Twenty outstanding seniors earned top honors as the highest-ranking students in this year’s graduating class, recognizing years of academic excellence.
To celebrate, they attended the Top 20 banquet on May 4 at the Garment Factory in Franklin. The Top 20 students and their parents and special guests as well as teachers who had impacted the students’ lives attended. Following dinner, teachers introduced their students at the microphone followed by students explaining the impact of their selected teachers to the crowd.
“The students choose a teacher that’s been instrumental in their life while they’re at high school. Our administration and school board members are all invited,and the food is catered by The Garment Factory,” Mrs. Shelly Goodrich, administrative assistant, said. “The students are celebrated because these kids have worked really hard to get in the Top 20. It’s an honor for them and their parents and all the work that they’ve put into it to get to that level.”
The students decide who they would like to serve as the keynote speaker. Their choice was Mr. Jeremy Runge, social studies teacher, who shared stories about his father and what a role model he has been. He offered words of wisdom to the soon-to-be graduates.
Then, students took the microphone.
“The students come up and receive an award and speak a little bit about the teacher they’ve chosen, and the teacher speaks about the student so both of them will have something to say. The students write a little paragraph about the teachers and why they chose them. All of that information is put into a book that is printed and given to each guest to keep as a memorial of the event,” Mrs. Goodrich said.
The Top 20 students had to take honors and higher level classes to achieve and to maintain their class ranks.
“In order to be in the Top 20, you must take any higher level or honors class that you can. You have to always prioritize studying and getting the work done. Sometimes, that means not being able to do the fun things that my friends are doing, but in the end, I got my work done ahead of time,” senior Ben Riche said. “I worked really hard to make the Top 20. I have always dedicated myself to my studies since I can remember. I enjoy learning, but also I like the academic validation.”
Senior Mackenna Martin had her eyes on a Top 20 spot when she was a junior.
“Something that helped me get into the Top 20 of my class is I worked hard to keep my grades up junior year since that’s one of the most important years,” Martin said.
Focusing on studying could have meant feeling excluded from social get-togethers as these students stayed home to study for tests or handle a school project. But, that sacrifice seemed worth it as they looked out over the crowd at the banquet.
“I’ve always worked hard to put my grades above anything else. Sometimes, it is tough because I can’t always go do things with my friends or I get super busy and it stresses me out, but I’ve found ways to get around that and keep my grades up,” senior Isabelle Reynolds, class salutatorian, said.
Doing assignments ahead of time and turning everything in on time was the key to Martin’s success.
“Some advice I would give is to not wait until the last minute to do big papers and projects because you won’t be able to do your best by putting as much time and effort into it. All of your assignments would be rushed rather than great and on time,” Martin said.
Students who prioritize school above a social life often make the best grades although earning good grades does not necessarily mean sacrificing a social life altogether.
“Some advice I would give to a student who is trying to get into the Top 20 of their class is that it’s okay to miss out on things or not always be with your friends when they’re hanging out. It’s okay to not get the perfect grade. Next time just fix your mistakes and move on for better,” Reynolds said.
