Top of the class
By Staff
Three Hartselle High School seniors share 4.2 GPA
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle High School seniors Tiffany Cooper, Hunter Corum and Danielle Williams have something in common that will follow them throughout their lives. With each having a 4.2 grade point average, they share the honor of being the top-ranked academic achiever in their class. Likewise, each will have a similar role in commencement night ceremonies leading up to the awarding of diplomas on May 26.
Cooper will give the greeting, Williams will present the senior class gift and share some reflections based on class history, and Corum will give the farewell address.
It was no accident that all three landed at the top of their class. They were locked in a tie academically after completing their freshman and sophomore years and took the same AP courses as juniors and seniors. Neither one flinched in the face of tough competition, but at least one of them got an unexpected boost from a supportive parent.
"I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for my mom," Corum said. "Two weeks before the start of my junior year she enrolled me in AP chemistry without me knowing about it. She knew I needed that course to stay in the race."
All three agree that it's a big honor to be ranked at the top of their class academically but insist that the competition they went through was no big deal.
"We're still good friends. We helped out each other when we could," Corum pointed out.
"It's been fun and we haven't had to spend all of our free time studying."
AP course credits will give all three a jump start in college. Corum said he expects to receive credit for most of the courses required of a freshman in UA's School of Arts &Sciences.
"We've been well prepared and I'm confident we'll do well in college," Cooper said.
Cooper has a law career in mind. She plans to enroll at the University of Alabama next fall to pursue a B.Sc. degree in chemical engineering and a degree in law. She is the recipient of a UA Presidential Scholarship, UA Engineering Leadership Scholarship and American Legion Scholarship. She also was offered an Engineering Leadership Scholarship to Auburn University.
She is the daughter of Lee and Dwight Brown of Elkmont and Charles and Monica Cooper of Hartselle. Her scholastic honors include membership in the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta math honorary and National Junior Classic League for Latin Students. She is also a member of the Key Club, S.A.D.D., Latin Club, FCA and a member of Elkton Road Baptist Church.
Corum plans to attend the University of Alabama but is undecided about his major. He is leaning toward a career in medicine or science. He is the recipient of a UA Presidential Scholarship and two UA Alumni Scholarships.
He is the son of Kevin and Sally Corum of Hartselle. A four-year letterman in football and a three-year letterman in baseball, he is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta math honorary and National Junior Classic League for Latin Students. He plays the guitar as a hobby and is a member of Westview Church of Christ.
Williams will do her undergraduate work at the University of Mississippi in pursuit of a career in pharmacy. She is the recipient of a Freshman Academic Scholarship, an Out-of-State Scholarship and an American Legion Scholarship. She also was offered an Academic Excellence Scholarship by Samford University and a Freshman Academic Scholarship by Auburn University.
She is the daughter of Michael and Rita Williams of Hartselle. Her scholastic honors include memberships in the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta math honorary. She is a member of the Key Club, S.A.D.D., Latin Club and Spanish Club. She attended Girls State, was a section leader in the band and is a member of Christ Our Redeemer Church.
