Rachel Heaton covers education in Beaufort County. She is an Oklahoma native and Missouri transplant. She graduated from the University of Missouri and previously worked at a local news website in suburban St. Louis. | The 26 students of Beaufort Academy's Class of 2012 graduated Saturday during a ceremony at the school.
Total amount of scholarship money earned by the graduates: $1.68 million
Speakers: John M. McCardell Jr., 16th vice chancellor and president of the University of the South
Valedictorian: Michael Bible and Katherine Neal are both valedictorians; both earned a 5.04 grade-point average. Bible plans to study chemistry at American University, where he has been accepted to the honors program. Neal plans to study animal and veterinary science at Clemson University. She also has been accepted to the honors program.
Salutatorian: Nathan Cheung earned a 4.71 grade-point average and plans to study computer engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
From the head of school: "I have greatly enjoyed working with this Beaufort Academy Class of 2012. They are a group of scholars, athletes, artists and leaders who pursue their passions in everything they do. From course selection in high school, to their careful choices of internships during interim, to their involvement in on- and off-campus clubs and community service projects, to the way they approached the college application process, they have shown they are a group dedicated to reaching for the stars. In addition, things like being a National Merit recipient, earning a spot in the state championship game and directing a school play are not things that happen in one year. These students have not only had a great year, but have been preparing for their senior year from early on, which is evident as they were not only all accepted to four-year colleges and universities, but at 63 different schools. They have such bright futures ahead of them, and we are so proud of all they have already accomplished and the great things to come." -- Julia Corner