Top scholars announced for 2026 Athens graduating classes

The following was released today by the Clarke County School District

Athens, Georgia — The Clarke County School District is pleased to announce valedictorians and

salutatorians for the 2026 graduating classes of Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central, and Classic City high

schools. These students finished their high school careers with the highest and second-highest grade-point averages, respectively, in their graduating classes.

CEDAR SHOALS HIGH SCHOOL

Valedictorian – Christopher Koch

Christopher Koch is a College Board AP Scholar with Distinction, a member of the National Honor

Society, and served as treasurer of the Cedar Shoals Beta Club. This year, he was named Cedar Shoals’

STAR Student for having the highest SAT score in his graduating class.

Outside of the classroom, Christopher is a standout student-athlete and was captain of and a decorated

medalist for the Cedar Shoals Aqua Jags swim team. As a sophomore, he won the GHSA Class 4A

boys’ 500-yard freestyle state title and also won multiple second- and third-place medals at the state

level. As a senior, he finished second in the 200-yard individual medley and third in the 100-yard

breaststroke during the state championship meet.

“This recognition could not have happened to a more deserving student,” said Cedar Shoals Principal Dr.

Makeba Clark.

“Christopher is a well-rounded scholar, disciplined athlete, and student leader whose warm personality uplifts those around him. His achievements reflect his hard work, humility, character, and commitment to excellence, and his dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and service make him truly deserving of this honor and recognition. We are proud to have Christopher represent Cedar

Shoals High School as the Class of 2026 valedictorian.”

Christopher plans to study mechanical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and will be

continuing his swimming career with the Yellow Jackets.

Even with a busy schedule to balance, Christopher lives by an approach of, "Take a moment to enjoy the

moment."

Salutatorian – Chizoba Emegwam

Chizoba Emegwam has amassed a long list of accomplishments in various fields of science during her time at Cedar Shoals. She is a three-time state winner in the Social Systems category of the Georgia

FFA Agriscience Fair and participated in the national competition. She was also named a QuestBridge

College Prep Scholar, University of Georgia Merit Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, semifinalist for

the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in Agriculture and Biotechnology, and has obtained industry certification in Plant Systems and Landscaping.

At Cedar Shoals, Chizoba has served as FFA secretary, National Honor Society secretary, Student

Government Association secretary, Nature Club co-founder and Vice President, and was a member of

the Beta Club and Senior Advisory Board. She also served on the CCSD Superintendent’s Student

Advisory Council, interned with the UGA Young Dawgs Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lab and

Young Scholars Poultry Science programs, and has volunteered with Piedmont Athens Regional

Hospital.

“Chizoba is a driven and diligent scholar who brings purpose and focus to everything she does,” said Dr.

Clark.

“When she sets her sights on a goal, she remains committed and focused until that dream becomes a reality. She set out to be at the very top of her graduating class, and through her exceptional

work ethic and academic excellence, she has earned her place among the stars as the Cedar Shoals

High School Class of 2026 salutatorian. This is a well-earned and truly remarkable honor.”

Chizoba plans to attend Georgia Tech and major in Biology. She lives every day with the philosophy of,

“The moment you start living based on others’ opinions is the moment you stop living for yourself.”

CLARKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Valedictorian – Noah Kilpatrick

Throughout his high school career, Noah Kilpatrick has distinguished himself not only academically, but

also through his involvement in a variety of activities both at Clarke Central and in the community. He is

an Eagle Scout and recently received the Bagwell Scholarship in recognition of his impactful Eagle Scout

service with the creation of “The Shoebox Project,

” which sustainably provides shoes to community

members in need.

Noah has been a varsity athlete all four years of high school and served as co-captain for two years on

the Clarke Central cross country and track teams. He was region champion in the 3200-meter, a

sub-4:20 miler, and a top 10 cross country finisher in the GHSA state championships. He helped the

Gladiators’ cross country team to four consecutive region titles and three state runner-up finishes. Noah

speaks three languages, is an accomplished pianist and actor, and is a National Merit Scholar.

Noah was described by his advisor, Eric McCullough, as a “king of all trades who excels in everything he

does and has a personality that exudes kindness and grace to others, regardless of who they are.”

His counselor, Catherine Melton, described him as “an incredibly courteous, humble, and service-oriented leader,” possessing a “great sense of humor and infectious positive attitude,” and “the kind of person who can connect with anyone.”

Noah will attend the University of Georgia with a full-ride scholarship as a Foundation Fellow and plans

to major in Mathematics and Computer Science.

“Noah has been an exceptional ambassador for the Clarke Central school community, representing the

very best of what it means to be a scholar-athlete,

” said Clarke Central Principal Dr. Swade Huff.

“He is more than deserving of recognition as valedictorian and a Foundation Fellow at the University of Georgia, honors that reflect his outstanding academic accomplishments, leadership potential, and bright future.”

Salutatorian – Waylon Vaughn

During his four years in high school, Waylon Vaughn, a dual-enrollee at the University of Georgia and AP

Scholar with Distinction, has balanced academics, artistry, and athletics. He has completed the visual

arts pathway at Clarke Central and attended the 2025 session of the Governor’s Honors Program for

visual arts.

Waylon has been a consistent member of the Lyndon House Teen Media Arts Club, and, using his gifts in

filmmaking, he has created short stop-motion films focused on environmental conservation. One of these

films was screened at Columbia University as part of the inaugural World Water Film Festival.

In athletics, Waylon has been a member of the varsity cross country team and distance track team,

serving as co-captain of the cross country team. He helped lead the Gladiator cross country team to four

region championships and achieve three state runner-up titles. Individually, he was region runner up in the 5000-meter his junior and senior years, and placed fourth in the state his senior year. On the track, Waylon was the region champion for the 1600-meter and 3200-meter his senior year, and holds the

school record in the 1600-meter (4 minutes, 16.8 seconds). Recently, he helped lead Clarke Central’s

4x800-meter relay team to a state championship.

Outside of school, Waylon has been a member of Nowhere Archery for 10 years and works with them as

a camp counselor during the summer. He will attend Brown University in the fall and hopes to continue

exploring filmmaking through Brown's Modern Culture and Media major.

Waylon earned praise from his advisor, Robert Pulliam, and counselor, Darline Coleman, for not just

consistently and effectively balancing life as a scholar, athlete, and artist, but “redefining what it means to be well-rounded.”

“The school community is incredibly proud of Waylon for being recognized as salutatorian, a well-deserved honor that reflects his dedication and outstanding academic achievement,” said Dr. Huff.

“He has consistently demonstrated the character and work ethic that set him apart as a student-leader.

We are confident that Waylon will continue to thrive and achieve great success at Brown University.”

CLASSIC CITY HIGH SCHOOL

Valedictorian – Jonathan King

Jonathan King reflected on his time in high school and at Classic City as shaping him into the person he

is today. He has been inspired to always “take a chance” on himself and “never look back” in pursuit of

excellence.

“These last four years taught me more than just academics, it taught me growth, a better mindset, and a way of guidance,” he said.

Jonathan plans to attend college at Albany State University.

“Jonathan’s goal was not only to graduate from high school, but to earn the top honor of class

valedictorian,” said Jessie Draper, Director of Classic City. “By persevering through life’s challenges and

working hard to master all of the course content at the highest level, Jonathan thrived at Classic City

High School and achieved his goal. We could not be more proud of his accomplishments.”

Salutatorian - Arianna Ellison

Arianna Ellison plans to attend Athens Technical College after graduation.

“I am overwhelmed with excitement! I am so proud of myself!” she said of earning salutatorian of her

graduating class.

“It’s my turn to shine. This is just the beginning.”

“With perseverance and determination, Arianna demonstrated a strong commitment to her educational goals,” said Classic City Assistant Director and counselor Sharon Sellers.

“Earning the distinction of salutatorian reflects not only hard work and discipline but also resilience throughout her journey. Classic City High School congratulates Arianna on this outstanding accomplishment.”