CCSD Announces Class of 2026 Valedictorians, Salutatorians!

Valedictorians and salutatorians are pictured from left beginning with Cherokee HS; Miss Reach is not pictured.

Congratulations to the valedictorians and salutatorians for the Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2026! 

These outstanding students and their parents will be honored by the School Board and Superintendent of Schools at the Annual Scholar Recognition Banquet this week.  Each honored student is invited to select a favorite teacher to be celebrated at the banquet as well.  Congratulations to our honorees!  The event is sponsored by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation and LGE Community Credit Union.  Our School Board is laser focused on ensuring our students are learning more, growing more, and achieving more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else.

CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Grayson Prien
Honored Teacher: Wesley Queen

Salutatorian: Grace Dai
Honored Teacher: Morgan Clifton

CREEKVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Aiden Sven Johnson
Honored Teacher: Dr. Jim Riley

Salutatorian: Henry Hawthorne Hyler
Honored Teacher: Jenny Brooks

ETOWAH HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Cooper Albrecht
Honored Teacher: Mike Vacca

Salutatorian: Avery Cheatham
Honored Teacher: Donell Osborne

i-GRAD VIRTUAL ACADEMY
Valedictorian: Caroline Reach
Honored Teacher: Heather Craighead

Salutatorian: Michael McGuire
Honored Teacher: Kendra West

RIVER RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Udi Gitau
Honored Teacher: Phil Money

Salutatorian: Olivia Kennison
Honored Teacher: Savannah Holcomb

SEQUOYAH HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Sebastian Murillo
Honored Teacher: Brian Carnes

Salutatorian: Taylor L. Bell
Honored Teacher: Michelle Nixon

WOODSTOCK HIGH SCHOOL
Valedictorian: Hope Hood
Honored Teacher: Ashley Dexter

Salutatorian: Hudson Shakar
Honored Teacher: Kate McIntyre

#CCSDElevateTheExcellence #2026CCSDGrads