At the top: Valedictorian Hillary Merick, Zalma

Parents: Randy and Susan Merick

What is your most notable academic achievement? Being valedictorian

What is your favorite school activity and why? FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) because it gave me the opportunity to become a leader in my school and community.

What is your favorite high school memory? There are too many to choose just one. I loved all of the trips we went on with all our different organizations.

Describe your favorite cafeteria food: hot rolls

What's your school mascot? Bulldog

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

Complete this sentence: Without me, my teachers are likely to ... relax.

Who are your favorite teachers and how did they inspire you to learn? Mrs. Rainey and Mrs. Davis are the two teachers that have inspired me the most. Mrs. Rainey was my FCCLA adviser. ... She took me to meetings, interviews, pretty much anything I needed. ... Mrs. Davis was my choir director. She has a real passion for music, which has helped to inspire me.

Where do you plan to go to college and what will you study? I will be attending St. Louis College of Pharmacy to obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

What is the biggest challenge facing your generation? Teenagers having low self esteem [that] leads to sex, drug and alcohol abuse among many other things. Many teenagers try to find something else to help ease the pain of feeling insecure about themselves or about other things going on in their lives.

How do you hope to address it? I believe that if teenagers would stop trying to tear other people down in order to make themselves feel better everyone would be much better off.

Sum up your high school experience in six words: amazing, fast, stressful, fun, unforgettable, hilarious