Seniors Meagan Taylor and Connor Parker will graduate as valedictorian and salutatorian of Canyon High School’s class of 2013 at their graduation ceremony May 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the First United Bank Center. The following students, in descending order of rank, will finish high school with the top 10 grade point averages for the Class of 2013: Meagan Taylor, Connor Parker, Sierra Miller, Rachel Smith, Sayre Precure, Trevor Ferril, Sarah Skarke, Melanie Blakeman, Nick Ahring and Evan Westermann.
Taylor said she did not have an easy task keeping her top rank all four years.
“The main difficulty was being conscious of my grades all the time,” Taylor said. “I couldn’t let my grades slip any. I just made sure I always turned in extra credit work and that I worked for every point on my assignments.”
Parker leaped from fourth in the class to second after this year’s first semester.
“I was really surprised, because I hadn’t really been trying to move up, so it was a big surprise that I had jumped so far,” Parker said.
Taylor had other courses she considered, but her schedule did not align with those plans.
“I thought about doing statistics, but it didn’t work with my schedule,” Taylor said. “I also thought about doing more theater, but it’s never worked out.”
Parker scheduled his classes the same way this year as he did in previous years.
“I’ve always taken Pre-AP/AP classes, but AP classes are the reason I moved up so far this year,” Parker said. “I took four AP classes whereas most people take three or fewer.”
Taylor said she thinks writing his speech presents another set of challenges.
“It’s been hard coming up with things to say because I know I’ll be speaking to everyone,” Taylor said. “I want to talk about relationships with friends and teachers and just the importance they have as we move on with our lives and go off into the world.”
Parker’s speech will cover a similar topic as far as he knows.
“Well, considering I haven’t written it yet, it might be rather difficult,” Parker said. “I’m anticipating it. I think I’m going to write about the importance of keeping relationships with friends and family.”
Taylor offered a few words of advice to classes she and other seniors will leave behind.
“Even if an assignment doesn’t seem worth doing, still do it,” Taylor said. “Time goes by really fast, so enjoy the time that you do have in high school.”
Parker also left a nugget of wisdom his from personal experience for later graduating classes.
“Just try as hard as you can all the time,” Parker said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from or what’s happened to you, as long as you give your best effort, you can go wherever you want in life.”
