As the end of the 2023 school year approaches, students at Neelyville High School are gearing up for their next chapter in life.
Preston Goodnight was named valedictorian and Ryan Brown salutatorian of the graduating class of 2023. Both have achieved great success throughout their academic careers.
Goodnight, the son of Jerry Goodnight and Lisa Winder, expressed his gratitude for being recognized as a top member of his graduating class.
“It feels amazing to be honored in this way,” said Goodnight. “It really brings all of my hard work academically over the last few years to life.”
Goodnight said he found balancing time between sports and academics to be his biggest challenge. He was involved in many extracurricular activities, including Future Business Leaders of America, Beta Club, Future Farmers of America, trap shooting, varsity basketball and varsity baseball. However, he said dedicating any spare time he had to school work lifted the weight off of his shoulders.
“My proudest accomplishment during my high school career was simply growing as a person,” said Goodnight. “The combination of school work and sports shaped me into who I am today.”
Goodnight said he plans to attend Mineral Area College to study business and eventually complete an ag business program. “I want to be a grain consultant eventually,” said Goodnight. He went on to say he wanted to thank his mom for pushing him to be “the best version of myself possible.”
Salutatorian Ryan Brown also expressed his gratitude in being recognized for his academic achievements.
“It is an honor to have achieved salutatorian,” said Brown. “I am very proud to have maintained good grades through high school and only wish I could’ve done better.”
Brown revealed staying disciplined to do his work was the biggest challenge he faced during high school.
“It isn’t easy to stay determined when the end of school feels so far away, but you have to push through to succeed,” he said.
Although Brown did not participate in any clubs, organizations, or sports during high school, he achieved straight A’s throughout his academic career.
“It made my family proud of me,” said Brown. He went on to say outside of academics, he recently bench pressed 280lbs in the gym, “something that I’m very proud of.”
After graduation, Brown plans to study criminal justice and go into law enforcement. “I don’t currently know which division I’m aiming to be a part of in law enforcement, but I have narrowed it down to that general subject,” he said.
Neelyville High School’s graduation will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 13.