2010's valedictorians and salutatorians

Join the Athens Banner Herald in congratulating these young ladies and young men on their very special achievement.

Kymberly Ervin (not pictured)

Valedictorian, Apalachee High School

Extracurricular activities: National Honor Society, Beta Club, HOSA, Youth Apprenticeship in the BRMC’s ICU

Academic achievements: President’s Award, Phi Kappa Phi Senior Award, Georgia Certificate of Merit, Honor Graduate, AP Honor Scholar

College: Georgia Tech

Study/career interest: Biology, healthcare/PreMed

Scholarships: The Barrow County Chamber of Commerce’s Glenn Segar’s Scholarship, The Georgia Club Foundation Scholarship

Favorite quote for inspiration: “Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” — Walt Disney

Parents: Kevin and Christy Craig

Lindsey Harrison

Salutatorian, Apalachee High School

Extracurricular activities: Captain of Basketball Cheerleading; vice-president of Future Educators Association; Tri-M Musical Honors Society; Mentor Program

College: Georgia College and State University

Study/career interest: Physics; high school physics teacher

Scholarships: Ingles Markets Scholarship, Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority Educational Scholarship, The Mary L. Ford Sims Scholarship, Glenn Segars Scholarship, The Barrow Community Foundation Slaughter Scholarship

Favorite quote: “For success, attitude is equally as important as ability” — Harry F. Banks

Parents: Raina Harrison and Jay Harrison

Michael Lai

Valedictorian, Athens Academy

College: Princeton University

College Acceptances: Duke University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, The University of Georgia, Rice University

Scholarships: Georgia Tech’s President’s Scholarship, Rice University Century Scholar and Trustee Distinguished Scholar, Emory Liberal Arts Scholarship, The University of Georgia Charter Scholarship

Academic and Athletic Achievements: Oconee System STAR student, perfect score on SAT, Emory Summer Scholars Program, Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll, National Spanish Honor Society, William E. Smith Academic Award each year, Math Team, Academic Team, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Finalist, Furman Scholar, The University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, American Mathematics Exam, School Winner, Atlanta Sports Awards’ High School Scholar/Athlete of the Year Nominee, Phi Kappa Phi, Harvard Book Prize, Artwork exhibited during Artscape at Athens Academy, Tennis Team

Community Service: Media and Technology Club, Emory Migrant Farmworkers Project volunteer

Favorite quote: “Action may not always bring Happiness, but there is no Happiness without action.” — Benjamin Disraeli

Parents: Ming-Jun Lai and Lingyun Ma of Watkinsville

Christine Shaw

Valedictorian, Athens Academy

College: Yale University

College Acceptances: University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Northwestern University

Scholarships: Morehead Cain Scholarship, The University of Michigan Shipman Scholarship

Academic and Athletic Achievements: Governor’s Honors Program in social studies, Duke TIP - Drama, Princeton Humanities Symposium Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll, National Merit High Scorer, The University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, AP Scholar with Distinction, William E. Smith Award, National Council of English Teachers Writing Award, English and Humanities medals, Furman Scholar, Graduation Honor Marshal, Junior Classical League, National Latin Honor Society, Gold Medal Award on National Latin exam, One Act Play, Oconee Youth Playhouse Company for dance, Artscape exhibitor, Drama Club, best lawyer for Mock Trial team, Spring play, Georgia Shakespeare Competition, Literary Competition, First Place for Extemporaneous Speaking Swim Team

Community Service: Interact Club - 9-12, Vice President, 11, President-12, Project Pallam, Homeless Shelter Weekly volunteer, service medals each year, Judiciary Board - 11-12

Favorite quote: “All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible.” — William Faulkner 

Parents: Beth and Scott Shaw of Athens

Maggie Kellett

Salutatorian, Athens Academy

College: Georgia Institute of Technology

College Acceptances: Princeton, The University of Virginia

Scholarships: UGA Presidential Scholarship, Scholarship to Cambridge Tradition Program

Academic and Athletic Achievements: Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll, Honor Guard for Graduation, Sewanee Book Award, National Latin Honor Society, National Junior Classical League, gold medalist for National Latin Exam, Academic Top Ten, William E. Smith Award, Furman Scholar, Medals in Latin, Mathematics and English, AP Scholar with Distinction, Athens Academy orchestra, One Act Play, Spring Play, Varsity Basketball Cheerleader, JV Volleyball

Community Service: Athens Academy Camp Counselor, Interact Club, Mentor to Freshman, Twelfth Man School Spirit Group

Parents: David and Sandra Kellett of Athens

Elizabeth Newcomer

Salutatorian, Athens Academy

College: The University of Virginia

College Acceptances: Furman University, The University of Georgia, Washington and Lee University

Scholarships: Furman University Scholar and Achiever Scholarship, The University of Georgia Charter Scholarship

Academic and Athletic Achievements: Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll, Honor Guard for Graduation, The University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, National Spanish Honor Society, Furman Scholar, Medals in Humanities, Biology, English, Spanish and Mathematics, William E. Smith Award, Biochemistry intern in UGA lab, Drama Club, Spring Play, Yearbook, Pep Band, Flute, Mock Trial Team, Girls Cross Country

Community Service: Coffee For Causes, Spartan Christian Fellowship, Interact Club, co-president, DAR Good Citizen Award

Favorite quote: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” — Winston Churchill

Parents: Doug and Tracey Newcomer

David Himelick

Salutatorian, Athens Academy

College: Carleton College

College Acceptances: Bowdoin College, Colorado School of Mines, Grinnell College, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, University of Rochester

Scholarships: National Merit $2,500 Scholarship, Bowdoin College Faculty Scholar Award, Carleton College Renewable Scholarship, Colorado School of Mines Merit Scholarship, Grinnell College Trustee Honors Scholar, University of Rochester Wilder Trustee Scholarship

Academic and Athletic Achievements: Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll, Honor Guard for Graduation, Furman Scholar, The University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, AP Scholar with Honor, National Merit Finalist, William E. Smith overall academic award, Bausch & Lomb Science Award, Academic Top Ten, Spanish National Honor Society, Spanish and Biology medals, cross-country

Community Service: Service Day Participant each year at Athens Academy, volunteer every summer in the South Georgia Farmworker Health Project providing free health care to migrant workers.

Favorite quote: “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” —Benjamin Franklin

Parents: Thomas and Julie Himelick of Watkinsville

Colin Bishoff

Valedictorian, Athens Christian School

College: University of Georgia

College Acceptances: Anderson University (South Carolina)

Academic and Athletic Achievements: member of the National Honor Society, highest averages in AP calculus and Spanish 3; highest averages in pre-calculus and chemistry; 3200 single A runner up (track); region champion in 3200 (track);city champion 3200 (track); XC single A state champion; XC single A state runner up

Community Service: Operation Christmas Child in 2009 (Honor Society outing)

Favorite quote: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Parents: Reg and Amy Bishoff

Caleb Wethington

Salutatorian, Athens Christian School

College: Lee University

College Acceptances: University of Georgia, Atlanta Christian College, Anderson University

Scholarships: President’s Scholarship

Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Butch Wethington

Clara Nibbelink

Valedictorian, Cedar Shoals High School

Extracurricular Activities: Co-president of Chicken Wing Improvisational Theatre, Philosophy Club Elder, Varsity cross-country and Soccer Team co-captain and Captain, National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, Cedar Shoals Concert Choir member, Covenant Presbyterian Choir Member and Praise Band Vocal Leader. Clara loves to read, write, run, sing, act, dance, and skip around with glee.

College: University of Georgia

Study/career interest: Clara plans to do an Honors Interdisciplinary Major combining her favorite aspects of the humanities with her favorite aspects of the sciences with community service.

Scholarship: Foundation Fellowship from the University of Georgia

Favorite quote: “If all you ever do is wait for things around you to change, you’re wasting your time.” — The wise old Coach Hicks

Parents: Heidi Espenscheid-Nibbelink and Nate Nibbelink

Agata Rzucidlo

Salutatorian, Cedar Shoals High School

Extra Curricular Activities: Volunteer at St. Joseph Catholic Church, member of DanceFx Fx2 Performance Company, president of Spanish Honor Society, member of Young Partners for a Prosperous Athens Steering Committee, work as a lifeguard at the YWCO

College: University of Georgia

Career study/interest: Spanish and pre-medicine with the goal of becoming an anesthesiologist

Scholarship: Harris Scholarship, Joseph Adams Senior Scholarship, Coach Vince Dooley Scholarship

Favorite quote: “Live in the moment; for the moment is all you have.” (unknown)

Parents: Jacek and Dorota Rzucidlo

Ivan Santillan

Valedictorian, Clarke Central High School

College: Georgia Tech

Study/Career Interests: Engineering (Chemical, at the moment)

Extracurricular activities: National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Club), Academic Team, Sandy Creek Nature Center volunteers, Beta Club, Cross Country, Chemistry Club, Track and Field, Youth Leadership Athens, piano

Scholarship: President’s Scholarship at Georgia Tech, The Gregg W. Lewis Memorial Scholar Athlete Award, The Marge Schneider Memorial Science Award, Pepsi Cola Scholarship

Favorite quote: “Every man is free to rise as far as he’s able or willing, but the degree to which he thinks determines the degree to which he’ll rise” — Ayn Rand

Parents: Miguel and Norma Santillan

Hao Peng

Salutatorian, Clarke Central High School

College: University of Georgia

Study/career interest: General mathematics and sciences, statistics, and computer science/IT

Scholarships: UGA Harris Scholarship, UGA Full Out of State Tuition Waiver, Tulane University Distinguished Scholar Award, Tulane Scholarship, Mercer Academic Scholarship

Extracurricular activities: Academic Team; tutor in after school programs and Empowered Youth Program, Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society: participant in math competitions including the annual UGA math competition, Kennesaw State University High School Mathematics Competitions, and American Mathematics Competition (AMC); chemistry club co-president, National Honor Society and National Beta Club (with various community service projects), Georgia Math League

Favorite quote: “Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.” — Anonymous

Parents: Limei Liu and Muliang Peng

Joe Sanders

Valedictorian, Commerce High School

College: University of Georgia

College Acceptances: Tulane University

Scholarships: University of Georgia Chapter National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Scholarship, Greater Atlanta Chapter National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship

Academic and Athletic Achievements: CHS Star Student; Mr. CHS and “Best All-Around”; U.S. Army National Scholar Athlete Award; 2009 First Team All-Region 8-A Football Defensive End; Gainesville Times and Athens Banner-Herald honorable mention football; vice president of senior class; varsity letterman in football, tennis, basketball and literary; tennis team captain; first place Region 8-A Extemporaneous Speaking; member of Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes & HEROES

Community Service: Volunteer in Napoleonville, Louisiana, helping with neighborhood revitalization as part of First Baptist Church of Commerce mission trip; member of First Baptist Church of Commerce mission team traveling to work at orphanage in Lom, Bulgaria

Favorite quote: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” — Theodore Roosevelt

Parents: David and Jennifer Sanders

Deep Patel

Salutatorian, Commerce High School

College: The University of Georgia

College Acceptances: Georgia State University, Mercer University

Scholarships: Commerce Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Commerce Cardiology Clinic Scholarship, Tiger Town Pharmacy Community Scholarship, Northeast Georgia School Superintendent’s Scholarship

Academic and Athletic Achievements: University of Georgia Certificate of Merit, Jackson Rotary Club Student of the Month, Governor’s Honors Nominee, United States Senate Youth Program Nominee, Jackson EMC Energy Bowl Participant, National Honor Roll, Jackson County Community Outreach Young Adult Award Nominee, Highest Grade Point Average, Highest Average: AP Biology, Applied Therapeutical Sciences, Biology, ‘A’ Honor Roll, Senior Superlative: Most Likely To Succeed, Mr. and Ms. CHS Court Member, 2010 Jackson County Community Outreach Essay Contest 4th place winner, Key Club president, Beta Club project chairman, president, Health Occupations Student Association treasurer and vice president, Student Government senior class treasurer, HEROES Peer Mentoring, Academic Team captain, Literary Team, tennis team, One Act Play, Chess Club president, First Georgia Banking Company Junior Board of Directors

Favorite quote: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” — George Carlin

Parents: Kirit and Naina Patel

John Luke Derochers (pictured in the Best and Brightest article)

Valedictorian, East Jackson Comprehensive High School

College: Georgia Tech

Academic and Athletic Achievements: System STAR student (highest SAT score) winner, AP U.S. History Award, AP Chemistry Award, perfect score GHSGT Math, Youth of the Year from St. Catherine Laboure Church through the Archdiocese of Atlanta; marching band captain and saxophone section leader; varsity soccer senior captain; varsity cross country; Beta Club, Academic Team captain, Science Olympiad, Literary Competition-essayist, jazz band, National English Honor Society, Rubix Club, History Club president

Community service: Watson and Brown Historical Preservation junior board as historian officer; St. Catherine Laboure youth group; choir/music ministry (saxophone player); Relay for Life

Favorite quote: “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Parents: John and Karen Derochers

Aubrey Anna Cozzens

Salutatorian, East Jackson Comprehensive High School

College: Brigham Young University

Career interest: Nursing, mother

Scholarship: Award of Excellence Scholarship

Academic Achievements: Miss EJCHS, National Scholar Athlete Award from U.S. Army Reserves, High Schools that Work National Award for Outstanding Educational Achievement, Principal’s Award, Eagle Service Award, Ray A. Kroc Youth Achievement Award, Beta Club president, president of National English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society

Extracurricular Activities: Cross country, soccer MVP 2008-09, Color Guard; school play, early morning seminary

Hobbies: Reading, hiking, camping and spending time with family

Favorite quote: “It builds character.”

Parents: Ferrill and Heidi Cozzens

Janette Elizabeth Gee

Valedictorian, Jackson County Comprehensive High School

College: University of Georgia

Academic Achievements: Top 10 percent of class, UGA Merit Scholar, AP Scholar with honor, Phi Kappa Phi Scholar, Outstanding math student award, Outstanding chorus student award, Outstanding social studies student award, Pearl Wall Science award

 Extracurricular Activities: Varsity soccer MVP, Top Scholar athlete, member of the JCCHS Advanced Ensemble, member of the literary trio, soprano soloist, and in the group’s productions of “West Side Story” and “Pirates of Penzance,”; Beta Club president, National Honor Society co-president, Student Advisory Committee president, member of Tri-M Music Honor Society, varsity basketball player, sophomore and junior class president and senior class vice president

Favorite quote: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank

Parents: Kelley Schwartz and Bryan Gee

Alexia Kristine Miller

Salutatorian, Jackson County Comprehensive High School

College: North Georgia College and State University

Academic Achievements: Top 10 percent, Honor Graduate, 11th Grade Chemistry Award, 11th Grade Trigonometry Award, 9th Grade English A