Standlee, Hood lead BHS Class of ’25

Ashlyn Standlee and Jaden Hood have been friends since elementary school, so however the Berryville Class of 2025 rankings ended up, they both knew they were going to be happy for each other.

“I knew we both wanted it, but it was just lighthearted,” Hood said of the competition.

Once the pair knew Standlee had secured the top spot in the class, Hood focused on trying to separate from others to claim No. 2 in the GPA rankings.

“She was quite a bit of points ahead of me,” Hood said. “… So, I kind of accepted that fact. But, I am very proud of her. I know this has been a dream of hers since we were little.”

Standlee was equally proud of Hood.

“I was very excited when I heard about Jaden,” she said. “We had been friends for so long, and we really didn’t know who was going to be, so it was exciting.”

Standlee, the school’s valedictorian, finished with a 4.32 GPA, and Hood, salutatorian, finished at 4.21. They will present a message to those in attendance at the BHS graduation ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at Bobcat Stadium.

VALEDICTORIAN

Standlee said there were five students competing for the top two spots in the class, but she felt confident that she had built a comfortable cushion in claiming valedictorian during the process.

“I found out probably two weeks ago when the counselor called me and Jaden in,” Standlee said. “I was pretty excited, but I think before that I pretty much knew because of our transcripts and stuff.”

Standlee said her parents, Alicia and Joshua, were excited that she was able to accomplish a goal she had set for herself many years ago.

“They were just really happy for me,” Standlee said.

“They knew I had been wanting it since I was pretty little. We were just really excited.”

Standlee admits academics aren’t really a stress for her, particularly because of how much she enjoys the challenge, she said.

“I viewed school as more of a hobby, because I just really like learning,” she said. “I went to all the competitions when I was little, Math Carnival, National History Day, and it was just really fun, so I saw school as more of like an opportunity to learn. Not anything was pushed on me.”

That self-discipline when it came to staying on top of her grades was important, especially considering the extracurricular activities Standlee was involved in at BHS.

“I was in cheer and soccer and I got to be captain for both of those, and then I’m on the junior chamber board, so I try to help out with stuff in the community,” she said. “I’m class treasurer and in quiz bowl.”

The school’s cheerleading team qualified for nationals in Dallas earlier this year and the quiz bowl team went to regionals, adding to Standlee’s busy schedule.

“It was definitely kind of stressful because we did end up going pretty far in cheer, but I worked it all out,” Standlee said. “I don’t have a job or anything so I was able to get it all done. I try not to have any schoolwork outside of school. I want to get it all done while I’m there so I have time for my extracurriculars.”

That hard work ethic she gets from her dad, she said.

“He’s a very hard worker,” Standlee said. “He knows what he wants, and I feel like I definitely get that from him.”

The next step for Standlee will be a big move across the country as she will become a freshman at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst this fall. She’ll be part of the honors college while majoring in biology.

“I’ll also be premed,” she said. “I want to be a neurosurgeon one day.”

While Amherst, Mass., will likely be quite a contrast from Berryville, Standlee said visiting the East Coast as a child attracted her to that part of the country.

“When I was little I was home-schooled and my dad worked on a pipeline in Pennsylvania, so we got to travel a lot up there and I really, really liked it on the East Coast,” Standlee said. “So, I wanted to go back. My family, I mean, they’re definitely sad that I’m leaving, but it’s a big step because I’m one of the first to leave Berryville.

“They’re kind of nervous, but they’re very encouraging.”

Especially her mom, Standlee said.

“She’s always there for me,” she said. “She’s just a very loving person. I just want to take that and help other people.”

SALUTATORIAN

When talking about her educational journey Hood is quick to mention the work ethic instilled by her mom, Tammy Evans.

“My mom is a single parent and had to work two jobs to raise me and my brother,” Hood said. “She knew, and I knew, that getting good grades would ultimately be the factor of whether I would be going to the college I wanted to or not. Whether I was going to continue my higher education degree.”

Hood took her mom’s advice and her academic success led her to the 4.21 GPA, landing the class salutatorian role.

“I found out, I think, in March that I was salutatorian,” she said. “So, I was very happy knowing that my hard work paid off because I always strived for A’s, and just pushed myself harder than I knew was capable of.”

The No. 2 class spot, with the necessary scholarships secured, was an exciting time for her family, Hood said.

“They were very proud just because they knew I would be getting a lot of scholarship money, and I would end up going to my dream college,” Hood said. “My mom was very proud … she knew I was going to be in the running for some scholarships and the money needed for college.”

Like Standlee, Hood also had to juggle classwork with a busy extracurricular schedule, “I was a cheerleader and was a cheer captain this year,” she said. “I was part of National Honor Society, vice president of that, and senior class vice president. I was part of the junior chamber board for two years now, and I’m part of journalism. I’ve been an editor my junior and senior year.”

Time management was key, Hood said.

“Our cheer team made it to nationals so we were having like 10 hours a week of practices so it was a bit stressful, but I luckily was able to manage my time,” Hood said. “I also worked, so the days I wasn’t cheering I was working, so it was a bit stressful, but I did learn time management pretty well, and I was able keep my grades well.”

Her mom stayed on top of it as well, Hood admitted.

“She would definitely not let me go out whenever I wanted to, whenever I had grades due or an assignment due,” Hood said. “I also knew my limits when it came to doing my studies or tests, or doing homework, rather than hanging out with my friends.”

Hood’s plans this fall aren’t that far from Carroll County as she’s set to enroll at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She plans to major in communication sciences and disorders.

“Hopefully, become a speech language pathologist,” she said.

“It’s always been a dream to go to the University of Arkansas, and I’m very grateful for all the scholarships I have received. I know that I’ll be making lots of friends and new memories, and the occupation I am striving to go into I’m very passionate about. I’m excited. I think that’s definitely why I’m excited the most because it is something that I love doing.”

When asked who had been an inspiration to her during her years in school, other than her mom, Hood was quick to mention her grandparents, Jerry and Patty Bradley.

“They’ve always been very supportive of me,” she said. “They go to every single event I’m in. They never miss a ballgame that I’m cheering at. They never missed an awards ceremony or an event. And they’ve always just loved on me and told me that I am capable of everything I’ve done.”

Seeing them in the crowd during graduation will be special, and emotional, Hood admits. It will only be topped by the emotions she will feel if she happens to make eye contact with her mom.

“I think she’s having a hard time for sure, just because I will be the last one getting out of the house,” Hood said. “She does have a good support system with my grandparents and friends.

“She will probably be very emotional, but I will let her know that I’ll always be there for her whenever she calls. And, I’ll just be an hour away.”