MidSouth high schools recently recognized their Class of 2015 valedictorians and salutatorians.
Bartlett High School
Alexis Trenai Gwynn is the valedictorian of the Class of 2015. Gwynn ranked first in the class with a 4.48 weighted grade point average.
Consistently challenging herself with Honors and Advanced Placement coursework in science, math, English and social studies, Gwynn also has a love of foreign languages, excelling in Spanish, French and Latin.
She was secretary of the Student Council and Spanish Club, as well as serving on the Executive Board of the Pep Club. She was a member of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, National Spanish Honor Society, The Commercial Appeal’s Academic All-Stars program and the World Languages award. She is also a member of Bridge Builders and Youth Leadership Bartlett. Gwynn plans to major in pre-medicine at Vanderbilt University.
Jason Guan Hua Zeng is the salutatorian for the Class of 2015. Zeng earned a 4.45 weighted grade point average by excelling in Honors and Advanced Placement coursework in math, science, English, Spanish and social studies.
He also accepted the challenge of health science education courses, which will assist him with his plans of majoring in pre-medicine.
He is a three-year member of the cross country and track teams, representing Bartlett at the 2013 state competition. He was invited to participate in the Tennessee Math Teachers’ Association math competition and is a two-time nominee for the Future Physicians of America. He is a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society, and he frequently volunteers at the Bartlett Public Library.
Zeng plans to attend The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Bolton High School
Olivia Halvorson, one of the class’s three valedictorians, is the daughter of Becky and Joel Halvorson.
She is senior class president, an Academic All Star and a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
She is a thespian with starring roles in productions such as “Lucky Stiff,” and she is a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and National Spanish Honor Society.
She participated in the Knowledge Bowl and Poetry Out Loud, and she was named Miss Wildcat. She is also a gifted pianist and a volunteer for Go Jim Go to raise money for LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and Ben’s Brigade to raise awareness of the unlimited possibilities for people with Down syndrome.
She will study international business in the fall at the University of South Carolina.
Romulo Sosa, one of the class’s three valedictorians, is the son of Romulo and Carolina Sosa.
He is SGA president, an Academic All Star and a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Sosa is a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and the National Spanish Honor Society. He is a graduate of the Bartlett Youth Leadership Program, a HASLAM Scholar, a participant in the Links of Love charity fundraiser and a summer law intern. He received the Rodriguez Scholarship and the National Association of Secondary School Principals scholarship.
Sosa will enroll at Washington University to study pre-law.
Christopher Do, one of the class’s three valedictorians, is the son of Temiri and Hung Do. He is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, an Academic All Star, an AP Scholar and a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
He is a member of the National Honor Society, National French Honor Society and National Beta Club. Do has also served as a peer tutor and a member of the Knowledge Bowl Team, and he is a cross-country and track athlete.
He participated in the Bartlett Mayor’s Youth Council, the Bartlett Youth Leadership Program and the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Sciences. He is a volunteer for the Bolton Food Pantry. Do scored in the top five for the Concours, an annual essay contest held by the Alliance Française de Memphis for all Mid-South high school students of French.
He will be attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in fall 2015 to study computer and network security.
Brett Freeman, salutatorian, is the son of Les and Donna Freeman. He is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Order of the Arrow for Scouting, an Academic All Star and a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Bolton Marching and Concert Band, and he was named to the All West Tennessee Band. He served as a freshman mentor and was a member of the Robotics Team.
Freeman is also a certified scuba diver and a volunteer for the Bolton Food Pantry.
He will attend the University of Memphis to study engineering.
Arlington High School
Thomas McFann, the valedictorian, graduated with a 4.57 weighted GPA. He will attend the University of Mississippi and study computer science.
McFann is a leader in all aspects. He enrolled in 11 AP courses during his high school career and excelled in each of them; he recently achieved AP Scholar with Distinction.
He was a member of the National Honor Society (president), National Beta Club, National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and National Science Honor Society.
McFann lettered in AHS cross country and was a member of the AHS tennis team and track & field team. He recently served as the Assistant Youth Basketball Coach at the Memphis Athletic Ministries Grizzlies Center.
He is very involved with the Bellevue Baptist Choir and Performing Arts. McFann also gives a great deal of his time to his community through IMPACT and the Grizzlies Center. Thomas is a mentor, an encourager and an achiever.
Spencer Nelson, class salutatorian, graduated with a 4.50 weighted GPA. He will attend Georgia Tech and study chemical and environmental engineering.
Nelson is an accomplished young man. He enrolled in 10 AP courses throughout his high school career and experienced success in each of them.
He was an active and contributing member of the AHS Knowledge Bowl Team, Science Olympiad, Latin Club, and the Chess Team. In addition, he was a member of the National Honor Society and National Science Honor Society.
He also has served through his church as a Vacation Bible School counselor and participated in Operation Backpack.
Nelson has tremendous drive and a thirst for knowledge.
St. Agnes Academy
Madeline Hanson, class valedictorian, distinguished herself as an outstanding scholar and leader during her 15 years as a student at St. Agnes. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hanson earned recognition as a National Merit Commended Student. She was captain of the varsity soccer team and president of the Pep Club. She served as a peer mentor and was the founder and president of the GirlUp Club.
She was a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Social Sciences Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and National Spanish Honor Society.
She was a member of the staff of Calliope, the school’s award-winning literary magazine, and a member of the National Beta Club, Spanish Club, Key Club and Pro-Life Club.
She participated in the Facing History and Ourselves student leadership group and served as co-director for SEARCH.
Hanson was admitted to the University of Tennessee Knoxville Chancellor’s Honors Program, the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Honors College, the University of Arkansas Fayetteville Honors College and the Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College.
Madeline earned a St. Louis University Presidential Scholarship, a St. Louis University Grant, a University of Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship, a University of Alabama Presidential Scholarship, a University of Arkansas New Arkansan Non-Resident Award, a University of Arkansas Fellowship Scholarship, a Louisiana State University Academic Scholars Nonresident Award, the University of Missouri Columbia’s Mark Twain Non-Resident Scholarship, a Tulane University New Orleans Premier Scholar Scholarship, an Indiana University Bloomington Dean’s Scholarship, a University of South Carolina Columbia Non-Resident Scholarship, the Tennessee General Assembly Merit Scholarship and the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship.
Emma Efkeman, class salutatorian, will attend the James Monroe Scholars Program at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. She is a National Merit Commended Student.
A talented artist and actress as well as a scholar, Efkeman was a four-year member of the Starlettes school choir. She performed in numerous plays and musicals and helped design many of the costumes and sets for the theatre department.
She is an award-winning artist and served as a staff member of Calliope, the school’s award-winning literary magazine.
She was the coordinator for Freshman Student Orientation. She served as a peer mentor, as a member of the Dominican Leadership Team and as a student leader for the Student in Action Jefferson Awards.
She was treasurer of the Class of 2015 and a participant in Anna’s Closet and Model United Nations.
Efkeman was a member of the Beta Club, French Club, National Honor Society, Social Sciences Honor Society, French Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National English Honor Society and International Thespian Society.
She earned a Sewanee, University of the South, Georgia M. Wilkins Scholarship; a Davidson College Scholarship in Davidson, N.C.; a Shelter Insurance Foundation Scholarship; the Tennessee General Assembly Merit Scholarship; and a Tennessee Hope Scholarship.
St. Benedict at Auburndale High School
Meghan Liu Meng Brino, class valedictorian, holds a 4.9 weighted grade point average and scored 33 on the ACT. As valedictorian she ranks first in a class of 238 seniors.
She is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist — one of only 15 from the Memphis area and one of only two Catholic High School selections (the other also being from SBA).
She received the top score of 5 on all six of her AP exams as a junior. In addition, she has taken 13 honors courses and was selected for the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Sciences and International Studies. She chose to attend the School for the Sciences.
She was vice president of the National Science Honor Society and secretary/treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society and the Quiz Bowl team.
Brino was SBA’s first Commercial Appeal Academic All-Star selected this year, and she won for General Scholarship. She was a member of the Key Club, the school’s service club, and was elected by her peers to be a member of the Honor Council.
She was one of three SBA seniors out of 20 in the nation who received the prestigious Provost’s Scholarship from Mississippi State University.
An aspiring veterinarian, Brino is an avid competitor in horse shows. With her 4-H Club, she has competed at the state Hippology and Horse competitions, ranking ninth in Tennessee in Hippology.
Meghan’s parents are Susan and Eric Brino, and she will attend college at Mississippi State University.
William Jacob “Jake” McClure, class salutatorian, strives for excellence in everything he does. He holds a 4.81 weighted grade point average and ranks second in a class of 238 seniors. He scored a perfect 36 on the ACT and a 2370 on the SAT.
He was selected by the Memphis Commercial Appeal as an Academic All Star for General Scholarship. He is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist — one of only 15 from the Memphis area and one of only two Catholic High School selections (the other also being from SBA). While at SBA, McClure has taken 11 Honors courses and seven AP courses plus Dual Enrollment English. He earned Magna Cum Laude and Maxima Cum Laude on the National Latin Exam. As a junior, he was selected for and attended “Operation Catapult” at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
In addition, he is musically talented. He was selected for the school’s Show Choir and learned to play the piano for the award-winning jazz band. He learned to sing bass and earned a spot in the All-West Tennessee Honor Choir. He also was a pianist for the West Tennessee Student Blue Jazz Band.
He has been tapped for the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. He was a member of the Knowledge Bowl Team and the Robotics Team, and he was a chair of the Students for Life Club, traveling to Washington all four years for the March for Life.
He is the son of Tracy and Shawn McClure. He will be attending Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and will be entering a pre-college summer program at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, taking Calculus III and Physics I and II, which will give him 13 credit hours before he actually starts his first semester of college.
