At the top: Valedictorian Emily Ruch, Oak Ridge

Parents: Matt and Teri Ruch

What is your most notable academic achievement? Being on honor roll for all four years of high school.

What is your favorite school activity and why? Volleyball because it's the activity that I can achieve the most in.

What is your favorite high school memory? Playing sports with my friends.

Describe your favorite cafeteria food: gray, lifeless and terrible

What's your school mascot? Bluejay

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

Complete this sentence: Without me, my teachers are likely to ... not be so stressed out.

Who is your favorite teacher and how did she inspire you to learn? Mrs. Sarah Hansen because she connected with me and made her teaching experience personal so that I could learn better

Where do you plan to go to college and what will you study? Southeast Missouri State University to study nursing

What is the biggest challenge facing your generation? Inflation

How do you hope to address it? Try to get a good college education so that I won't have to worry about money issues and debt once I'm older

Sum up your high school experience in six words: It has changed my life forever.