Saliba, Martin lead DHS’s Class of 2017
Published 5:16 pm Thursday, May 25, 2017
- Members of the Demopolis High School’s Class of 2017 Honror Line are, from left, (front) Summer Earle, Mary F. Brown, Trezha Ruiz, Allison Polk, Nirali Patel, Natalie Saliba (Valedictorian), Lauren Boone, Caroline Overmyer, Ellen Dunklin, Jamie McGilberry, Mary M. Bradley; (back) Katherine Floyd, Baleigh Holtzclaw, Chelsea Monroe, Cheyenne Martin (Salutatorian), Julia Veres, Clayton McVay, Roderick Anderson, Courtney Smith, Abigail Latham, Anna Lonergan, Hunter Compton, and RJ Cox. Not pictured is Will Key.
Demopolis High School will bid farewell to the Class of 2017 during a graduation ceremony on Friday, May 26, at Tiger Stadium. This year’s class includes 136 graduates.
Leading this year’s class is Natalie Saliba as Valedictorian and Cheyenne Martin as Salutatorian.
Saliba is the daughter of Ray and Amy Saliba and is graduating with a 4.4 grade point average. She has attended Demopolis schools since kindergarten.
Demopolis High School’s Class of 2017 Valedictorian is Natalie Saliba, right, and Salutatorian is Cheyenne Martin.
The graduate plans to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she will enter a pre-med program, majoring in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry. Her ultimate goal is to a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
“My parents never told me I had to make good grades, it was just my personality in wanting to do the best that I could. It was stressful at times, but it’s all been worth it,” Saliba said.
For those underclassmen at DHS she will be leaving behind, Saliba said it is important to find the things that make them happy.
“Find your happiness everywhere you go and in everything you do. Make sure to find that happiness within yourself,” she said.
Martin is the daughter of Ed and Gina Martin and also holds a 4.4 grade point average. She has attended Demopolis schools since kindergarten.
Martin will attend the University of West Alabama next fall with the goal of pursuing a master’s degree in elementary education.
“Since I was younger and started babysitting and taking a class at the hospital, I’ve always enjoyed working with children,” she said.
Martin said she hopes her fellow graduates take the time to discover their true calling in life.
“It’s OK if you don’t know what you want to do,” she said. “Explore all the possibilities. If you didn’t find that tract while in high school, there’s still ways to explore and find what is important to you.”
Saliba and Martin were recognized during Senior Awards Day held at DHS on Friday, May 12. The Demopolis Times will be publishing photos from that event in an upcoming edition.
(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, May 24, print edition of the Demopolis Times.)
