Valedictorian:
Senior Max Hill was recently announced as the valedictorian for the class of 2025. Max Hill has a GPA of 4.58 and plans to attend Duke University, majoring in Economics/Public Policy.
“At the beginning of the school year, I had a feeling that I would be either first or second in my class,” Max Hill said. “I got called to the office one morning while taking my calculus test to get the announcement that I had become the valedictorian. It felt amazing to hear since it was something that I had been striving for since my freshman year.”
Achieving the title of valedictorian requires continued effort and dedication over the course of four years. Being valedictorian did not come easily to Max Hill.
“I had to put in a lot of work to get to this point,” Max Hill said. “A lot of people do not like to admit that they have to work really hard and have to study outside of class, but I will be the first to say that I spend a lot of hours outside of school working on my classes. My hardest class was probably AP Calculus AB last year or AP Biology my sophomore year, and I put in a lot of time outside of school for those classes.”
Max Hill’s mom, Kathryn Hill, has observed his constant effort and drive to work on his studies throughout his high school years. According to Kathryn Hill, Max Hill has always been an incredibly self-motivated student, and hardly a day goes by when he is not focused on one of his classes or on one of his extracurricular activities like debate.
“It was wonderful to see Max accomplish such an amazing feat,” Kathryn Hill said. “There are a lot of smart, motivated students at OHS who are doing great things. To see Max recognized as one of the top students was a really proud moment for me.”
Salutatorian:
Alex Ritchie has been named the Salutatorian of Oxford High School’s Class of 2025, earning the title with a 4.54 GPA and a strong record of academic achievement throughout her high school career.
“I have worked extremely hard over the years to become the best student that I can be,” Alex Ritchie said. “I have taken as many different AP classes as I could because I am always striving to learn more.”
In addition to her rigorous coursework, Alex Ritchie has participated in activities such as Envirothon, Speech and Debate, and the Trent Lott Leadership Institute, all while learning to adapt to the varying teaching styles of her instructors. She credits much of her success to the encouragement and passion of her teachers.
“I would like to thank some of the teachers that have had the biggest impact on my education over the years,” Alex Ritchie said. “This includes Mrs. Sommer Husbands, Mr. James Jimenez, Ms. Deborah Jones, Mrs. Sugi Wiltcher, Mr. John Barnett and Mr. Jeffrey Jones.”
Alex Ritchie’s father, Jason Ritchie, says her success stems from years of focused effort and a drive to pursue every opportunity available.
“Alex is a hard worker and has always been willing to put in the time and effort to get the outcome she wants,” Jason Ritchie said. “From national competitions to leadership institutes, she’s made the most of every experience.”
Reaching the end of senior year provides an opportunity to consider both personal development and the moments that defined the high school experience.
“I cannot believe I am actually at this point,” Alex Ritchie said. “It has been a wild ride, but I am so glad to have spent all these years learning and growing alongside my peers. I will never forget all the laughs and tears that we have shared over the years.”
