In two days

high school seniors in Fayette County will don cap and gown and attend

the final assembly of their high school careers. The top two students

of each school's senior class, the valedictorian and the salutatorian,

will give a graduation speech reflecting on the past and looking towards

the future.

Gina Atwater

is Fayette County High School's valedictorian, while Daniel Craig Anderson

is the school's salutatorian.

Atwater a member

of the marching band, National Honor Society, Beta Club and Peer Mediation,

among others will attend Emory University in the fall and plans to major

in film studies. She has received the Emory University Woodruff Scholarship

as well as the Bell South National Achievement Scholarship.

"I would

just like to take this opportunity to thank God and my family for their

constant support and unconditional love," said Atwater, who will

talk about how success comes from within in her graduation speech. Atwater

will miss the people she has known since elementary and middle school

but will not miss the arbitrary rules, cliques and social pressures of

high school as well as the "Coke machine" that stole her money.

Anderson, who

will attend Cornell University and plans to major in chemical engineering,

is also a member of the marching band and National Honor Society as well

as the academic team and the Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra. Anderson

cites Frau Mechtild Vogt as his favorite teacher for challenging him academically

and mentally and introducing him to German culture.

He will miss

the marching band the most because it is the only activity that provides

him a sense of family. One thing he won't miss is being forced to run

two miles in under 16 minutes. Anderson plans to talk about maintaining

individuality in a changing world and its necessity for future successes

and the progression of society.

Megan Lynn

Bernard is McIntosh's valedictorian and Megan Bartles is the school's

salutatorian.

Bernard will

attend Princeton and plans on majoring in either math, engineering or

pre-med. Bernard was a member of the varsity soccer team as well as Key

Club, Superhero Club, student council and National Honor Society. She

received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Scholarship

and plans to talk about the many life lessons she and her colleagues have

learned in high school and how they can be used as they shape their futures.

Bernard, an

NSCAA Scholar Athlete All American, said she will miss the friends she

has made over the years. Her favorite high school memory was defeating

Starr's Mill in her sophomore year. "It was one of the first games

that I felt I had an integral role in capturing the win," said Bernard.

"I also felt that all of my offseason training the year before had

paid off."

Bartels will

attend Rhodes College and will possibly major in international studies.

She received the Morse Scholarship from the school, which will provide

$20,000 a year, as well as the McIntosh Tip-Off Club Scholarship and the

National Merit Finalist Scholarship at Rhodes. Bartels was a member of

the varsity basketball and volleyball team as well as president of the

Beta Club and the Young Republicans.

"Above

all, I will miss the friends I have made through all my activities and

classes," Bartels said, while stating that she will not miss the

rigid structure and lack of trust that high schools have for their students.

Her favorite high school memory is of attending football games on Friday

nights. Bartels plans on talking about the importance of remembering where

one comes from when entering a new phase of life in her graduation speech.

Sandy Creek's

valedictorian is Erika Sloane Lentini while its salutatorian is Camille

Smith.

Lentini will

attend the University of Georgia, from which she received the Charter

Scholarship, in the fall and plans to major in pre-med. She was a member

of student senate, Key Club, Beta Club, National Honor Society and the

debate team among others. Her graduation speech will discuss the impact

that teachers can have on a student's life but that ultimately it is the

student's desire to do well that will lead them to greater things.

Lentini said

she will miss the simplicity of high school and its set routine but says

she will not miss having to have a hall pass or not being able to leave

campus without parent or principal permission. Her favorite memory from

high school is the feeling that one gets on the last day of school, knowing

that there are three months to relax before school starts up again.

Smith received

the National Achievement Scholarship and will attend Duke University in

the fall. She plans to major in engineering. Smith was a member of Beta

Club, national Honor Society and Key Club and plans to talk about optimism

of the future and the challenge to make the most out of life during her

graduation speech.

Smith said

that she will miss the people and the comfort of a familiar place but

will not miss the restrictions of high school, the social pressures or

walking in the hallway during class changes. She thanks her parents for

being so supportive of her.

Starr's Mill's

valedictorian is Jonathan Ferro and the salutatorian is Apurva Doshi.

Ferro will

attend the United States Air Force Academy and plans to major in mechanical

engineering. He will receive a full ride to the Academy as well as $15,000

per year for ROTC. Ferro was a member of student government, Beta Club,

Key Club, National Honor Society and math team. His speech will center

around the "good old days" and how the past has defined who

we are today.

Ferro said

he will miss his friends, some of whom he has known for 13 years, when

he heads off to college in the fall. His favorite memory of high school

was the trip to New York City in his junior year. Ferro also cites Coach

Stephen Pruitt, who taught him in CP Chemistry, AP Chemistry and Chemistry

II, as his favorite teacher in high school.

Doshi will

attend Georgia Tech in the fall but has yet to decide on a major. He has

received the Hope scholarship. Doshi was a member of National Honor Society,

academic team, debate team and French club. The theme for his graduation

speech will be enjoying the past but not dwelling on it.

Doshi said

that he will miss his friends when he heads off to college but claims

he will not miss the rules, lack of freedom and busy work of high school.

He also cites Coach Pruitt as one of his favorite teachers at the school.

His favorite high school memory is of being selected "Duke"

of the sophomore class.

Graduation

exercises will take place Friday, May 24. Fayette County's and McIntosh's

commencement exercises begin at 6 p.m. while Sandy Creek's and Starr's

Mill's exercises begin at 8 p.m.

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