Henry County Schools Recognizes Class of 2025 Valedictorians and Salutatorians

 

 

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Henry County Schools is proud to announce the valedictorians and salutatorians for the Class of 2025.

The 22 outstanding seniors from the district’s 11 high schools were among 3,672 graduates honored during commencement ceremonies held May 16-22 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

A total of 71 graduates from Impact Academy comprised the school’s inaugural graduating class after it transitioned from a program to a school in August 2024.

An additional 24 students graduated from EXCEL Academy, the district’s alternative school, in a May 16 ceremony at the McDonough Performing Arts Center, bringing the overall number of HCS graduates to 3,696, an 11% increase over last year’s total of 3,325 graduates.

The following are the 2025 valedictorians and salutatorians from the district’s 11 high schools:

Dutchtown High School

• Valedictorian Lisa Duong plans to study biomedical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Salutatorian Aarij Syed plans to study computer science at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Eagle’s Landing High School

• Valedictorian Sai Chava plans to study cellular and molecular biology at Augusta University.
• Salutatorian Om Patel plans to study biomedical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Hampton High School

• Valedictorian Ogoramaka Nwaokolo plans to study nursing at Louisiana State University.
• Salutatorian Paris McGee plans to study political science at Duke University.

Impact Academy

• Valedictorian Kohana Nguyen plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Salutatorian Carolyn Rose-Mariah Kelley plans to study cybersecurity at Kennesaw State University.

Locust Grove High School

• Valedictorian Chelie Chatman plans to study biomedical engineering with a minor in chemistry at Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Salutatorian Sarah Beth Harper plans to study accounting at the University of West Georgia.

Luella High School

• Valedictorian Elijah McFarlane plans to study aeronautical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Salutatorian Thien Phuoc Tong plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.

McDonough High School

• Valedictorian Jerricka Sumlin plans to study pediatric psychiatry at Augusta University.
• Salutatorian Jaia Bradley plans to study diagnostic medical sonography at Albany State University.

Ola High School

• Valedictorian Carson Schmitt plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Salutatorian Conner Middlebrooks plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Stockbridge High School

• Valedictorian Taniya Dewar plans to study business at Kennesaw State University.
• Salutatorian Daniela Botello plans to study international affairs at the University of Georgia.

Union Grove High School

• Valedictorian Vincent Macias plans to study industrial engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Salutatorian Emil Burt plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Woodland High School

• Valedictorian Alexander Mey plans to study biology at Mercer University.
• Salutatorian Corrine Hunter plans to study mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.

HCS valedictorian and salutatorian are selected based on criteria that include:

• Consistent enrollment for the entirety of four semesters immediately preceding graduation
• Earning all units of credit from a state or regionally accredited school
• Weighted GPA at the end of the senior year

HCS’ graduating seniors accumulated $87 million and counting in academic, athletic, and fine arts scholarships to postsecondary institutions and military appointments.

“I was exceedingly proud to participate in my first commencements as superintendent of Henry County Schools and celebrate this milestone in our students’ lives,” said Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “Our graduating class reflects the results of hard work and determination, and I commend our graduates for their commitment to academic excellence. Congratulations to Henry County Schools’ Class of 2025! We look forward to the exceptional outcomes you will achieve in your exciting new chapter.”

“We applaud our graduates and the spirit of determination and perseverance that brought them to this pivotal moment,” said Board Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4). “Henry County Schools equips students with college-, career-, and life-ready skills, steppingstones to even greater opportunities, which will prepare them for success and empower them to make a difference in higher education, the workforce, the military, or any path they choose.”

About Henry County Schools

Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 53 schools and located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past two decades, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.

HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.

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