James, Davis top Green Forest grads

RHarvey@CarrollCoNews.com

Green Forest High School seniors Reese James and Mattie Davis have known each other since they were young kids, having classes and attending church together.

Friday night they’ll graduate as the top two in their class.

“I’m actually very good friends with him and I’ve known him since I was a baby,” said Davis, the GFHS salutatorian. “We go to church together and we’ve always been in the same classes.

“We kind of had a little competitive element in our friendship so it’s really neat to be able to say that we’re both the top two students in our class.” James, the class valedictorian, finished with a 4.25 gradepoint average, while Davis came in at 4.12.

Both agreed that attending a smaller high school benefited them through the years.

“It’s kind of like the show ‘Cheers’ where everybody knows your name,” James said. “That’s kind of the way I think about it.

“I really enjoyed it being a small school. I had a really good time really getting to know a lot of the teachers.”

Davis agreed. “It’s definitely very nice,” she said. “I would rather be in a smaller school environment like where I have grown up in, because it’s so much easier to make those good connections with everybody and have good relationships and just being able to really have one-on-one time with all the teachers. Having that relationship really helps motivate you and push you to do better.”

VALEDICTORIAN

James credits his parents, Tiffany and Bobby, for pushing him to do his best academically but feels a lot of his success came from within.

“As I’ve gotten older it’s more of a personal drive,” he said. “I had taken a lot of AP classes over the years so I’ve been really competitive in terms of like my GPA, so to actually see where I stand. … I was really happy.

“It’s more of a principle thing for me. I really wanted to do my best. Aim to work hard.”

James said his mom urged him to get more involved in extracurricular activities, and it proved not to affect his grades.

Along with being a manager for the basketball team, James was in gifted and talented, art club, beta club, talent search and FBLA.

English teacher Vanessa Humbard, art teacher Matt Conover, AP psychology teacher Adam Richter and GT coordinator Laine Smith are some of the instructors who have impacted him, James said.

“Ms. Smith, she’s helped me with a lot of stuff inside and outside of school,” he said. “She has been so helpful.”

James plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

“I’m going to go into the engineering department,” he said. “I’m looking into civil engineering, but if I change my mind I might do architecture because they have a good architecture program as well.”

In his free time James said he likes to play video games and watch older sitcoms with his parents such as “Seinfield,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and “Frasier.”

“I have a really good friend group this year,” he said. “That has really helped me have a good year. More activities.”

When he gives his speech Friday night James promises one thing.

“It won’t be long and drawn out,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty concise.”

Regardless of the length, he admits he’ll be a bit nervous.

“I’ll be nervous being in front of everyone, but I got it done, wanted to be prepared and not wait until the last minute or anything. There will be a big crowd there and I might be a little nervous but I don’t think it’ll be that bad.”

SALUTATORIAN

Even though she was keeping track of what her position was in her senior class, Davis said it was still an honor when salutatorian became official.

“We have a website that shows our rank in the class and everybody is constantly checking to see what rank they are and try to get as high as they can,” Davis said. “A couple of months into the year when I first looked and I saw I was ranked second in the class. Ever since, it’s just stayed there and I just kept getting good grades.

“I knew it was coming but it’s still an amazing surprise and I’m so honored.”

Davis juggled being captain of the GFHS cheerleading squad and activities such as choir, yearbook, Beta Club, FCCLA and GT with her academic work.

“One of my virtues has been to work hard and just do my best,” she said. “I’m a studier. So, if I ever fall short, I’m always ready to jump in and ask for any extra credit. Good grades have always been a part of my persona.”

Davis credits her parents, Jackie and Rachel, for encouraging her to take more weighted classes that helped boost her GPA.

“They were very excited, very proud,” she said. “I still thank them every day for pushing me to keep going forward, to do my best. They were definitely a big part of it.

“Sometimes I tend to procrastinate, but they are always on top of it, telling me to get it done and put as much effort as I can. … Be able to say I gave my best.”

Davis said she plans to attend College of the Ozarks in Hollister this fall and major in conservation and wildlife management.

“After graduating I hope to pursue a career in wildlife biology, maybe working for the parks service or forest service,” she said, adding that an eighthgrade science teacher instilled her love for science.

As an outgoing senior, Davis, like James, also praised Humbard.

“She has always been an inspiration to me,” Davis said of her English teacher. “She founded a love of reading in me. She always tells us to be curious and ask questions and she really sparked a love for learning in me. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to go as far as I have and achieve the things that I have, especially this year.”

Davis will get to achieve one final high school moment Friday night, delivering her speech to her class.

“When I first found out I was for sure salutatorian, of course, I was completely happy and honored,” she said. “But there was also that little voice in the back of my head that planted that anxiety of ‘I have to give a speech at graduation.’

“I’m definitely quite nervous, but I’m also excited to give everyone a message.”

And that message? “Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “Though some things don’t seem to go your way, there’s a purpose behind everything.”