Gaston County honors seniors that earned valedictorian, salutatorian honors

May 26, 2025

WCCB Web Staff,

1/28
Janiya Maree Mooring – Valedictorian – Ashbrook High School

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill to major in biology; plans to pursue a career as a cardiologist.
2/28
Jamila Margaux Lewis – Salutatorian – Ashbrook High School

College Plans: Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C. to major in biology and bioinformatics and play volleyball; plans to pursue a career as a geneticist or physical therapist.
3/28
Lucien Smith – Valedictorian – Bessemer City High School

College Plans: Gardner-Webb University to major in nursing (specializing in anesthesia).
4/28
Kaytelin Justice – Salutatorian – Bessemer City High School

College Plans: Western Carolina University – Honors College to major in environmental science and natural resource conservation and management.
5/28
Camryn Cash – Co-Valedictorian – Cherryville High School

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill to major in chemistry; plans to pursue a career as a pharmacist.
6/28
Alexis McSwain – Co-Valedictorian – Cherryville High School

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill to major in biology; plans to pursue a career as a pediatric doctor or occupational therapist.
7/28
Avery Beam – Salutatorian – Cherryville High School

College Plans: Wingate University to major in nursing; plans to pursue a career as a nurse.
8/28
Kyndall Leigh Godley – Valedictorian – East Gaston High School

College Plans: Montreat College to major in exercise science; plans to pursue a career in occupational therapy.
9/28
Makayla Joy Deal – Salutatorian – East Gaston High School

College Plans: Gaston College to major in nursing; plans to pursue a career as a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner.
10/28
William Tristan Peyton – Valedictorian – Forestview High School

College Plans: University of South Carolina – Honors College to major in computer science; plans to pursue a career in back-end software development and full-stack engineering.
11/28
Graham Harrison Kines – Salutatorian – Forestview High School

College Plans: University of South Carolina – Honors College to major in finance.
12/28
Kaitlyn Alayna Spangler – Valedictorian – Gaston Virtual Academy

College Plans: Auburn University to major in culinary sciences; plans to pursue a career as an executive chef.
13/28
Abigail Lynn Fowler – Salutatorian – Gaston Virtual Academy

College Plans: Plans to build on her experience of working with animals to open a non-profit animal shelter.
14/28
Lindsay Garcia – Valedictorian – Gaston Early College High School

College Plans: N.C. State University to major in aerospace engineering; plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
15/28
Cameron Browning – Salutatorian – Gaston Early College High School

College Plans: UNC-Charlotte to major in mechanical engineering; plans to pursue a career as a licensed professional engineer.
16/28
Sadie Morton – Valedictorian – Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill to major in pre-medicine; plans to pursue a career as a pediatric oncologist.
17/28
Katie Blackett – Salutatorian – Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill to major in computer science.
18/28
Katelin Vaher – Valedictorian – Highland School of Technology

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill to major in business administration.
19/28
Regis Lu – Salutatorian – Highland School of Technology

College Plans: Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania to major in engineering with a pre-medicine focus; plans to pursue a career in medicine.
20/28
Kelsey Janae Griffin – Valedictorian – Hunter Huss High School

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill to major in nursing; plans to pursue a career in pediatrics.
21/28
Zachary Ryan Kimmel – Salutatorian – Hunter Huss High School

College Plans: Gaston College to major in political science and play baseball; plans to pursue a career in the military.
22/28
Anna Claire Whitesides – Valedictorian – North Gaston High School

College Plans: Appalachian State University to major in elementary education; plans to pursue a career as an elementary school teacher.
23/28
Preston Brock Martin – Salutatorian – North Gaston High School

College Plans: Appalachian State University to major in biology with a focus on pre-medicine; plans to pursue a career as an orthopedic doctor.
24/28
Asher Dover – Co-Valedictorian – South Point High School

College Plans: University of Notre Dame to major in applied and computational mathematics and statistics.
25/28
James Dover – Co-Valedictorian – South Point High School

College Plans: Yale University to major in history of science, medicine, and public health.
26/28
Charles Price – Salutatorian – South Point High School

College Plans: Davidson College to major in biology/pre-medicine track; plans to pursue a career as a pediatrician.
27/28
Olivia Lynn Michael – Valedictorian – Stuart W. Cramer High School

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill; plans to attend medical school to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor.
28/28
Austin Louis Major – Salutatorian – Stuart W. Cramer High School

College Plans: UNC-Chapel Hill

GASTONIA, N.C. – Gaston County Schools recognized 28 students in the Class of 2025 that achieved the top academic distinction of valedictorian or salutatorian.

The students were honored during high school graduation.

“We are pleased to recognize and honor 28 seniors in the Class of 2025 as our valedictorians and salutatorians – this is a significant academic accomplishment, and we are very proud of these students,” Superintendent of Schools Morgen A. Houchard said.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, we congratulate our valedictorians and salutatorians for maintaining an impressive academic record during their educational career, and we thank them for being excellent leaders and role models at school and in the community. We are confident that these high-achieving students will continue to be successful in everything they choose to do.”

Click through the gallery to see valedictorians and salutatorians of Gaston County Schools’ Class of 2025.