While many seniors are rushing through the halls counting down the days until graduation, some are celebrating what they have accomplished in the past four years, especially senior Emma Bunk.  Named the Class of 2026 Salutatorian, Bunk graduates with more than an impressive GPA—she is leaving behind a legacy of dedication, curiosity, and kindness. 

Through the sports and clubs Bunk participates in, she found time to put in the work to make her academic career shine. 

“I wanted to try my best and do the best I could, which caused me to motivate myself,” stated Bunk. “But my sister also showed me that I can do all the clubs, sports, and still be able to succeed in school.”

Being successful is a big part of becoming salutatorian. In an environment where students often feel defined by their rank and competitive edge, maintaining a healthy perspective can be the hardest part of the job.

“I define success as being happy and comfortable with the decisions that you make,” says Bunk. 

The path to the top has not always been easy. For Bunk, there were some struggles along the way. 

“One challenge that I faced was not having enough time to complete all of the work from school, clubs, and still be able to go to sport practice,” said Bunk.  “However, with good communication with my teachers and peers and prioritizing I was able to make everything work.”

As Bunk prepares for the future, she leaves advice for others who aspire to be at the top, just like her. 

“I would tell underclassmen to make sure that you always try your hardest, but also make sure that you are able to still have fun and do things for yourself.”