to graduation)? "I had the opportunity at graduation, along with my co-salutatorian Drew Sikes, to read from I Corinthians 13 about love, which is one of my favorite scriptures."

Extra-curricular activities and outside interests: Varsity soccer, cross country, Eagle Scout, church youth group and service, reading, gaming and snow skiing.

A person who influenced you during high school: "I've had many great influences, but my AP English teacher, Mr. Josh Mauthe, teaches passionately, creatively, and with a sense of humor, which changed by attitude about the craft of writing and helped me learn to enjoy it."

Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Chick-fil-A, For King and Country and "America's Funniest Home Videos."

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Get to know Hendersonville's JP II's valedictorian and salutatorian