Meet Mt. Juliet High's seven valedictorians and salutatorians: What's next, favorites, more

The 2023 Mt. Juliet High School class has 332 students scheduled to graduate at 7 p.m., Friday, May 19, at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center.

Mt. Juliet High has two valedictorians and five salutatorians under the district's tiebreaker system. The two valedictorians will speak at graduation.

There are multiple criteria for seniors to be eligible for valedictorian and salutatorian, including a 4.25 grade point average, 20 hours of community service and at least four semesters of enrollment in the district. For students who achieve a 4.25 GPA or better, ACT test scores are the deciding factor. It doesn't matter how much higher a student's GPA goes above 4.25, as long as it reaches that level.

Among changes to the valedictorian and salutatorian selections next school year will include the highest grade point average to separate students. The ACT score will be a tiebreaker only if eligible student GPAs are actually identical no matter how high.

Valedictorians

Varaha Ande

College or career plans: "Following graduation, I am planning on getting an undergraduate degree in business analytics and finance. I haven't made my college decision for sure yet, but as of now, I am planning on attending Indiana University-Bloomington's Kelly School of Business."What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "The rigorous course load I enrolled in alongside all of my extracurricular activities made it so that I would often have overlapping commitments and be forced to forgo some activities and events. Over time I restructured my sleep schedule to garner more hours in a day and resorted to a calendar and schedule to help mitigate this challenge."

Are you looking forward to speaking at graduation? "Originally when I found out that I was in the running for valedictorian I was pretty nervous about speaking at graduation; however, as time passed I realized what an honor it would be to provide my peers with the parting words signaling the end of a four-year journey."

Extra-curricular activities: Varsity tennis, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honors Society, Interact Club, club badminton, men's volleyball team, Science National Honors Society.

A person who influenced you during high school: "This is a very tough question to answer as there are too many teachers, family members and friends who have had a monumental impact on my journey throughout high school and where I am today. However, one person who undeniably has had one of the largest impacts on me during high school has to be my AP Capstone teacher Mrs. (Samantha) Richey. Throughout my time with her in high school, she has provided me with guidance and helped me overcome numerous obstacles that I have experienced." Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Chipotle, The Kid Laroi, "Shark Tank."

Jonah Robertson

College and Career Plans: "I'm attending University of Tennessee-Knoxville in fall 2023. I plan on double majoring in computer engineering and creative writing. In terms of career, I would like to be an author and am already at work on a novel, which I hope to publish in the coming year."

What was your biggest challenge to overcome in high school: "For me, the biggest challenge would have to be the social aspect; beginning at Mt. Juliet High School in the 2020-2021 school year, I found it very difficult to form connections with others due to the circumstances of that year, and so I felt very isolated once school resumed normally. Thankfully, however, I was ultimately able to overcome this obstacle by forming a few close friendships which I feel elevated my status within the school and helped me find a better focus in my academic and extracurricular achievements."

Are you looking forward to speaking at graduation: "I took a speech and communications class the previous semester, so hopefully this will help me to be able to give a good opening address. While I am nervous about speaking in front of that many people, I do think it will be an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to it."

Extracurricular activities and outside interests: "This year, I have served as the chapter vice president in Science National Honors Society and the executive board treasurer for Student Council, while also maintaining memberships in Mu Alpha Theta and National Honors Society. I would have liked to participate in more activities like this, although my busy work schedule unfortunately prevented me from doing so."

A person who influenced you during high school: "The most influential person in my high school career has to have been Mrs. (Gayle) Hayes, my chemistry teacher from last year who recently retired. Having someone who cared enough to ensure that I was able to pass my exam and do whatever she could to help me was absolutely incredible. Mrs. Hayes taught me about discipline, time management, good study habits and the benefits of working with others; if any of my future college professors are half as helpful and as caring as her, then I will do just fine in college."

Favorite Restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Eagles, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and Longhorn's Steakhouse, "Big Brother."

Salutatorians

Joshua Bays, Salutatorian

College or career plans: University of Alabama in Huntsville to study computer engineering; interest in ministry.What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "Learning to choose to do what I know to be right when there are outwardly acceptable reasons to not do so."Extracurricular activities and outside interests: Senior Bible quizzing, youth ministry, JROTC.A person who influenced you during high school: "Rev Donald Cash (a) pastor (who) promotes spiritual and professional development."

Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Pho Lee (Mt Juliet), Indiana Bible College "Deadliest Catch."

Xander Danella

College or career plans: To attend Vanderbilt University with hopes of being a student assistant coach and pursue a degree in physics and education.

What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "The biggest challenge I overcame was to earn the respect of my teammates in football. It was a struggle as I was unathletic, but I earned it with my leadership capabilities and my wit on the field."

Extracurricular activities and outside interests: Varsity football, varsity track, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society.

A person who influenced you during high school: "Mrs. Samantha Richey was a huge influence on me. I had her for more than half of my years in high school. She helped shape my character and develop my mind to what it is today.

Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Chic-fil-A, no favorite music artist or TV show.

Natalie Larsen

College or career plans: Attend Clemson University and major in genetics on a path to a medical degree and eventually become a practicing surgeon.What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "My sophomore year was virtual due to quarantine restrictions, which isolated me from friends and classmates, as well as it being hard for me to focus during virtual classes. Although it didn't do much for my focus during classes, my family and I started working (and) volunteering at a barn that was about 45 minutes from our house, which did help with the loneliness and isolation I was struggling with. When I started my junior year, I had to get used to an adjusted friend group, as well as having to completely learn the new-to-me building and staff due to being rezoned after my freshman year."Extracurricular activities and outside interests: "I ride horses, am in the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society and am the 2022-2023 president of the Tabletop Gaming Club here at Mt. Juliet High School."A person who influenced you during high school: "My riding instructor, Nicole (Root), has been very helpful as an advisor and friend. She's a middle school teacher and as such has been able to give me advice pertaining to school, both academically and relationally, as well as always being there to listen and cheer me on."Favorite restaurant, music artist, TV show: Fulin's, ATEEZ, "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Suda Prasanna

College or career plans: Attend University of Tennessee-Knoxville to major in civil engineering. "I am currently in their honors college, and I want to pursue an accelerated masters program and go on to get a PhD. A dream of mine is to start a STEM foundation for young children, as a lot of the volunteer work I have done has been related to facilitating children’s STEM nights."

What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "My biggest challenge to overcome during high school was finding my identity socially. After the Covid-19 pandemic, it was initially a struggle, but after a while I began to associate with more like-minded individuals as we all began associating with each other more. It was at this point that I found my confidence and then began developing my own social circle around them."

Extracurricular activities and outside interests: Two-year president of Science National Honor Society, captain of Science Bowl Team, vice president of Class of 23 Junior Year, student council, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society), Quizbowl, and Ping Pong Club.

A person who influenced you during high school: "I have had so many people who have influenced me throughout high school, but my SNHS Sponsors Mrs. (Gayle) Hayes and Mrs. (Diana) Tewmey are most influential to me because they have taught me how to be my own person and develop my personal leadership style."

Favorite restaurant, musical artist, TV show: Jeremiah's Italian Ice, "I I don’t have an exact favorite musical artist, but the Arctic Monkeys are quite close, "The Good Place."

Ana Suarez

College or career plans: Study political science at Washington University in St. Louis.

What was your biggest challenge to overcome during high school? "My negative feelings about myself were my biggest challenge. They say you are your own biggest critic and that was definitely true for me. I never felt adequate in anything that I did. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone through the classes that I took as well as my amazing support system of friends and family helped me break out of my mentality and shaped me into the person I am today."

Extracurricular activities and outside interests: National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Youth in Government/Model United Nations, Mt. Juliet Band of Gold Concert Band, Governor's School for the Arts (2021).

A person who influenced you during high school: "My mom."

Favorite restaurant, music artist, TV show: Steam Boys, Hozier, "The Good Place."

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

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Meet Mt. Juliet High School's seven 2023 valedictorians and salutatorians