TOP OF THE CLASS 2025: Meet the Valedictorians Virgin Valley High School

By SYDNEE ANDERSON & KEVIN NICOLAS

All of the following students will graduate from Virgin Valley High School as Valedictorians, and one Salutatorian for the Class of 2025.

 

Ari Easton is currently involved in VVHS track and field and has also played volleyball and flag football. After high school, she plans to attend Nevada State University. She will play collegiate women’s flag football during the inaugural season with Nevada State. As a three-sport athlete, Ari relied on her amazing family, especially her mom, to help with balancing school and sports. Along with this, she created great habits that prioritized her academics, which she will continue to use in college. Ari’s advice for future high school students is to “Go out and have fun! Be involved in every activity and cherish every moment because time flies!”

 

Oliver West ran track and cross country and participated in the Interact club and National Honor Society. He is currently participating in a firefighter exploring program. Oliver has been awarded the Superintendent’s Medallion. This award is given to the select few people who score higher than 31 on the ACT, score a three or higher on at least one AP exam and complete a career and tech certification. Oliver’s plans are to serve an LDS mission in Asuncion Paraguay starting in October 2025. When he returns, he wants to get his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from BYU and become licensed as a physical therapist. Balancing school and extracurriculars is hard for such an involved student, but Oliver used a calendar to keep track of everything and also made sure to not over-prioritize school because, in his words, “Your worth is not determined by grades.” When asked what advice he had for future high school students, he stated, “Be involved with extracurriculars outside of school and make friends with everyone!”

 

Lincoln Toone has been involved in tennis, boys volleyball, Hope Squad, Interact Club and student council. He was also president of the National Honor Society. Lincoln plans to serve an LDS Mission in Nicaragua. After this, he wants to get his bachelor’s degree in biology at Utah State University, attend dental school and participate in a two-year residency to specialize as an endodontist. Lincoln highlighted how it has always been hard for him to balance school and personal life, but it works out for him best when he prioritizes what’s most important. When asked if he had any advice for future high school students, he said, “ I would tell future high school students to slow down, find joy in the small things and get involved. You don’t have to always be preparing for the future and taking the hardest classes. Involve yourself in a sport or club you are interested in, because those are the high school memories you will remember. Set yourself up for success, but make sure you don’t burn out along the way.”

 

Audrey Fiso is a three-sport athlete, participating in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She stated that sports have helped her balance school and personal life because she got to meet new people.

Her plans after high school are to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints –  then return home to continue her track and field career at Southern Utah University.

Her advice for future high school students is to “find a solid group of people who you know you can trust! Don’t be stuck within yourself. Be yourself, and be kind to everyone; it’s contagious!”

 

Ember Anderson has participated in swimming, flag football and volleyball this year.

After high school she is attending Southern Utah University to study nursing, hoping to become a nurse anesthetist. To balance extracurriculars and academics,

she has tried to not overwhelm herself too much by prioritizing and finding time to do the important things first.

Her advice for future high school students is, “Have fun and make priorities but leave time for fun as well.”

 

McKadie Cowley has been involved in Interact Club, participated in various service projects and helped to manage a garden for work. She plans to attend Utah Tech and get a bachelor’s degree in accounting, serve an LDS mission and attend culinary school before she opens her own restaurant. In order to balance school and personal life, she stated, “Balance is all about prioritizing…I had to make sure that I enjoyed whatever I was doing in the moment instead of worrying about what I wasn’t doing.” McKadie’s advice for future high school students is to “push yourself, make time for fun things too and take pictures of everything!”

 

Kevin Nicolas has been involved in FFA, robotics club, National Honors Society and mostly AP classes. Outside of school, he worked with the local newspaper and interned at city hall. After high school, he plans to dual-major in political science and international relations at Tufts University on the pre-urban planning or pre-law track.

Kevin admitted that it has often been hard balancing school and personal life, but he always told himself that he would make it through. His advice for future high school students is, “It can be overwhelming at times, but don’t give up. Also, follow your passions and spend time with your family and friends.”

 

Sydnee Anderson stated, “My plan after high school is to attend Southern Utah University in the fall. I’m still undecided on my major. I also hope to travel the world a little by either studying abroad or just traveling with my family/friends. I’m super excited for the new opportunities to learn and grow!

When I look back on high school, I’m super grateful for the experiences I had and lessons I learned. Most importantly, I learned that it’s important to push yourself and step out of your comfort zone.”

 

Clara Riccobuono stated, “After high school, I plan to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, where I will be a pre-med major! As I narrow down the specific medical profession I wish to choose, I hope to use my degree to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist or cardiologist. If I’ve learned anything throughout my academic career, from kindergarten until now, I know that an honest effort goes a long way.”

 

Mark Davis stated, “After graduation I plan to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will be serving in the Philippines’ Cebu East mission. After I return home, I will be attending Southern Utah University. I plan to become a pilot for the Air National Guard…The biggest lesson I have learned is to trust in my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ because their plan is greater than anything I can possibly imagine.”

 

Andrew Cox stated, “After high school I am going on a mission to Guatemala City for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When I return from Guatemala, I plan on becoming a firefighter and getting a degree in public administration to help further my firefighting caree.

I have really enjoyed my experience in high school and am grateful for it, although I feel that I could have made it a better experience for myself.”

 

Lindsey Marshall is the salutatorian from VVHS this year. She was on the varsity tennis team as well as a secretary for the Interact club and a Virgin Valley Water District student ambassador. She will be attending Utah State University, studying wildlife ecology and management, hoping to pursue a career in wildlife conservation. To balance school and personal life, Lindsey explained that she used time management heavily. She stated that it took a while to figure out what worked for her, but once she did, she was able to get good grades in school while still having time for family and fun. Lindsey’s advice for future high school students is, “It’s worth it! Learning isn’t always easy, but all the effort you put into it will benefit you in the end. Trust the process.”

Also valedictorians, but unable to be reached for a profile are Yunjie Chen & Karter Martinez.