Onward and Upward: Valedictorians Shoot for the Stars
Class valedictorian is among the highest honors students can achieve academically in high school. Here’s a snapshot of future plans for several Class of 2018 top scholars.
High Point High School valedictorian Yaa Sarkodie was rooting for her best friend to take the top honor. Yaa, who lost her mother at age nine, promised herself that she'd honor her memory by becoming a nurse and advocating for women's health across the globe. She will attend the University of Virginia in the fall.
Bowie High School valedictorian Callie Ingwersen is an aspiring neuroscientist headed to The George Washington University. She will travel to Nepal this summer to volunteer as an English teacher at an orphanage.
Northwestern High School valedictorian Bethleihem Tebase is headed to Princeton University after a straight "A" high school career. Tebase, who interned at the National Cancer Institute, will likely spend a “gap year” in India. DuVal High School valedictorian Ishraq Chowdhury, a Bangladesh native, is also headed to Princeton with plans to major in computer science. After struggling through his freshman year of high school, he vowed to improve his academics.
Oxon Hill High School valedictorian Marshall Mendoza will continue his education at Catholic University. He hopes to join the Air Force and eventually become an aerospace engineer. Mendoza, a member of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and Oxon Hill’s Armed Drill Team, got the top score on all of his Advanced Placement exams. He comes from a family of valedictorians and salutatorians; five relatives have been so honored.