By By Lydia Grimes – features reporter
Two W.S. Neal High School seniors active in everything from academics to athletics have been named valedictorian and salutatorian of their senior class.
Katelin Meridith Hulley is the school's valedictorian this year, and Jessica Amber Johnson is salutatorian.
Hulley, daughter of John and Leslie Hulley, earned a 4.68 on a 4.0 weighted GPA scale.
Hulley received the highest average academic awards in all core subjects in grades 9-12 and was named to the Who's Who Among American High School Students. She was involved with track in the ninth grade, played volleyball and was a cheerleader in the tenth through 12th grades, serving as captain. She was on the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership Team in the eleventh grade.
She was a member of the Neal Eagle Ambassadors for four years; National Honor Society for three years; Mu Alpha Theta for four years; student government for four years serving as treasurer in the tenth grade; class treasurer in the 11th grade; class secretary in the 12th grade; and tutored for three years.
Hulley is active in her church. She has been in the church choir for four years; a church youth leader for two years; and worked in vacation Bible school in her senior year. She has worked for Relay for Life for four years; Pennies for Patients for four years; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for four years; blood drive for two years; Operation Santa Claus for two years, and traveled with the First Presbyterian Church Mexican Trip in 2004.
She was chosen to attend Girl's All-State in 2006, but could not attend. She did attend the Washington D.C. Co-op Youth Tour in 2006.
Hulley said her favorite teachers were Rachel Knowles and Memory Rollin and her hardest subject was government/economics. She plans to attend Auburn University in the fall to major in biomedical science and later apply to the Harrison School of Pharmacy for graduate school.
Hulley has some advice for incoming freshmen: &#8220Always ask yourself if it will matter in five years. If it won't, don't stress over it.”
Johnson earned a 4.6 GPA. She is the daughter of Billy and Diane Johnson.
Johnson was named to the Who's Who Among American High School Students and was president of National Honor Society. She was the senior class treasurer and the recipient of a $20,000 Auburn University Advancement Scholarship and two BankTrust scholarships worth $1,000 each. She is a UCA all-star cheerleader and is in the dual enrollment program.
Johnson was a varsity cheerleader for two years and was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Neal Eagle Ambassadors and National Honor Society, serving as president of that organization. She is the senior class treasurer and a volunteer for Relay for Life, Pennies for Patients, Operation Santa Claus, Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser and student blood drive, and is in the student government.
Johnson said her favorite teacher was Kraig Rittenhouse and her hardest course was his economics and government class. She plans to attend Auburn University to obtain a bachelor's degree in biomedical science and then attend the Harrison School of Pharmacy.
Johnson said she has some simple rules that she said have helped her achieve &#8220everything that I have.”