Social Circle High School
Social Circle High School Valedictorian Shelby Lynn Pinholster, 18, plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she will major in electrical engineering and minor in political science and economics.
“I want to be an engineer and later a politician. I love math and science, and I greatly enjoy learning about politics and economics. I want to make an impact on our world. I want to improve technologies and politics,” she said about her future endeavors.
Pinholster was awarded the Georgia Certificate of Merit; inducted into the Beta Club, National Honor Society, the Math Honor Society, and a national honor society for colleges. She has also received several awards for achievement in math.
Her favorite quote: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Les Brown
Maggie Callahan, 17, is Social Circle High School’s 2013 salutatorian. She will attend Mercer University in the fall and major in political science. Callahan said she wants to become the first female governor of Georgia and help to solve the public education and impeding health care crises. She is a Georgia Merit Scholar; has auditioned for the Rockettes, a precision dance company; and has been on the varsity competition cheerleading team, varsity soccer team and varsity tennis teams at her high school. In addition to athletics, Callahan was senior class president and started the video morning announcements at Social Circle High School.
Callahan added that she has been the flag team captain for four years, choreographing all the routines and organizing uniforms; was a member of the concert band serving as the first chair baritone; and recently made the top cheerleading team at Mercer University.
Her favorite quote: “To be great is to be misunderstood.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Covington Academy
Covington Academy’s valedictorian Morgan McCoy, 18, said she will attend Andrew College and major in occupational therapy.
McCoy said she wants to help people recover from illness. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Beta Club.
Her favorite quote: “In the hopes of reaching the moon, men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.” -- Albert Schweitzer
Maranda Dorsey, 16, is the salutatorian for Covington Academy. Dorsey will attend Georgia Perimeter College and said that she plans to become a doctor.
“I enjoy helping people, and being a doctor, I will be able to help people daily,” she said. Dorsey is a member of the Beta Club and the Key Club.
Her favorite quote: “All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” - Walt Disney
Peachtree Academy
Jacob Richardson, 16, is the valedictorian of Peachtree Academy. Richardson will attend Georgia Perimeter for another year, where he is currently enrolled, majoring in general studies. After that, he plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design and major in theater.
“My dream is to be an actor because I enjoy being on stage in plays. I get to be a jokester and have fun ad-libbing,” Richardson said.
His high school accomplishments include receiving the Principal Honors Award, and playing on the baseball team.
His favorite quote: “A lie is just a great story ruined by the truth.” -Neil Patrick Harris
Woodlee’s Christian Academy
Woodlee’s Christian Academy valedictorian Brandon Terry Call, 17, plans to further his education in the north Georgia mountains at Young Harris College, with a major in business.
“I want to own my own music store and give guitar lessons,” Call said. “I am very passionate about music, especially playing guitar, and I love to give people music advice and boost their knowledge. It would make me very happy to share my knowledge with young people and watch them grow as musicians.”
Call is a five-year Beta Club member, a three-year Student Council member and is Student Council president. He has been an A/B student throughout his high school career and has been a band member for four years.
His favorite quote: “I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn’t need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about? “- Henry Ford
Alpha Omega High School
Alpha Omega High School Valedictorian Marissa Valentine, 17, will attend Georgia Southern University and major in Physical Therapy and Psychology.
She said she plans to be a physical therapist or a psychologist, primarily because she likes to help people.
Valentine said one of her biggest accomplishments is skipping a grade and gaining the opportunity to graduate early, then starting and finishing her first semester of college.
Her favorite quote: “I’m ready to live, ready to breathe, ready to take in everything. I’m ready to love, ready to shine, ready to live this life of mine. I’m ready to jump, ready to fly for the first time.” -Unknown
Katie Holmes, 17, is Alpha Omega High School’s salutatorian. She will attend Georgia Perimeter College and hopes to one day become a pharmacist so that she can help people. Holmes has been on the A/B Honor Roll, and All A Honor Roll; she also is a member of the Beta Club.
Her favorite quote: “God doesn’t give you the people you want, he gives you the people you need, to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you, and to make you the person you were meant to be” - unknown
