Top Graduates 2008

Story by Judy Cross

CHS Class of 2008 Top Grads Announced

       The faculty of Wartburg Central High announces the valedictorians and salutatorians for the Class of 2008.  These students were selected based upon their grade point averages for seven semesters of high school course work.  Eight students will be recognized at the top of their class.

      Graduating as valedictorians are:  Skylar Adams, Madison Branstetter, Stacey Galloway, Allison Olmstead, Vade Scruggs, and Mahala Stedam.  Graduating as salutatorians are Sierra Davis and Amanda Staten.

      Skylar Adams is the daughter of Tammy and Kirk Adams from the Wartburg community.  Skylar has been a member of Family Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).  She was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students and was a Knoxville News-Sentinel Academic Achiever.  Skylar has studied dance for 15 years at the Oak Ridge Academy of Dance during which time she has performed ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical numbers locally as well as in Nashville and Atlanta. She was a Roane State Academic Festival award winner in dance. Skylar is a member of Fellowship Baptist Church and sings in the youth choir and quartet. Skylar plans to begin her college work at Roane State where she has received the Scholarship for Academic Service.  She plans on majoring in elementary education and becoming a kindergarten teacher and a dance teacher.

      Madison Branstetter is the daughter of Margie and Mitchell Branstetter from Lancing.  She has been active in FCCLA, 4-H Honor Club, FCA, and Beta Club.  Madison was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students, was a Knoxville News-Sentinel Academic Achiever, and a winner at the Roane State Academic Festival.  She received numerous Renaissance Academic Awards and was a class officer for several years, serving a vice president of the senior class.  In addition, Madison was a member of the 4-H All Stars and is active in the St. Paul Lutheran Church youth group. As a member of the CHS girls’ basketball team that advanced to the state tournament, Madison was named WECO Player of the Week.  She received the TSSAA Team Academic Award and was named to the All Tournament and All Region teams.  Madison’s future plans are to attend the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, majoring in pre-pharmacy and management information systems.  

      Stacey Galloway is the daughter of Joe and Judy Duncan of Petros and Clifton and Becky Galloway of the Sunbright community.  During her four years at CHS, she was a member FCA and Beta Club.  Stacey served on the Student Council and was elected a class officer during her sophomore, junior, and senior years.  This year, she served as president of the senior class.  Stacey was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students and the National Honor Roll and was a Knoxville News-Sentinel Academic Achiever. During her junior year, she represented Central at Volunteer Girls’ State in Murfreesboro and has received numerous Renaissance Academic Awards.  Stacey played on the girls’ basketball team that advanced to the state tournament and received the TSSAA Team Academic award. Stacey’s future plans are to attend Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, majoring in biology for a career as a physical therapist.

      Allison Olmstead is the daughter of Barbara and Wayne Olmstead of Deer Lodge.  She has been active in Beta Club, FCA, 4-H Honor Club, and Student Council.  Allison was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students, was a Knoxville News-Sentinel Academic Achiever, and received numerous Renaissance Academic Awards.  Allison was a member of the web page design team that placed second at the Roane State Academic Festival this year. Upon graduation from CHS, Allison will have 12 hours of college credit.  Last semester, she was enrolled in two dual-credit courses--ENG110 English Composition and CST108 Web Fundamentals--offered through Roane State.  During the summer of 2006, Allison was selected to attend the two-week Academy for Emerging Technologies at Tennessee Tech University and then in 2007, she spent five weeks at The University of Tennessee in Martin as part of the Governor’s School for Humanities program.  Allison’s future plans are to attend The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, majoring in graphic design or computer science.

     Vade Scruggs is the son of Marte and Del Scruggs of Lancing.  During high school, he was a member of Beta Club, FCCLA and played football, where he served as captain.  Vade represented CHS at Volunteer Boys’ State last summer in Cookeville.  He was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students, was a Knoxville News-Sentinel Academic Achiever, and received numerous Renaissance Academic Awards.  Vade has been selected for admission to the prestigious Chancellor’s Honors Program at The University of Tennessee.   His future plans are to attend The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he has received the Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship and the College of Arts & Science Scholarship.

     Mahala Stedam is the daughter of Sandy Galloway of Sunbright and Keith Stedam of Petros.  She was a member of the Lady Bulldogs softball team, a member of Beta Club, and received several Renaissance Academic Awards.  Mahala plans to pursue a career in criminal justice at Roane State where she has been awarded the Scholarship of Academic Service.

      Salutatorian Sierra Davis is the daughter of Ellen and Dennis Davis of Wartburg.  Throughout her four years at Central, Sierra has been active in the Beta Club, FCCLA, and Student Council.  She is a participant in the Upward Bound program and served as a freshman class officer. A recipient of the Scholarship for Academic Service, Sierra plans to attend Roane State majoring in elementary education.

      Amanda Staten is graduating as salutatorian.  She is the daughter of Pam Staten of Joyner and David Staten of Sunbright. At CHS, Amanda has been active both academically and athletically, earning honors as WECO Player of the Week.  As a member of the girls’ basketball team that advanced to the state tournament in Murfreesboro this past February, she was also named to the All Region team.  Amanda has been a member of Beta Club, served as a freshman class officer, and received several Renaissance Academic Awards.  Amanda’s future plans are to pursue a degree in business at Roane State where she has received a Comcast Scholarship and a Scholarship for Academic Service.

      Senior ceremonies include Baccalaureate Services, Friday, May 23, at Calvary Baptist Church, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Graduation exercises will be Saturday, May 24, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Central High School Dallas Reed Davis Gymnasium.