Milton High School's Valedictorian Knows Success Takes More Than Just Smarts

Intelligence can only take a person so far. It is character attributes like drive and determination that separate the smart from the successful.

That's what Allie Houlihan, Milton High School's valedictorian, will tell her classmates Sunday at their commencement.  Learning that lesson is part of the reason Houlihan will take the podium so its only right that she shares the knowledge that helped her achieve her goal.

Houlihan, who is bound for the University of Pennsylvania's Benjamin Franklin Scholars program this fall, recalls her father, Michael Houlihan, encouraging her to become valedictorian at a young age.  This little goal from a father to his only daughter became a driving force for Houlihan when Michael died six years ago from liver failure as a result of drug and alcohol abuse.

The 18-year-old remembers her father as a smart and talented man. The All-American football player and Dartmouth graduate fell into substance abuse before ever coupling his intelligence with determination.

Houlihan took her dad's example and his dream for her future as motivators for her own success. And though he won't be there on Sunday, Michael will certainly be on his daughter's mind as she delivers the speech he hoped for and inspired.

"It's definitely going to be powerful," Houlihan said.

Houlihan knows that her accomplishments would make her father happy.  She theorized that he would say, "Congratulations. You did it. I'm really proud of you, but don't give up now, this is only the beginning." She added he would also probably call her Al, a nickname she always found more fitting for a plumber than herself.

Houlihan found her way to the top of the Class of 2010 while keeping a relentlessly full schedule.  During the fall, Houlihan played field hockey and in the spring she played tennis. This season, the four-year varsity player was named captain of the tennis team.

In school she showed her leadership as a peer mediator and student leader. Houlihan served as president of the school's Student's Against Destructive Decisions chapter. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Century Club and Diversity Committee.

As a two-year member of the Diversity Committee, Houlihan suggested a mural that represents each club and sport be painted in the high school. This year that mural was created.

Houilihan said the busy schedule helped her stay on top of her schoolwork and other activities. "It all gets done because of the need to budget your time," said Houlihan.

Being accustomed to shirking procrastination helped the valedictorian write and memorize the speech she just found out she'd be giving. After non-stop calls to the guidance office earlier this week, Houlihan finally found out her class rank around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

With fierce competition at the top of the class, Houlihan knew she had a one in three chance to be watching the valedictorian and salutatorian speak from the audience. When she received a call Wednesday that announced "bad news" she graciously accepted she was third in the class before hearing the caller say, "You're going to have to write a speech."

Upon hearing she was actually valedictorian Houlihan said she nearly hit the floor, prompting a wave of excitement over her and her mother, Lisa Leo, who were in the car at the time of the call.

Two minutes later, Houlihan was typing her speech.

Houlihan will now focus on her education at U Penn, where she aspires to enroll in the Annenberg School for Communication with the hope of becoming a screenwriter or something related.

Houlihan said she's always wanted a fun career. "I want to do something where I can write, speak and relate to people," she said.