As the top students prepare to receive recognition for their excelling in the classroom, they reflect on the effort it took to get there. In the 2025 school year, the top three graduating seniors listed are Drake Murrell, Jaxson Deckard, and Logan Gemes.
Warsaw High School uses the Cum Laude system in order to determine the top graduating students who have obtained academic superiority during their four year high school career. The basis of Cum Laude is figuring the student’s cumulative GPA. These students receive the following recognition listed: Summa Cum Laude (3.90 and above), Magna Cum Laude (3.75-3.89), and Cum Laude (3.40-3.74).
Being a top student in the class can give a student a number of advantages to their academic status. It looks enticing on college, scholarship, and work applications. Most colleges seek to acknowledge student GPA, but others may look at awards, community service, or curricular activities.
As the senior class comes to a close end in their high school career, a number of the students have extended their full ability to succeed. Earning the achievement of top in their class comes with hard work and dedication.
“Strategies that I have used in order to achieve the top three seniors is stopping myself from procrastinating. I am involved in a ton of things in and outside of school, so I really try to lock in during school to have some free time to myself,” senior Logan Gemes said.
Obstacles have come across the seniors as they challenge themselves to reach their goals. Whether it is a problem with a school subject, inconveniences with others, etc., the students find ways to solve it.
“The year I took geometry we had an interesting class situation and I ended up having to teach myself and my classmates which was a struggle towards the end,” senior Drake Murrell said.
Acquiring good grades was also an opportunity to strive for their own personal growth.
“Being top of my class has been a driving factor of my work ethic. I have always been a competitive person. One of the earliest things I competed for in my life was my grades in school. In my mind, if I am going to take the time to do something no matter what it is, I am going to give my best effort and take pride in my work. One of my favorite Bible verses is Colossians 3:23 ‘Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.’ It taught me the importance of having a strong standard in all you do,” senior Jaxson Deckard said. He shares the significance of doing what is possible to the full potential in order to flourish.
Advice can be a helpful thing to encourage students to pursue their full potential in order to succeed academically.
“Turn in every assignment! Give it your best. Not all of us are blessed with the same talents or even a lot of talents, but what talents we do have, we need to use them and not just bury them in the sand. If a student gives all they can based on what they have, teachers, employers, parents, community members, and peers will realize that. They will be productive citizens and will be very successful. Being top of the class does not guarantee success, it helps, but does not guarantee anything. Working to one’s full potential, that is what makes success,” high school counselor Tyler Richardson said.
This year’s top three seniors have overall accomplished major achievements throughout their four years of high school. They seeked to attain excellence in grades, attendance, and attitude to get where they are now.
