Fuqua School has announced the names of the Class of 2015 valedictorian, salutatorian and giftorian. The valedictorian is Kayla Elisabeth Lehman and she graduates summa cum laude.   She will attend Longwood University in the fall and was also accepted at the Art Institute of Virginia Beach and East Tennessee State University. Kayla is a member of the Cum Laude Society, the National Art Society, and Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society) as well as Fuqua School sponsored English, Science, Spanish Honor Societies. She is the recipient of the Pearson Foreign Language Founders Award, the Anna McGovern Scholarship, and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. Her activities include Readers Club (treasurer), Battle of the Brains, Ecology Club (president), and Envirothon (captain). Kayla’s hobbies are reading, writing, and drawing. Kayla shared, “I love all of my teachers. They are all wonderful people that have taught me important lessons. I grew with each class especially my art classes which I feel will benefit me the most in my future career in graphic design. My dream job would be an animation artist for Pixar.”

Katarina Elise Gebauer is salutatorian and graduates summa cum laude. She will attend the University of Richmond in the fall and was also accepted at Randolph College and Roanoke College. Katarina is a member of the Cum Laude Society and Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society) as well as Fuqua School sponsored English, History, Science, Spanish Honor Societies. She is the recipient of the Wall English Founders Award. Katarina enjoys many activities at school including Spanish Club (founder/president), Model UN (chair), UNICEF (secretary), Interact (secretary), Readers Club, SODA Club, Varsity Cheerleader, Senior Class Secretary, Virginia Girls State (Senator), and Virginia Regional Governors School for the Humanities. Katarina’s hobbies include yearbook, reading, walking her two dogs (Beanie and Napoleon), and traveling. Katarina commented, “I don’t believe I could be in the position I am in today without the influence of this great school. The personal attention to students and the teachers’ obvious passion for helping us to learn are two of the many qualities that make Fuqua such a unique school. At the University of Richmond, I plan to major in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in healthcare and society.”

The co-giftorians are Luke Andrew Wyatt and Lucy Grace Wallace. Luke will attend the College of William & Mary in the fall and also was accepted into Liberty University and the University of Virginia. He graduates summa cum laude. Luke is a member of the Cum Laude Society and Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society) as well as Fuqua School sponsored English, History, Science Honor Societies. He is the recipient of the Taylor Social Studies Founders Award. Luke earned the Silver Service Award, which celebrates the seniors who have served more than 100 hours in the community during high school. Luke’s hobbies include baseball, Youth in Government (chaplin), Youth for Christ (chaplin), Model UN (chair), Battle of the Brains (captain), sailing (sailing counselor at Camp Piankatank), paintball, playing the electric bass, and writing. Luke stated, “I am thankful for Fuqua School making me the man I am today and providing me with the best education in Southside VA and opportunities such as attending HOBY and Virginia Boys State. At William and Mary I plan to double major in business and political science, possibly even a minor in philosophy as well. For my fellow students, I would like to tell them to keep working hard and achieve their potential in spite of the adversity the world throws at them.”

Lucy will attend Longwood University in the fall and was also accepted into Wofford College. She graduates summa cum laude. Lucy is a member of the Cum Laude Society and Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society) as well as Fuqua School sponsored English, History, Science, Spanish Honor Societies. Lucy earned the Silver Service Award, which celebrates the seniors who have served more than 100 hours in the community during high school and the Friends of Fuqua Award for students who perform more than 15 hours of service to the school. Lucy’s activities include SODA Club, Interact Club (president), Spanish Club (vice-president), Youth for Christ (treasurer), Youth in Government (attending Model General Assembly), and Fuqua for UNICEF. Lucy was elected to the Homecoming Court her junior and senior year, was an alternate for Virginia Girls State, and won The Voice of Democracy Contest and the Virginia Association of Private Schools Forensics Contest.   Lucy’s hobbies include 15 years of dance (jazz, liturgical, ballet, tap, clogging, and Irish), being a teacher assistant at the Southside School of Dance for the past six years, and volunteering at nursing homes. “I love attending church with my family and spending time with my friends, especially going to pasta night at Charley’s with my best friend Cali Foster. I enjoy spending time on my family farm, at the beach and I love to go fishing. At Longwood University I am going to major in commutation sciences and disorders. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I plan to obtain my masters from Longwood University, Wakeforest University, or The University of South Carolina. I then plan to attend The Medical University of South Carolina and get my doctorate. My long range goal is to work as a speech therapist at a children’s hospital, and settle down with a family. I can’t wait to start my new journey!” shared Lucy.

 

Selection of the school’s valedictorian, salutatorian, and giftorian is based primarily on the cumulative grade point average. Consideration is also given to the student’s character and behavior record.