At the top: Valedictorian Alicea Mahnken, Saxony Lutheran High School

Parents: Steve and Sara Mahnken and Jean and Bill Allen

What is your most notable academic achievement? Getting an A in calculus!

What is your favorite school activity and why? School dances because you get to get all dressed up and dance with all your friends

What is your favorite high school memory? All the little everyday stuff -- lunches, hanging out by lockers, talking in art class, cheerleading practice.

Describe your favorite cafeteria food: Ravioli and cheese breadsticks

What's your school mascot? Crusaders

If you could have a personal mascot, what would it be? A hedgehog

Complete this sentence: Without me, my teachers are likely to ... miss me, of course.

Who is your favorite teacher and how did he inspire you to learn? Mr. Mangels. He is strict but funny and just knows a little bit about everything, it seems like, and just so much random stuff.

Where do you plan to go to college and what will you study? I'm going to Southeast Missouri State University. I thought I knew what I wanted to do, but it turns out I'm not entirely sure. I change my mind a lot.

What is the biggest challenge facing your generation? With Facebook and texting and all that, I think people are forgetting how to get to know people just by talking to them face to face, which is important.

How do you hope to address it? I guess just by talking to people.

Sum up your high school experience in six words: Oh, my gosh, that was amazing.