Graduation 2011: Valedictorian Kristin McAteer

A parent returns a stack of textbooks at Manchester Township High School's main office as students, eager to go home, wait behind the main entrance doors while buses begin arriving at 10:30 a.m. for early dismissal.

It's the second-to-last day of classes, a time principal Alexander George said is "pure pandemonium."

Down the hall from the commotion, Kristin McAteer is meeting with George in his office to put the finishing touches on her three-page speech. 

On Thursday, as the class of 2011's valedictorian, McAteer will deliver remarks before nearly 300 fellow graduates and countless family and staff, just two days before her eighteenth birthday.

But McAteer seemed unfazed even as her life, like those of her fellow graduates, will forever change once they walk off the school's athletic field with their diplomas in hand.

The soft-spoken, future Brown University math major was modest and to the point as she talked about her 106 — on a 100-point scale — GPA and being honored as the school's top student.

"It's pretty rewarding," she said. "All of the hard work has paid off."

McAteer's accomplishments, she said, are the result of simply putting in the effort.

"I study hard. I'm a good test taker. I just get my work done," she said. "I study, but I don't really need to study that much."

George, who is working at his computer during the interview, decided he needs to jump in and add some perspective.

"Just to clarify, we're talking about AP Chem, AP Physics, AP English, AP Spanish and AP Calc," he said.

Though George said he didn't get the chance to know McAteer "all that well" over her four years at the school, he knew her reputation because of the classes and clubs in which she participated.

"It's more about hearing about all the great things the Math League is doing, or what the Science Club is doing, and hearing from the teachers of some of our more challenging classes about how competitive and what a great group of kids we have that are going through these AP classes together," he said.

McAteer has been in Math League, her favorite extracurricular activity, for the past two years. Her senior year, she decided to join the Science Club.

She has played tennis throughout all four years of high school, though McAteer said she "lost a lot" during her senior season. Still, she didn't quit.

"I kept with it. I'm glad I was part of my team — I didn't want to let my teammates down," she said.

"That's one of the best things about sports," George said. "Everybody gets humbled. It keeps you grounded. In the face of all that, you look at the big picture and say, 'you know what? I'm part of something pretty neat here.'"

The past three years, McAteer has also participated in the Interact Club and Habitat for Humanity. 

George said that there is concern for "kids who challenge themselves at this level — does it come at a cost?"

"How much can you fit into a 24-hour day? When you see kids like Kristin doing it and still being a part of a lot of different experiences at the high school ... it's great to see," he said.

Achivement runs in the family. McAteer said that her brother, Rich McAteer, a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, inspired her to believe that she could get into Brown, her top choice.

"I wouldn't have thought that I could get into an Ivy League school if my brother didn't," she said.

George said that Rich McAteer was an "amazing student."

"He was a very strong student and a great role model," he said. "Obviously, it's an academic family."

Though McAteer has declared herself as a math major, she still isn't sure which direction her career path might take her.

"Not so sure yet," she said. 

But even with that bit of uncertainty, McAteer is "really excited to graduate."

"I've been looking forward to it all these years," said McAteer, a product of the Manchester school system since starting at Manchester Township Elementary School.

All of these years later, as she leaves, she will take with her lessons and memories.

McAteer said she will remember her calculus teacher, Craig Savitsky, who would stay after class to help students or come in on a Saturday to give a practice test. 

She learned about conserving energy and being good to the environment after a school trip to Stokes State Forest in Sussex County.

"That was a new experience, I was never really aware of that stuff," she said.

But most meaningful to McAteer are friendships, a theme that runs throughout her valedictorian address. 

"The friends that we've made and the memories are the most important things," she said. "We'll have our high school experiences to connect us to each other as a class."

To incoming students, McAteer's message is simple.

"Challenge yourself," she said. "Take hard classes. You can definitely accomplish more than you might think. You can learn more."

George expects to hear more about the valedictorian and her accomplishments.

"I can't wait to hear about all the great things that are coming down the pike," he said.

Graduation will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the high school's athletic field.