Nashville high schools name their 2025 valedictorians, salutatorians

The list of Nashville's valedictorians and salutatorians is out for 2025, and this year's group represents a diverse mix of students who have plans to pursue everything from veterinary medicine to aerospace engineering after graduation.
Families, friends and school leaders crowded into the Metro Nashville Public Schools board meeting on April 22 as the students were honored for their hard work and academic excellence. They were called to the front one-by-one as their achievements and post-graduation plans were announced, drawing cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd.
Here is a look at the 2025 "vals and sals."
Valedictorian: Victoria Madu
Madu has been part of civic engagement leadership through things like Model United Nations, Youth in Government and more. She will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall as one of the first MNPS students to receive a full-ride scholarship through the new Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program. She plans to double major in philosophy and law, history and society.
Salutatorian: Yeydi Torres
Torres served as an Antioch Ambassador and was part of the student council, the tennis team and more. She will also attend Vanderbilt University this fall on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program. She will study medicine and also minor in Spanish, with plans to become a surgeon.
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Valedictorian: Alaysia Montgomery
Montgomery was an avid track and field athlete throughout high school and a member of the National Honor Society. She also volunteered with her church and a local women's shelter. She plans to study veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University, with the goal of becoming a wildlife veterinarian.
Salutatorian: Ivy Miller
Miller led the Gender-Sexuality Alliance at Big Picture and served as a student ambassador and MNPS human resources intern, among other things. She is also an artist, poet and pianist. She will attend Tennessee State University on a full ride through the TSU Trailblazers Scholarship and plans to major in social work and minor in Spanish.
Valedictorian: Zuleyka Fuentes Diaz
Diaz was part of several clubs and organizations at Cane Ridge, including the student council, Escalera and others. She captained the soccer and wrestling team and also played flag football. She plans to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering.
Salutatorian: Shabbir Khan
Khan was a member of several clubs and organizations during high school, including GEAR UP, the College and Career Prep Club and others. He will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship and plans to study biochemistry, with the goal of going on to medical school and becoming an anesthesiologist.
Valedictorian: Tania Wright
Wright is a member of the National Honor Society and will graduate with both her high school diploma and her associate's degree in health science from Nashville Community College. She plans to attend Western Kentucky University and will study health science, with the goal of going on to medical school and becoming a neurologist.
Salutatorian: Karen Takawe
Takawe will also graduate with both her high school diploma and her associate's degree in health science from Nashville Community College. She plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University and will study biology. She hopes to become a dentist.
Valedictorian: Delano Carney
Carney completed dual enrollment courses at Nashville State Community College, Tennessee State University and Howard University. He also volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity of Great Nashville. He plans to major in marketing and minor in photography at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Salutatorian: Cydney Buford
Buford completed multiple dual enrollment courses as a high schooler, along with taking several advanced placement courses. She earned a $14,000 merit scholarship to Belmont University. She plans to major in legal studies.
Valedictorian: Keily Ortez
Ortez served as an academy ambassador for MNPS and led the Student Government Association at Cane Ridge as class president for two years. She will attend Belmont University on a full-ride Bell Tower Scholarship. She plans to study architecture.
Salutatorian: Victor Sustaita Jr.
Sustaita was a student athlete at Glencliff and also facilitated the schoolwide International Day cultural celebration. He will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program, and he plans to study architecture.
Valedictorian: Liam Chapman
Chapman was part of Model United Nations, Youth in Government, along with choir and the theater tech crew at Hillsboro. He has also been published in the Young Scientist Journal. He is deciding between attending Colgate University, Penn State and Rutgers University and plans to work in a STEM field after college.
Salutatorian: Lillie Allen
Allen led the Burro Underground creative writing club and co-founded its book club. She earned multiple first place awards at the MTSU Science and Engineering Fair. She will attend the Honors College at Clemson University and plans to major in biology, with goals to be a scientific researcher.
Valedictorian: Khalid Hassan
Hassan studied at Vanderbilt University's School for Science and Math as a high schooler, and also co-founded Bike4Bite to deliver food and water to people in need in urban areas. He will attend Princeton University, where he will be on the pre-med track and study chemical and biological engineering.
Salutatorian: Grayson Nelms
Nelms is the lead author of a research paper on deep learning that is awaiting publication in Vanderbilt's Young Scientist Journal. He also sang in the concert choir and was part of its media team at Hume-Fogg. He plans to attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to study mechanical engineering.
Co-Valedictorian: Daniel Ortiz Gonzalez
Gonzalez served as the treasure of the Student Government Association at Hunters Lane and also as an executive member of the National Honor Society. He was also on the tennis and bowling teams and part of the Mayor's Youth Council. He plans to study at Tennessee Technological University, where he has received multiple scholarships.
Co-Valedictorian: Noe Portillo Canizales
Canizales is part of the National Honor Society and is also a student ambassador for MNPS. He plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where he will major in aerospace and minor in engineering.
Valedictorian: Katherine Stockton
Stockton is a member of Health Occupations Students of America. She studied at the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and interned with an urgent care center for two years. She will major in nursing on the pre-med track at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. She received the Horatio Alger National Scholarship.
Salutatorian: Wan Tovi
Tovi is the president of the Health Occupations Students of America, is part of Model United Nations and served as a student ambassador for MNPS. She will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program. She will major in medicine, health and society and plans to become a doctor.
Valedictorian: Janet Nino-Martinez
Nino-Martinez earned roughly 30 college credits through dual enrollment and college summer programs as a high schooler. She was also inducted into the National Education Equity Lab Honor Society. She will attend Belmont on a full-ride Bell Tower Scholarship and plans to major in computer science.
Salutatorian: Laura Gonzalez-Noyola
Gonzalez-Noyola earned more than 20 college credits through dual enrollment and summer programs with GEAR UP. She was vice president of her school's Student Government Association and a Latino Achievers officer. She will be a first-generation college student as she heads to Lipscomb University, where she will study elementary education.
Valedictorian: Lena Feleke
Feleke studied at The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and interned at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She was honored as a Top 40 finalist from Tennessee in the national Regeneron Science Talent Search. She is deciding between Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and wants to pursue health care and technology.
Salutatorian: Jason Luo
Luo captained the MLK Chess Club and was a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship. He also contributed to cancer research at Vanderbilt University. He will attend Vanderbilt this fall on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program.
Valedictorian: Milan Rathod
Rathod served as an academy ambassador for MNPS and as the secretary for his student council. He also played on the varsity tennis team and has worked as a patient care tech at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown since last summer. He plans to study biology at Vanderbilt University.
Salutatorian: Atreyu Skyers
Skyers studied at the The School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and interned in Vanderbilt's Rubinov Lab. He also played in the McGavock High orchestra and served on the Mayor's Youth Council. He hopes to attend the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and study mechanical engineering.
Valedictorian: Gabriela Castrodad-Rivera
Castrodad-Rivera was part of the dance conservatory at Nashville School of the Arts and plans to study dance and kinesiology in college.
Salutatorian: C'yanni Storey
Storey was part of the dance conservatory at Nashville School of the Art and plans to major in pre-veterinary medicine in college.
Valedictorian: Sharon Cardenas Useche
Useche was on the Overton volleyball team and also played for a club called the Starlings throughout high school. She was also part of DECA (formerly known as the Distributive Education Clubs of America). She will be a first-generation college student as she heads to Emory University to study business administration.
Salutatorian: Bennett Myers
Meyers played on the soccer team throughout high school and was part of DECA and other organizations. He was also part of the MNPS Engineering Academy. He plans to study civil engineering at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Valedictorian: Jennifer Ceba
Ceba is part of the National Honor Society and the I Have A Future program. She also volunteered at a local library. She will attend Belmont University on a full-ride Bell Tower Scholarship, where she plans to study nursing.
Salutatorian: Jace Beard
Beard was on the track team and played football all four years at Pearl-Cohn. He plans to attend Colorado State University on a track scholarship and will major in business.
Valedictorian: Willa Sands
Sands served as a student ambassador and was part of the cross-country team, yearbook staff and band. She was also the Stratford Marching Legion's drum major. She will attend either the University of Tennessee or the University of Virginia and major in architecture.
Salutatorian: Isioma Ikhile
Ikhile served as a student ambassador and was part of the cross-country, track and wrestling teams. She was also part of Girls Who Code, Southern Word and other organizations. She helped found her school's International Students Union. She plans to attend Harvard University on a full-ride scholarship and study biomedical engineering.
Valedictorian: Cameron Fisher
Fisher is part of the National Honor Society and has already completed six college classes through dual enrollment. He will attend Tennessee State University on a full-ride TSU Trailblazers Scholarship.
Salutatorian: Carly Graham
Graham was a young professional ballet dancer throughout high school with the Nashville Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet. She accepted a full-time position with the San Francisco Ballet, where she will work after graduation.
Valedictorian: Ines Busane
Busane made the Dean's List every semester of high school and was part of the Whites Creek Early College Program. She will graduate with both her high school diploma and an associate of arts degree from Nashville Community College. She will attend Vanderbilt University on a full-ride scholarship through the Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program and study economics.
Salutatorian: Nove'a Rippy
Rippy will graduate with both her high school diploma and an associate of arts degree from Nashville Community College. She balanced a part-time job, kept her place on the Dean's List and was part of multiple school organizations. She plans to attend either Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University or Louisiana State University to study nursing.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Meet the 2025 valedictorians, salutatorians

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Are Pope Leo's ancestors from Cuba? Genealogy researchers in Miami think so

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Then she found one of the surnames already linked to the pope in sources she was consulting to establish her family's own genealogy. From there, things went fast. Lourdes del Pino, the club's first vice president, picked up where Peraza left off and found Diego de Arana Isla's Spanish ancestors in the 1500s, 15 generations back in the pope's family tree. She also identified the Italian ancestors of Diego's Spanish wife, Ana Tadino, who lived in the Duchy of Milan, now part of Italy, at the time under Spanish rule. Their findings were reflected in the fascinating pope's family tree recently published in The New York Times. The Club, which has collaborated in the past with PBS's show 'Finding Your Roots,' once again partnered with Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. for the Times story. The pope's family tree 'is the perfect representation of the Americas,' said Del Pino. 'What fascinates us and we are delighted with is the diversity that the pope's genealogy has shown. An impressive diversity that the vast majority of Hispanics carry.' Del Pino said she had been surprised at how much ancient relatives traveled around the world. 'Spending two months on a ship? I'd go crazy, but for them, it was part of their lives,' she said. 'Once you start researching, you realize people in those times moved around much more than we thought.' Overcoming challenges Researching Cuban genealogy presents particular challenges, given the limited availability of digitized sources and Cuban government restrictions on accessing archives. But Peraza had a stroke of luck when she found out many of the records she was looking for were in one of the few early historical sources still available: a rare book of marriages that took place in the late 1600s and early 1700s at the Iglesia del Espírito Santo (Church of the Holy Spirit), Havana's second Catholic church. 'One of the things we have against us is that many of those books have been damaged over time; they are no longer available,' Peraza said. 'We were lucky that the pope's ancestors we found were all concentrated in the same area, that of the Church of the Holy Spirit, and coincidentally, almost everything fell into the same book, which luckily still survives.' The researchers' good fortune continued. Because Diego de Arana Isla wanted to become a knight of the Order of Santiago, a highly prestigious and selective appointment at the time, he underwent a thorough background check that was documented and is available in digital archives from Spain, making it easier for Del Pino to locate his ancestors. Diego became, in fact, a knight of the Order of Santiago in 1678. 'His service record and list of merits depict 40 years of devout service to the crown with multiple military and administrative posts throughout the colonies,' Peraza wrote. He died in Cuba in 1684. Incidentally, Diego's sister Catalina, whose children were born in Venezuela, would become the great-great-grandmother of Antonio José de Sucre, one of Latin America's independence leaders. The Aranas came from Isla, a small village in Cantabria in northern Spain. Diego's father, Diego de Arana Valladar, was born in 1595 and lived an adventurous life as the captain of a galleon in the Spanish Royal Navy, defending Portuguese settlements in the Caribbean and South America from Dutch corsairs, said Marial Iglesias, a Cuban historian and Harvard University researcher who collaborated on the Times story. (Portugal and Spain were united for about 60 years until 1640.) A final mystery As the surnames of the ancestors began to pop up, Iglesias realized that there is a chance the pope's Cuban ancestors might be connected to one of the most iconic places in Havana: La Plaza de la Revolución, or Revolution Square, where Pope Jean Paul II and Pope Francis had held mass during historic trips to the island. The landmark, topped with a massive obelisk and a statue of José Martí, Cuba's independence hero and most famous writer, was built under Fulgencio Batista's government in the 1950s as the 'Civic Plaza' in an elevation known as the Catalans' Hill. But in the past, that spot had a curious name: Loma de Tadino, or Tadino's Hill. 'I haven't had time to find out why it's called Loma de Tadino, but that's a very rare surname. The family lived in Cuba for generations, and it could have been their property,' Iglesias said. 'Imagine if the pope's Italian branch of the family, who moved to Cuba in the 1600s, gave name to the place where the statue of José Martí stands. How about that?'