Wayne Memorial High School Class of 2023 Valedictorians and Salutatorians

The Class of 2023, Valedictorians and Salutatorians – front row: Emily Lemus, Camryn Anway, Jocelyn Mendoza, Teya Adham, Diego Garcia, Alan Hernandez and Alaiyah Gordon, back row: Madison Sullivan, Kenneth Huynh, Rowan Knape, Griphen Smith, Santray Trottier and Jesus Valesquez Cervantes. Photo by John Rhaesa

There are two valedictorians this year, and Wayne Memorial High School has seven salutatorians. Both categories of achievement are determined strictly by cumulative GPA. Valedictorians have GPAs 4.0 and above. Salutatorians have GPAs between 3.93 and 3.99.

Teya Adham – Plans to attend The University of Michigan and study Aerospace Engineering at the College of Engineering.
Area of study: Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science.
Parents: Majed Adham (Father); Najwa Adham (Mother)
Notable High School Accomplishments: My notable high school accomplishments have been the steps I have taken and the effort I have put in to set myself up to something I am personally proud of. I am proud that I was able to join senate and get accepted to Upward Bound during my freshman year. I was proud that I challenged myself sophomore year by taking my first AP classes. I was proud junior year that I was accepted to attend a summer program at Brown University that was paid for through a scholarship with the Joyce Ivy Foundation. And I am proud that this year I got accepted into the College of Engineering at both the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California. I am a State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship Qualifier and I received the Wayne Westland Federal Credit Union Scholarship and the Wayne Rotary Club Scholarship. I was a Scholar Athlete on the Varsity Tennis team for 2 years and the Varsity Swim team for 3 years. I am proud of every major and minor accomplishment I have made throughout high school. From getting an A in a class to getting a full-ride scholarship to my dream school, they all are notable accomplishments.

Camryn Madeline Anway – Plans to attend Michigan State University (Honors College.)
Area of study: Mechanical Engineering (Biomedical Concentration)
Parents: Jaime Anway & Sara Anway
Notable High School Accomplishments: 4 Year Honor Roll Student, 12 College Acceptances, Wayne Memorial Alumni Association Scholarship, Wayne Rotary Foundation Scholarship, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Anibal Memorial Fund (MSU Engineering Scholarship), Solo & Ensemble 1st Division Ranking (2022), Member of Operation Opportunity Cohort (2023), 4 Year Member of Zebra Marching Band, 3 Year Member of Symphony Band, Participant in Alumni Distinguished Scholarship Competition at MSU

Diego Garcia – Plans for Next Year: I will continue to work toward all the goals I have set for myself. In my first year of college, I hope to learn more about myself and make great memories. I am very excited about all the possibilities and opportunities that the next year will offer.
Area of study: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Parents: Beatriz Cervantes
Notable High School Accomplishments: Valedictorian, 12th Grade Literary Excellence Award, Student Senate, Interact Club and a Scholar Athlete, playing 3 years of Varsity Soccer. Received the Student Senate Scholarship, the Wayne Rotary Foundation Scholarship and the Wayne Westland Federal Credit Union Scholarship.

Alaiyah Marie Gordon – Plans to attend Eastern Michigan University.
Area of study: Nursing
Parents: Christopher Gordon and Candice Cannon
Notable High School Accomplishments: Maintaining honor roll grades throughout my high school years, being chosen for the French Department Award, and becoming a Valedictorian. Received the Wayne Westland Building Administrators Association Scholarship and the Harold and Pat Bower Scholarship.

Alan Hernandez – Plans to attend The University of Chicago.
Area of study: Computer Science and Philosophy
Parents: Maite Alcantara and David Hernandez
Notable High School Accomplishments: QuestBridge Scholar, Gates Scholarship recipient, State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship Qualifier, Scholar Athlete. I earned varsity letters for academics, cross country and marching band.

Kenneth Huynh – Plans to attend Michigan State University.
Area of study: Human Biology
Parents: Nancy Le and Kim Huynh
Notable High School Accomplishments: Dell Scholar winner of $20,000, chosen for Wayne High Schools Alumni Association Scholarship, Wayne Rotary Foundation Scholarship and Jerome H. Sleicher Memorial Scholarship. Involved in Student Senate and Upward Bound.

Rowan Norelle Knape – Plans to attend The College for Creative Studies.
Area of study: Game Design
Parents: Wendi Knape and Warren Knape
Notable High School Accomplishments: Charles Attwood Foundation Scholarship, President of the Art club, has taken AP classes since sophomore year, has never been late to class once, one of my art pieces was selected and displayed at a show in the DIA.

Emily Tiffany Lemus – Plans to attend The University of Michigan.
Area of study: Computer Science
Parents: Pedro Lemus and Graciela Lemus
Notable High School Accomplishments: Studied Computer Science in a pre-college summer experience at Brown University with the scholarship I got from the Joyce Ivy Foundation. Was awarded the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship, the Equitable Excellence Scholarship, the Mary Trupkovich Memorial Scholarship, the Student Senate Scholarship and I am a State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship Qualifier. Played 2 years of Varsity Tennis and I am a Scholar Athlete.

Jocelyn Mendoza – Plans to attend The University of Notre Dame.
Area of study: Business Management & Organizations
Parents: Gonzalo Mendoza and Cira Mendoza
Notable High School Accomplishments: Class President. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor acceptance, Boston University acceptance, and University of Notre Dame acceptance. Ladies Literary Club – Frances Blain Hilts Scholarship and Wayne Rotary Foundation Scholarship. Scholar Athlete with 3 years on Varsity Swim and 2 years on Varsity Tennis.

Griphen Hunter Wyatt Smith – Plans to attend Oakland University. Area of study: Physics
Parents: Andrea Smith and Raymond Cogswell
Notable High School Accomplishments: Recipient of Academic Letter all 4 years of high school, named a member of the National Technical Honor Society, being named a Salutatorian.
Overcoming the adversity that came with AP courses. My first two years of high school, I wrestled at the varsity level, and was a student mentor for the incoming members of the team. I learned how to accept myself and apply myself to achieve what benefits me.
Getting accepted into my school of choice, with a near full-ride, reflects my dedication, commitment, and hard work. Regardless of how others may have tried to define me, the most important lesson I learned was to only listen to the definition I gave myself.
Madison Rose Sullivan – Plans to attend Grand Valley State University.
Area of study: Nursing
Parents: Timothy Sullivan and Kathleen Sullivan
Notable High School Accomplishments: President of Student Senate, National Honors Society executive board member, Honor Roll for 4 years, KLAA Representative, Scholar Athlete with 2 years on the Varsity Volleyball team, Dr. and Mrs. Kominars Scholarship.

Santray Steven Trottier – Plans to attend Michigan State University.
Area of study: Accounting
Parents: Jennifer Trottier and Shontellis Pearson
Notable High School Accomplishments: Member of Upward Bound, Senate, and National Honor Society, 4 years on Honor Roll, Scholar Athlete, 4 Year Varsity Bowling letter, 3 year varsity baseball letter, 2023 High School Bowling State Champions, All Conference Team(Bowling and Baseball), 2023 Homecoming King. Recipient of the Mike Melcher Memorial Scholarship, the Wayne Rotary Foundation Scholarship and State of Michigan Competitive Scholarship Qualifier.

Jesus Velasquez Cervantes – Plans to attend The University of Michigan.
Area of study: Nursing
Parent Names: Patricia Cervantes Ramos and Jesus Velasquez
Notable High School Accomplishments: Junior Homecoming King, Scholar Athlete with 4 years of Varsity Soccer, 1 Year Varsity Track, KLAA All Conference Award in Soccer, Top goal scorer 2023. Recipient of the Ron Mason Cross Country/Track Scholarship.