Earning the

status of valedictorian and salutatorian is a long process, beginning

with the first report cards of the freshman year of high school. Each

grade that the students receive over the next four years figures in to

their class ranking. As graduation nears, the students near the top of

the class jockey for position and the top two students are awarded valedictorian

and salutatorian status respectively. For their hard work they are rewarded

with scholarships and praise and both students get the opportunity to

address their class at commencement. It is an academic victory like no

other, an achievement that is a part of that school's history forever.

Congratulations.

LANDMARK CHRISTIAN

SCHOOL

Valedictorian:

Melissa Johnson of Peachtree City

Johnson will

attend Wake Forest University in the fall and plans on majoring in Business.

Johnson received

the Headmaster's Award, the Eagle Award, for straight A's all four years,

and the Principal's Leadership Award this year as well as the Math Award

for the highest cumulative grade point average in mathematics for all

four years. Johnson played varsity tennis for three years and was also

a varsity cheerleader for four years. She was captain of the cheerleading

squad this year as well as Beta Club President, Head Prefect and Chaplain

of National Honor Society. Johnson also attended Girls State, was a member

of student government in her sophomore and junior years and was a member

of FCA.

Johnson's favorite

teacher was Coach Kenny Dallas who taught her Bible class. "He had

a big impact on my life this year," said Johnson. "A lot of

my speech comes from things that I learned in his class. For example,

we should redefine the word success. It is not about money or fame or

power but rather the impact and influence we have on others' lives."

Johnson will

miss her friends most of all but will not miss AP Bilogy study sessions

on Saturdays. Her best high school memories are of squirting water at

people during chemistry labs and the fun she and her friends had in Coach

Dallas' Bible Class.

Salutatorian:

Emily Burslem of Fayetteville

Burslem will

attend Georgia Tech in the fall and plans on majoring in Business.

Burslem received

the Eagle Award, the Isiah Award for Best All-Around Student and the AJC

Award for Best All-Around Senior. Burslem was a member of the varsity

volleyball team and was captain this year, was a member of the varsity

tennis team for three years and was involved in drama. She was secreatary

of national Honor Society, member of Beta Club and FCA, Chapel Prefect,

and vice president of the class in her sophomore and junior years. Burslem

also attended Girls State and was the school's Hobie Representative.

Burslem also

cited Coach Dallas as her favorite teacher. "He was so inspiring

to me," said Burslem. "When the bell would ring I would want

to go out and change lives."

She will miss

her friends the most but will not miss Monday night and Saturday study

sessions for biology or the massive amount of homework she had in high

school. Her best high school memories are of her Bible class and the fun

that everybody had.

STARR'S MILL

HIGH SCHOOL

Valedictorian:

Justin Lai

Lai will attend

Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall and plans on majoring

in mechanical engineering. He has received a scholarship for excellence

in academics from The Organization of Chinese Americans.

Lai is a member

of the science olympiad and academic teams and an officer in National

Honor Society. He played baritone in the marching band, euphonium in the

wind ensemble and guitar in his youth group praise band. he also takes

private piano lessons.

In his graduation

speech Lai plans to discuss pressing on towards the future. "My points

will be learning from past mistakes and appreciating the blessings of

the past and present in order to make better use of the future,"

said Lai. Lai chose not to single out a teacher as his favorite but stated

that the best teachers have been willing to sacrifice time out of class,

present the material in creative and innovative ways and love to teach

and care about the students as people.

Lai will miss

interacting with his friends and classmates as well as Steak and Gravy

days every Thursday. He will not miss the rules, restrictions and strict

adherence to routine both inside and outside of the classroom.

Some of his

favorite high school memories include playing music at football games,

enduring falls and crashes while learning to ski, running in a downpour

in a dark, deserted Busch Gardens to get back with the group, and attending

AP Chemistry study sessions where each member unselfishly contributed

to the reinforcement of learning the materials and still making a good

time out of it.

Salutatorian:

Michael Mayo

Mayo will attend

Georgia Tech in the fall and plans to major in engineering. He has received

the HOPE scholarship and the Governor's scholarship. Among his activities

at the school are Beta Club and National Honor Society. he is also very

involved with Braelinn Baptist Church's youth group.

In his speech,

Mayo plans to discuss making an impact on society. "This includes

not only impacting obvious things like business and technology but also

individual lives," Mayo said.

Mayo's favorite

teacher at the school is Coach Stephen Pruitt. "I have had him for

three years now and I enjoy his witty approach to teaching," said

Mayo. "Also, he invests himself personally into the lives of his

students." Mayo also wishes to thank his parents for investing themselves

heavily in his life.

Mayo will miss

his friends but will not miss the regimented schedule of high school life.

His favorite high school memory is of making a short film for math class

last year.

McINTOSH HIGH

SCHOOL

Valedictorian:

Victoria Maree Fratto

Fratto will

attend The College of William and Mary. She has been named a James Monroe

Scholar at the College of William and Mary as well as a National Merit

Scholar. She has yet to decide on a major.

"I am

excited about attending the College of William and Mary next year, especially

since I have been designated a James Monroe Scholar," said Fratto.

"This program allows motivated students to explore subjects of special

interest outside of the course offerings. For example, previous Monroe

scholars have served internships for members of the British Parliament,

conducted various scientific research projects and studied abroad."

Fratto's extra

curricular activities included four years on the varsity cross country

team, three years on the science olympiad team, three years as a volunteer

mentor at Kedron Elementary School, a volunteer at Fayette Community Hospital

for the past two summers, membership in the French club and a part time

job at Limited Too in The Avenue. She earned a letter all four years on

the cross country team and was co-captain of the 2002 team and was co-captain

of the science olympiad team in 2002 and 2003 as well.

In her graduation

speech, Fratto plans to discuss committment. "The committment of

others, including parents, teachers and role models, has made each graduating

senior the person he or she is today. Committment also involves making

a committment to yourself and to the achievement of your dreams and goals

in life."

Fratto cites

Kathy Porto, her French teacher, as her favorite teacher and states that

she will miss her firends the most and the stench of the Bradford Pear

trees the least. Her favorite high school memory is of the camraderie

on the cross country team.

Salutatorian:

Robert Huefner

Huefner will

attend Harvard in the fall and plans to major in Biology. He was named

a 2003 Coca-Cola Scholar, a National Merit Scholar, a Fayette County STAR

Student, has received a full tuition Army ROTC scholarship and was the

Wendy's High School Heisman National Award Winner. Huefner has also been

named to the adidas/NSCAA High School Scholar All-American soccer team

and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by his peers.

Huefner was

captain of the varsity soccer and science olympiad teams, editor of the

school paper, a member of the varsity football and cross country teams,

National Honor Society, Beta Club, band, German National Honor Society

and the yearbook. His favorite teachers are A.P. English teacher Patricia

Dobbs Carmen and math teacher and 2003 Star Teacher Doug Austin.

Huefner states

that he will his friends the most and the structured school days and people

looking over your shoulder the least. His favorite high school memories

are winning the state soccer chanmpionship and finishing second in the

nation in 2000 and winning the High School Heisman award last fall.

SANDY CREEK

HIGH SCHOOL

Valedictorian:

Savannah Solomon

Solomon will

attend Georgia Tech in the fall and plans on majoring in International

Affairs and Economics. She has received the Toyota Community and Discover

Card Gold Scolarhips and was named a Girl Scout Young Woman of Distinction.

At Sandy Creek,

Solomon was a member of the Key Club, Beta Club, French Club, National

Honor Society, math team, Young Life and the soccer team. She was also

class secretary and involved with Red Carpet Day. Her favorite teacher

at the school is Mark DeCourcy.

"He takes

subjects that are potentially dry and boring and makes them fun,"

said Solomon. "He has a good sense of humor and he actually cares

that every person understands the topic."

Among the things

she will miss about high school, Solomon will miss knowing everyone and

having a history with people as well as the lack of true responsibility.

She will not miss not being taken seriously nor the people who think that

high school is the most important thing they will do. For her favorite

high school memories, she cites watching the football team beat Woodward

at their homecoming, roadtrips though Tennessee and dancing all so many

nights long.

Salutatorian:

Norman H. "Trea" Ward III

Ward will attend

Georgia Tech in the fall and plans to major in Industrial Engineering.

He recievd a $500 scholarship from the Georgia Mining Foundation. Among

his extra curricular activities, Ward particpated in football, baseball,

National Honor Society, French Honor Society and Beta Club.

Ward's favorite

teacher at Sandy Creek is history teacher Mr. Pattiz. "The omnipresent

question "What if?" had the class pondering the countless ways

history might have been different if a small change occurred," said

Ward. "He was also a good friend."

Ward states

that if he will miss anything about high school he will miss the stability

and environment surrounded by intellectuals and peers along with his friends.

He will miss the homework and the rules the least. His favorite high school

memory is of catching two interceptions in two consecutive footbal games

early in his senior season.

FAYETTE COUNTY

HIGH SCHOOL

Valedictorian:

Karen Wallace

Wallace will

attend the University of Georgia in the fall and has yet to decide on

a major. She recieved the Mercer University Presidential Scholarship,

the Berry College Academic Scholarship and the HOPE Scholarship.

Wallace was

a member of the Select Chorus, the Class of 2003 Executive Board, Beta

Club, First Priority and her church youth group.

Her graduation

speech will congratulate and encourage her fellow classmates. "I

want to remind everyone of the importance of striving for excellence in

all you do," said Wallace. "It is also important to not let

mistakes in the past hold you back from a great, successful future."

Wallace's favorite

teacher is Mr. Mason, her homeroom teacher and former math teacher. "He

is an extremely intelligent, energetic and encouraging person. He encourages

all of his students to do their best and to never give up," said

Wallace. "Mr. Mason has inspired me to have a positive outlook on

all situations I face and to strive for excellence in all I do."

She will miss

the opportunity to see so many of her friends on a daily basis but will

not miss the routine daily schedule of high school. Her favorite high

school memory is the Select Chorus trip to New York City in February.

Salutatorian:

Katie Wallace

Wallace will

attend Berry College in the fall and has not yet decided on a major. She

recieved the Mercer University Presidential Scholarship, the Berry College

Academic Scholarship and the HOPE Scholarship.

Wallace was

a member of the Select Chorus, the Class of 2003 Executive Board, National

Honor Society, First Priority and her church youth group. She also enjoys

playing tennis and working out.

In her graduation

speech, Wallace wil encourage her fellow graduates to cherish the friends

and memories they have made, make wise decisions now and in the future

and use the gifts and talents they have been blessed with to make a difference.

Her favorite

teacher at the school is Mr. Kuykendall, her AP Chemistry teacher. "He

goes above and beyond other teachers in his effort to teach a college

level course while still maiking the class enjoyable," said Wallace.

"He challenges the students academically while also genuinely caring

about them as people."

She will miss

the time she gets to spend with her friends but will not miss the routine

of the 8:40 a.m.-3:20 p.m. days Monday through Friday.

Her favorite

high school memory is of the trip to New York City in February. The Select

Chorus toured the city, saw the sights and sang at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

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