Hartselle's top grads share a history of high achievement

By Staff
Clif Knight
A gifted young man and woman whose careers are moving in opposite directions are locked in a tie for the top of the class academic honor among Hartselle High School's approximately 175 seniors.
With identical 4.21 grade point averages, Alex Thompson and Carson Land will share the "top graduate" honor when diplomas are awarded by school officials May 27. He will give the welcome address and she will give the farewell address.
Both have been in school together since kindergarten and have grown accustomed to vying for top marks on their test papers. Neither one has a problem with ending up in a tie after all was said and done.
Thompson has been accepted for enrollment at the University of Alabama next fall. He is the recipient of a UA Alumnae Honors Scholarship, Robert C. Byrd Scholarship and Robert Orr Scholarship. He plans to major in chemical engineering and is interested in pursuing a career in medicine. He also received scholarship offers from Auburn University and Birmingham-Southern College.
Land is headed to Birmingham-Southern on a Presidential Scholarship. She will begin classes next fall with plans to take some theater courses and major in English and history. She said there is a distinct possibility she will attend law school after completing her undergraduate work. She is also recipient of the 2005 Morgan County Junior Miss Scholarship and had scholarship offers from the University of Alabama and Sewanee University.
Both feel they were fortunate to be able to get their basic education in Hartselle schools and are well prepared for college.
Both offered a bit of advice to underclassmen.
Thompson is a member of the National Honor Society, MU Alpha Theta math honorary, Key Club, and First United Methodist Church. He also participated in varsity basketball and baseball. He is the son of Mark and Claire Thompson of Hartselle. He has an older sister, Erin, who ranked third academically in the HHS Class of 2003 and is currently enrolled at the University of Alabama.
Land is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta honorary, Student Council, Key Club and Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal in Decatur. She is a Morgan County Junior Miss title holder and served as lieutenant governor of Girls State. She is the daughter of Ed and Allyson Land of Decatur, both of whom are teachers in the Hartselle school system.
Graduation exercises at Hartselle High will be conducted on Friday, May 27, at 7 p.m. in the J.P. Cain Stadium.