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By Megan Anderson
Hometown News
Graduations tend to be a time of mixed emotions, as graduates look forward to their future, while also reflecting on their past.
Tuesday’s graduation in Blacksburg High School’s T.A. Campbell Stadium was no exception.
The members of the class of 2009 were eager to start exciting jobs and new colleges, but they also wanted to commemorate reaching such a milestone.
There was cheering as diplomas were handed out and the seniors became graduates, but two students in particular had reason to celebrate.
After making straight A’s for four years, Lydia Jones and Heather Andrews had the highest grade point averages in their class.
The two actually ended their high school careers just .0062 apart, with Jones edging Andrews out for class valedictorian.
Despite coming incredibly close, Andrews says it doesn’t bother her to be named salutatorian instead.
“We’re best friends,” she said.
As proof of that, Jones finished her friend’s sentence.
“So it doesn’t really matter about rankings,” she said.
What does matter is that the two got into the schools of their dreams and have big plans for the future.
Come this fall, Jones will be studying engineering at Converse College. She is enrolled in a dual degree the school has with Clemson University. After attending Converse for three years, she will take two more years of classes at Clemson.
Upon earning her degree, she has plans to pursue a Master’s degree in nuclear engineering before working for a company like Duke Energy.
Andrews has also spent time thinking about her prospects.
With plans to become a pediatric oncologist and working at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she will study science at the University of South Carolina. The school doesn’t have a pre-med program, but she intends to major in biology and minor in psychology.
While Jones and Andrews have ambitious goals, they have already proved that they are capable of hard work.
In addition to earning the top two rankings in their class, at the school’s recent awards program, Jones received the top award in English, math, science, and French, while Andrews won in social studies and Spanish.
These distinctions carry more weight when you consider the two also found time to participate in other activities, as well. Jones served as captain of the color guard and played first base on the softball team, where she was named all-region. Andrews was brass captain of the marching band, and a member of the school’s jazz and concert bands, while also working more than 30 hours a week at Dairy Queen.
Their stellar grades and school involvement have earned them each a number of scholarships, proving that hard work really does pay off. While they will both participate in their school’s work-study program, they have essentially earned themselves free rides.
School guidance counselor Billy Transou couldn’t be happier for them.
“Lydia Jones and Heather Andrews are two of the most conscientious, sweetest young ladies with whom I have ever worked,” he said. “It’s a sure bet that both of these young ladies will be successful after graduation from Blacksburg High. We are proud to have them in our BHS family.”
megan@hometown-news.com
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