Valedictorians show value of education

For the last few weeks, we've had the pleasure of introducing our readers to our valedictorians. These are the best students our local high schools have produced, and we're thrilled to get to know them. Their profiles will run throughout the summer on our Thursday "Next" pages.

One area valedictorian will attend the University of Mississippi to major in banking and finance; another is going to the University of Oklahoma for chemical engineering, and would love to be a biomedical engineer or cardiologist. Another wants to become a dermatologist.

These young men and women, to some extent, were born with certain gifts, but they've also worked very hard to be their school's top graduate. So, congratulations to our valedictorians.

More importantly, we hope they aspire to their potential. These valedictorians represent what education can do for a person. You don't have to be a valedictorian or salutatorian to be a doctor or an engineer. But you do have to be smart, work hard and retain information. Education offers freedom in the type of job you obtain, and in your potential wages down the line. Education raises ceilings and knocks down walls.

Again, kudos to the valedictorians; but thanks and congratulations to all recent grads who did their very best to reach high academic achievement. Good luck.