Neelyville High’s top graduates are valedictorian Hannah Hover and salutatorian Jessica Henry.
Hover is president of the Beta Club and editor of the school newspaper. She also participated in Future Business Leaders of America and worked on the yearbook.
“The potential for bigger opportunities...has kept me motivated to work hard,” she said.
Hover explained teachers Mrs. Newcomb, Mr. Hurt, and Ms. Cloud provided invaluable assistance on her journey.
“I’d like to thank my parents, and best friends Addison Couch and Delayni Dobbins for always believing in me and cheering me on,” she affirmed.
Her parents are Jim and Cindy Hover of Neelyville and Brosley, respectively.
Hover will miss seeing her friends every day at school but is looking forward to the challenge of college. She will attend Three Rivers College to study business administration, aspiring one day to open her own bakery.
Salutatorian Jessica Henry served as the yearbook editor and a cadet teacher. Learning has been a continuously important part of her journey.
“School has always been an escape from reality for me. I naturally applied myself fully from a young age, and that has just carried on throughout my life,” Henry elaborated.
She thanked her parents for helping her to push her limits.
“They never doubted me and always were encouraging me to be the best version of myself,” Henry remarked.
She expressed gratitude to the school’s guidance counselor, Ms. Cloud, for helping her navigate various obstacles.
Henry said she will miss the simplicity of life during high school.
“Many people think that the work ends when they graduate but that’s not the case. Now instead of worrying about upcoming exams, you have to worry about bills and taxes,” she clarified.
Henry is slated to attend Arkansas State where she will study animal science. She hopes to pursue a career as a veterinarian.
“This is a career path I have dreamed about since I was a little girl,” Henry stated.
Her parents are James and Ashley Henry of Poplar Bluff.