High school names top two students: Dowell, Smith share valedictorian honors

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

SMITH

The race to the top is over and it ended in a tie as Warren County High School principal James Bennett has announced the co-valedictorians and top 10 percent of the class of 2004.

Finishing in first place are Dustin Dowell, son of Donna Dowell and Mark Dowell, and Nathan Smith, son of Mark and Jackie Smith.

This year marks the first in which the school is not announcing the top 10 students of the graduating class. The policy change was made by the school board in July 2000, before the current graduating class entered ninth grade.

According to Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale, who had not assumed office when the policy was passed, the move was made by the school board on the recommendation of high school officials.

The change, said former senior guidance counselor Pat Grissom, was recommended by the entire guidance and administrative staff, who felt it was in the best interest of the students.

“Every year a number of students and parents would get upset. Some students would miss being in the top 10 by a thousandth of a point. They worked just as hard and they’d be crushed they didn’t get in,” Grissom said. “Our intent was certainly not to take away from the accomplishments of any of the students.”

She added, “The high school still has a top 10, of course. The kids know their rank. It’s just not being splashed on the front page anymore.”

Instead of releasing the top 10 students, the high school now only releases the names of the top two students and, in alphabetical order, the names of those comprising the top 10 percent of the graduating class.

This year’s top 10 percent is: Brandie M’Call Alexander, Justin Cordell Barnes, Adam Keith Bouldin, Jameson Michael Bouldin, Tyler Nathan Boyd, William Rust Collier, Justin Paul Cotton, Mary Jo Curtis, Julia Lauren Fisher, Jennifer Ann Flatt, Lindsay Lanae Fulton, Allison Lynn George, Sarah Jean Godwin, Michael Nathaniel Green, Taraa Rochelle Herrin, Sarah Elizabeth Hoover, John Webster Jenkins, Chelsea Lashea King, Bryan Lynn Locke, Donna Maria Marlin, Garrett Flynn Martin, Shana Rochele Martin, William Nathan Maxwell, Laura Lynn McGregor, Bryan Anderson Moore, Jilene Dawn Moore, Kimberly Michelle Pettigrew, Stephanie Anne Roller, Brandi Leshae Rust, Kendra Renea Savage, Jeffery Kyle Simmons, Sallie Adell Slatton, Mary Elizabeth Tenpenny, Phillip Andrew Walker, Brandon Alexander Whiting, Kayla Renae Williams and Shellie Alane Young.

“This group has worked tireless hours in pursuit of their education,” said Bennett. “They’ve put their education before their social lives – a rarity – and have made very high achievements. I think they will all do very, very well in life.”