by Miles Jung-Kilbreath
Reporter
Streetsboro -- Five students will cross the stage at the Akron Civic Theater on May 29 as valedictorians of the 2007-08 senior graduating class.
"We had an outstanding class this year and each of our valedictorians are unique in their own special ways," high school Principal Jim Montaquila said.
Fatheih Alkazaz, Daniel Ashburn, Benjamin Claussen, Erica Huntsman and Katlin Twigger have gone "above and beyond anything you'd expect from a valedictorian," Montaquila said.
While Alkazaz, Ashburn, Huntsman and Twigger said they had made being valedictorian a goal during their high school career, Claussen said he was "shocked" to find out he had gained the honor earlier this year.
"I had no idea that I was even up for it," he said.
Montaquila said to qualify as a valedictorian, a student needs to have a 4.0 grade-point average, the equivalent of having all A grades, at the end of their high school career.
Ashburn, who plans to attend Ohio Northern University, said he was Student Council President this year and was active in National Honor Society, Beta Club and a member of the school band's drumline.
"No one else has [ been valedictorian] in my family, so I wanted to be the first," Huntsman said.
Claussen, who will attend the University of Akron, said he has focused on technology in high school and has been the assistant tech director at the school's radio station 88.9 WSTB, putting in "hundreds of hours" of work at the station after school hours. He said he has also edited a 30-second video ad on Streetsboro sponsored by the city's visitor and convention bureau that airs at rest stops along the turnpike in Portage County.
Huntsman, who will attend Penn State University, said she is a member of the school's band and is also a DJ at WSTB. Along with being on student council, Huntsman said she has competed in various dance competitions for the last seven years, including contemporary and jazz.
"We consider [Huntsman] our most reserved valedictorian," Montaquila said. "She can be rather unassuming in her own way."
Twigger, who will attend Michigan State University, said she is the senior class president this year and a member of the local high school Channel 16 TV station staff. She said she also participates on the track team, National Honor Society and has been a school Cheerleader.
"I'm excited to finally be graduating," Twigger said.
Alkazaz, who will attend Mount Union University, said she is the lead DJ at WSTB, has worked on video projects at the TV station, like freshman orientation videos, and is a member of the Treble Ensemble, which is an all female choir at the school.
"It was always a goal of mine [to be valedictorian]. I wanted to make my parents proud," she said.
When he leaves high school at the end of the month, Claussen said he would miss "a lot of the freedom" he had earned growing up in the community and know that he will have "earn my freedom back" as he continues on in life.
All five valedictorians will give speeches at the May 29 graduation ceremony Alkazaz said she wanted to give a speech that will have "useful advice" for her classmates which they will remember long after they graduate.
"We are working on a common theme with our speeches," Ashburn said. "It's important that we speak the truth and say what we mean."
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