2020 Valedictorians, Salutatorians Named For Cherokee Schools

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Congratulations to the valedictorians and salutatorians for the Cherokee County School District’s class of 2020.

The district's six high schools recently announced the names of these top scholars, who earned their school’s highest GPAs.

“We’re so proud of these exceptional students for the many years of dedication and determination that led to this important honor,” Superintendent Brian Hightower said. “The school board and I look forward to celebrating with them in July and to hearing about their many successes in the next chapters of their lives. They are excellent representatives of their schools and our school district, and I know their families, teachers and our entire community joins me in congratulating them and wishing them the best.”

These exemplary students typically are honored, along with a most influential teacher they each select, at Cherokee Schools' annual scholar recognition banquet, also attended by their families, high school principals, Hightower and his senior staff, and the school board. While the banquet will not be held due to social distancing, thanks to the support of Cherokee Schools partners the scholars and honored teachers still will receive special gifts at graduation ceremonies in July.

The students each will receive an iPad and case, the honored teachers each will receive an Amazon gift card, and all will receive engraved plaques. These gifts are made possible by Presenting Sponsor, LGE Community Credit Union; Platinum Sponsors, Ecolab and Poole’s Insulation Company; Gold Sponsors, Brown & Brown Insurance of Georgia and NOVA Engineering; and Silver Sponsor: True Natural Gas.

• Cherokee High
  • Valedictorian Anna Huller
  • Honored teacher: Garrick Cheyne
  • Salutatorian Sabrina Nguyen
  • Honored teacher: Heather Smith
• Creekview High
  • Valedictorian Lauren Pitkins
  • Honored teacher: Cleve Ard
  • Salutatorian Hannah West
  • Honored teacher: Jason Hardin
• Etowah High
  • Valedictorian Rachel Hugenberg
  • Honored teacher: Margo Kemmerer
  • Salutatorian Maxwell Marchetti
  • Honored teacher: Dr. Brian Heglund
• River Ridge High
  • Valedictorian Alicia Mazzurra
  • Honored teacher: Jennifer Norton
  • Salutatorian Sathvika Narasimhan
  • Honored teacher: Tracye Bulger
• Sequoyah High
  • Valedictorian Valerie Ambriz-Villela
  • Honored teacher: Andy Oberlies
  • Salutatorian Cailyn Hooper
  • Honored teacher: Marla Hooper (*no relation)
• Woodstock High
  • Valedictorian Hayden Johnson
  • Honored teacher: Loretta Muise
  • Salutatorian Zakwan Khan
  • Honored teacher: Anna Grantham