The race to the top: Spotlight on 2011's valedictorian and salutatorians Friday, June 03, 2011 By Diana Cabrera [ArticleImageHyperLink] Advertising     After four years of ups and downs, the seniors enter the race for Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Senior Latia Skerving, who has already secured the spot for Valedictorian, has a 96.13 average. Aneska Tejada and Rosalee Butler continue to compete for Salutatorian.     Tejada has an overall average of 93.60 while Butler’s average is 94.18.     One thing that Skerving is sure of, is that she has longed to be valedictorian since junior high school.     “I didn’t get valedictorian in junior high school so ever since then I wanted to be valedictorian in high school,” said Skerving.     Each senior has done their best in an effort to climb to the top.     Skerving, for example, always made sure to keep her grades high and do her work.     “I never really prepared but I always asked my friends what grades they got so I could beat them,” said Skerving, “Competition was just between me and my group of friends.”     At the beginning of the year, Skerving didn’t know much about Tejada, so when Skerving found out that Tejada was in the competition, she was surprised because she didn’t  realize that Tejada was smart.     “I wasn’t really close to her,” said Skerving, who didn’t know of any competition for valedictorian/salutatorian outside her group of friends.     Skerving feels relieved that she succeeded in becoming valedictorian and does not have to compete anymore.     Butler, on the other hand, is still in the competition against Tejada.     “I was actually trying to be valedictorian,” said Butler, “I was a little disappointed when I found out I was competing for salutatorian and not valedictorian but was still happy because I still achieved something.”     Butler, however, did not always have the grades she currently has. She had a rough start. Her grades were not as high as she wanted them to be, but by surrounding herself with positive people and by working hard, Butler was able give her grades a boost.     “A lot of people said I wouldn’t be able to bring my grades up and I said, ‘why can’t I? I still do my work,’” said Butler, who still had belief that she could become salutatorian.     Butler didn’t give up. People’s doubts that Butler wouldn’t be able to raise her grades motivated her to do her best to rise.     Tejada, has also had her fair share of work needed to enter the competition for salutatorian.     “It just happened. I didn’t even know what my average was. I just knew I had to do good in school and it just happened,” said Tejada.     Tejada feels that both she and Butler have worked really hard for salutatorian.     “I don’t mind sharing this position with her because we’re both really smart and she’s a great person,” said Tejada.     “I think there should be more competition between everyone,” said Skerving, “I feel everyone should shoot for the top instead of settling for less.”

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