Ringgold High School valedictorian and band member Brianna Gibson stands in front of a trailer at her alma mater that was damaged severely by last month’s tornado outbreak.
Staff photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free PressRELATED ARTICLE• Tornadoes making Ringgold stronger
The 2011 crop of valedictorians is an optimistic bunch. They see bright times ahead, they have faith and they believe they are on a course to success.
“I have amazing classmates who are passionate about what they do,” said Danielle Chirumbole, valedictorian for Girls Preparatory School. “Some work with the homeless, some are amazing artists, one dreams of serving on the Supreme Court, one wants to make political documentaries, one loves computer science and one wants to enter the business world. I have faith in my generation to change things.”
Forty-one of this year’s tri-state valedictorians filled out a Chattanooga Times Free Press survey about their hopes for the future, their immediate plans and the way they see the world ahead.
A majority – 61 percent – said they envision a better world. Last year, 44 percent of students said they saw a better world ahead.