Paul Wilson and Cheryl Ryan to bid farewell to Pope John's Class of 2006

Sparta - Valedictorian Paul Wilson and salutatorian Cheryl Ryan will lead the 194 students of the Pope John XXIII High School Class of 2006 who will be graduating on Friday, June 9. Their academic resumes include numerous awards and the completion of seven advanced placement courses each, throughout their high school careers. A National Merit Scholar, wrestler, and church lector, Wilson, of Franklin, plans on attending Christendom College in Virginia. He intends to major in history and is contemplating a possible teaching career in the future. Wilson is also considering a potential minor in theology and keeps the thought of priesthood in the back of his mind. He attributes his high school success to his parents, who have brought him up to love learning, as well as his brother, who constantly challenges him intellectually. Ryan, who lives in Hampton, was accepted by some of the most selective schools in the nation, including Dartmouth and MIT. She chose to attend the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she hopes to use a concentration in either accounting or marketing to accomplish her goal of becoming a corporate lawyer. However, Ryan’s interests extend far beyond the classroom. She coaches a recreational soccer team, raises seeing-eye dogs, and enjoys Web site design. “We are very lucky and blessed to have students of such integrity, charity, and scholarship as Paul and Cheryl,” said Fr. McHugh, principal of Pope John. “They have been accepted into some of the most prestigious schools in the country. It would be interesting to follow their careers, as I know they will make a great contribution to society. The world will be a better place because of the values they hold.” Taking from her own experiences, Cheryl advises incoming freshmen to “try hard, do your homework, and don’t give up.” As for his fellow classmates, Paul leaves them with this message, “We have been given a great deal of advice and knowledge about how to live our lives here at Pope John. Let us use that knowledge to do what is right.”