Highland chooses 3 for top honors BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY - Highland High School announced this week that Monika Dever has been chose the Class of 2007 valedictorian with a grade point average of 4.14. She is the daughter of Tom and Becky Dever of Monterey.
"Monika is a very personable young lady and has been an asset in the office last period of the day where she fulfills her duties as a teacher assistant," says HHS principal Randy Hooke. "If you ever attended a basketball game you may have a sense of her competitive nature."
Dever will attend James Madison University, majoring in interior design and business.
Thinking about what her life might be like 10 years from now, she says, "Hopefully I will have a family, a nice brick house, a really stable and well-paying job, just a good life in general."
Dever says the small classes and always knowing there is somebody there for you when you need them were two things she enjoys about HHS.
She adds she will miss her friends and teachers. Her favorite class was chemistry.
Dever says her family has been supportive of her desire to get a good education. While she has worked hard to garner the top spot in her class academically, Dever advises those who want to follow in her footsteps "to not stress out too much and just enjoy yourself and have fun, but work hard at the same time."
Dever played basketball, ran cross-country, is a member of the National Honor Society and the Student Council Association. She is also listed in "Who's Who Among America's High School Students."
HHS has two co-salutatorians this year, trailing behind by less than a decimal point in GPA.
Cody Armstrong, daughter of Mike and Georgeanne Armstrong of McDowell, has a GPA of 4.08.
"Cody has always been a quiet, reserved young lady in school," says Hooke. "She goes about her business in a quiet reassuring manner, but do not mistake her reserved manner for being timid. If you have seen her play volleyball or basketball you would know she does not believe in standing back. I have always been impressed with her love of horses and the level of involvement she has in the family farm. I am sure horses will play a big part in her years after college."
Armstrong is heading off to Blue Ridge Community College next year. After that, she hopes to transfer to a four-year university to major in environmental science, with a minor in architectural design.
"I want to be a consultant for people wanting to design their own equine facilities," she says as she thinks about where she wants to be in 10 years. "Hopefully I'll have my own business. And I'll definitely be single and not married," she adds with a smile.
She enjoys the small classes, closeness and familiarity of HHS. "I feel like I know I could count on someone to be there for me, like students and staff," she says.
She says she will miss her friends, which includes everyone in her class. Her father is her hero, though. "I look up to my dad because he always seems to make the best out of life and reminds everyone it is not about how much money you make, but enjoying what you do," she says.
"Don't take for granted the small community you live in," is her advice to the students of HHS. "Realize anyone in the community will always help you. Always strive to do your best and never settle for average."
Armstrong has played volleyball since eighth grade, is a member of the HHS Future Farmers of America chapter, and is a member of the 4-H High Riders club.
She competes in horse shows up and down the East Coast. Her specialty is the three-day event. "I'm trying out for the young riders championship this year," she says. She wants to try out for the Olympics in riding some day.
Her favorite class was environmental science.
Jenna Williamson also has a 4.08 GPA. She is the daughter of Sue Johnsen of Monterey. She was born in Alexandria, but moved to Highland County in time for fourth grade.
"Jenna has always been a worker and driven to do her best," says Hooke. "I have enjoyed watching her on our cheerleading team and appreciated her helping with basketball scorekeeping and stats. Jenna attended the Governor's School in Humanities in her junior year. This April she turned her talent to acting as the drama club presented three plays. I most admire Jenna for her ability to balance school demands, including sports, with her help at home and working after school. I was pleased she was considered for The University of Virginia's Jefferson Scholar.
Williamson is going to the University of Virginia in the fall to study business and theater.
Looking 10 years down the road, she says, "I want to be married, have a good job, nice house, and a good stable life." Her advice to the younger students is, "Always push yourself, don't settle for general stuff."
Williamson is enrolled in three advanced placement courses this year - government, psychology, and English literature and composition. She is a member of the National Honor Society, drama club, international club, she has been on the track team, and works at Mountain Hideaway. She also won the Better Business Bureau Student of Integrity award. Her favorite class is study hall.
Hooke says, "These three students are exceptional young ladies and it has been a pleasure to know them and have them in school over the years. Each is their own person, they do what they know is right and follow their moral compass. They all have a great sense of humor and represent us well no matter what they do. Their most common trait is their drive to achieve with an eye on future success. Their organizational skills and focus will help them achieve their individual goals."
| 
