NHS val, sal encourage younger students to get involved
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Alyssa Borelli and Kaitlyn Pugh wouldn’t trade their high school career at Northview with anything in the world.
Borelli, the valedictorian, and Pugh, the salutatorian, graduated from NHS on Sat., May 27.
Both said that their high school experience was great.
“It’s been a roller coaster, but we know it was about hard work and dedication,” Pugh said. “Looking into the future, you have to kind of plan ahead and paint a picture of what you want to do and where you want to be. (High school) makes you want to work toward that goal.”
Borelli said she enjoyed her time at NHS.
“Northview has been a great time for me,” she said. “I was super involved in the arts. I always had a lot of people who supported me.”
Pugh was highly involved in the high school rodeo in Alabama, and was involved in the Beta Club before moving to NHS. She was in the National Honors Society.
Activities and clubs Borelli was involved in include: the NHS R.O.T.C., Beta Club, Student Government Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, the golf team, Art Club, Math Team and was a contestant in school pageants.
Sometimes valedictorian and salutatorians find themselves in competition with each other.
Pugh and Borelli said they pushed themselves during their last semester at NHS.
“We both pushed each other to be better,” Borelli said.
Pugh is going to Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, on a rodeo scholarship. Pugh said she plans on studying in the pre-pharmacy program and majoring in biomedical sciences.
Borelli plans to attend the University of West Florida, where she’s going to major in mathematics.
When asked what advice they could give to incoming freshmen at NHS, Borelli and Pugh said to get involved and stay involved.
“I would say get involved with something,” Borelli said. “You make a lot of new friends. It makes school a whole lot better.”
Borelli also encouraged freshmen to focus on their academics early.
Borelli is the daughter of Anthony and Robin Borelli of Molino, and Pugh is the daughter of Johnny Pugh of Walnut Hill, Fla. and Nicole Love of Colorado.