Get to know the 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
By Dominic Leading Fox
It’s official: the class of 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian have been chosen. Atalie Sherman, Valedictorian, and Daniel Matheny, Salutatorian, have culminated four years of dedication and time management into a title many students strive to achieve. Both have faced many crushing obstacles as well as found inspiration in everyday things. So, before they tell their story on the Mabee Center stage in May, let’s get to know them.
Daniel Matheny, Salutatorian
Photo of Daniel Matheny provided by himself
“I was told by Mrs. Cooper,” recalled Matheny. “And I was like, ‘woah! That’s cool.”
Originally, Matheny expected to be Valedictorian. His years of strictly AP classes as well as his long-time spot at number one in the class made it more likely than not.
“I was [number one] up to the last nine weeks, and then TCC classes…kinda bumped me off, but that’s fine. I was like, that’s still cool! I’m not happy that I have to give a speech…cause I don’t know what to write about. Especially because regardless of what you write about, it’s like, there’s too big of an audience for everybody to be like ‘great speech!’”
Matheny’s academic rigor wasn’t always to achieve the title—he just did it for the love of the game.
“Most of the classes, it’s definitely about the learning. All of last year it was subjects I was interested in…but this year, kind of more about the title,” Matheny expressed. “I felt like a lot of people called me ‘Six AP Daniel,’ so I was like, I might as well do that again.”
Like many other advanced students, Matheny's biggest obstacle has been managing time efficiently.
“Last year, at [the] worst, I almost went for three days on like, four hours of sleep…because I procrastinated on some US history assignment.” (I, the writer, assume Matheny means Presidential March Madness, as I also procrastinated on it.) “So managing my time, and actually getting started and doing the work was really rough.”
To Matheny, the title of Salutatorian isn’t a ‘best student of all time’ award, but rather a testament to a student’s ability to work hard through every academic bump and hurdle.
“You’re not like the picture-perfect representation of the school, because if you were, you’d probably be a more well-rounded student—like, you’d be in sports or journalism or something,” Matheny explained. “I think it’s just a testament to how much work somebody can put in, or somebody who’s pushed themselves a lot…it’s someone who cares about learning.”
After graduation, Matheny will be going to Johns Hopkins University to study biomedical engineering. He plans on getting his Masters degree in four years and continuing toward a Ph.D. He is still not quite sure when to start writing his graduation speech—or how.
Atalie Sherman, Valedictorian
Photo of Atalie Sherman provided by herself
“The last time I checked my transcript, I was second in the class, so I was fully expecting Salutatorian, and I was so excited when I got my call to go to the office,” explained Sherman. “I sat down, and Mrs. Cooper just said, ‘We’re happy to tell you that you’re the 2023 to 2024 Valedictorian!’”
Sherman was elated to find out she was Valedictorian.
“They started spitting information at me that I could not remember because I was just so—I was just so excited!”
When Sherman moved to Owasso from Washington D.C. in her sophomore year, the idea of being Valedictorian was treated as unrealistic for a new student.
According to Sherman, during this time she was told “[she] was either betting on [herself] to be perfect, or everybody else to make mistakes.”
“That was extremely discouraging—I remember leaving orientation…my very first day at Owasso ever [saying] ‘dang, I’m not smart! I’m not as smart as these kids are!’” Sherman recalled. “But, it makes it even more sweet that I was able to get it nonetheless! It kinda lit a fire under me!”
Following her initial discouragement, Sherman followed every step she could to be the best student she could be. Stacking her schedules with AP classes and extracurriculars, Sherman never ceased to challenge herself. According to her, she’s worked on schoolwork from around 3 p.m. to 12 a.m.—every single day.
“I mean, I have a lot of responsibilities like every other high school student does,” Sherman stated. “I have family responsibilities… I—y’know, work for the Rampage…but I have friends too that I try to do my best to prioritize,” Sherman explained.
“I’m not able to do it all, but I’m really glad I have a great support system…my parents give me lots of grace when I’m not able to make a family dinner or when I need to stay in my room and finish homework…you know, little things like that,” Sherman expressed. “They’re very accommodating when I wasn’t able to [be]…I credit a lot of what I was able to do to them supporting me, giving me confidence and being my advocate.”
Sherman hopes to not get caught up in the title, as she said, “I’m super thankful, but at the same time, you know, it’s high school Valedictorian, I have greater, bigger [] things to do after high school that I’m just as excited about.”
Sherman will be attending Oklahoma State in the fall for medical psychology, with a goal of going to OSU Medical School. She plans to be a general health physician or pediatrician out of her love for working with children.
Congratulations to both of these beloved students on their accomplishments thus far, and good luck on their plans in the future!