Valedictorian and salutatorian are the highest academic titles a student can receive. On Feb. 23 Lakewood High School announced the valedictorian and salutatorians for the 2022-2023 school year.

The CAT valedictorian and salutatorians for this year were Hayley McCormack with a GPA of 4.5678 and Ian Navales with a GPA of 4.5636. The traditional valedictorian and salutatorians were Alex Adams with a GPA of 4.5370 and Bella Croteau with a GPA of 4.3500.

These students worked extremely hard to maintain their GPA’s and to receive this title. They put a lot of time an effort to be where they are today. With perseverance and the support of friends and family these scholars achieved success.

It takes will and determination to become a valedictorian or salutatorian. One of the key skills in order to get this far is “Not giving up,” as Navales said. Perseverance is crucial in order to be successful, and all of the valedictorian and salutatorians represent this.

It takes a lot of time and effort in order to achieve this this level of success. The work ethic of these students reminds us that we can accomplish remarkable things if we just push ourselves and persevere. McCormack, Navales, Adams and Croteau are all leading examples of success.

When Lakewood High School announced this year’s valedictorian and salutatorians, it wasn’t any simple announcement on the intercom at the end of sixth period – the staff also surprised the students with their friends and family.

Assistant principal Joseph Serra walked into the classroom telling the scholars to quit what they were doing and listen up, following was the parents of the valedictorians and salutatorians congratulating them on their achievement.

“I thought it was Hayley’s birthday,” senior Merik Van Beynen said.

Before the major surprise, the families were called and told of their students’ achievements Feb. 21, having to swear to keep everything secret, not that some of the families found that easy.

“It was hard to keep it a secret,” McCormack’s mother Máire McCormack said.

Nonetheless everyone was incredibly happy – “elated” as said by Christina Navales, the CAT salutatorian’s mother – staff, parents and even the vals and sals themselves, for a variety of reasons. McCormack was simply happy her GPA was consecutive numbers.

McCormack was also taught values that have helped her achieve success by her karate teacher.

“It helps, provides essentials of commitment,” karate instructor Tatsiana Haverkamp said.

Congratulations to the CAT valedictorian and salutatorians for this year, McCormack with a GPA of 4.5678 and Navales with a GPA of 4.5636, and the traditional valedictorian and salutatorians, Adams with a GPA of 4.5370 and Croteau with a GPA of 4.3500.