Davah Dial and Tammy Keirn are the valedictorian and salutatorian respectively of the class of 1997 of Whitko High School.

Sarah Brenneman will be recognized as the student with the highest grade point average: she finished her course work in seven semesters with a grade point average of 12.293 on a 12-point scale. She plans to help her mother with child care.

She is the daughter of Joseph and Rene Brenneman, Larwill.

Because Brenneman attended school for only seven semesters, she is not eligible for the valedictorian award.

Dial will graduate with a GPA of 12.085. She is the daughter of Diane Dial, South Whitley, and the late Richard Dial.

Dial is a member of National Honor Society and the Whitko Academic Team. She was named a Hoosier Scholar and earned a Presidential Merit Scholarship.

Her activities at Whitko include FHA/HERO, of which she was state secretary, as well as Sunshine Society, SADD, Art Club, Drama Club, French Club, Front Line, Girl Scouts and her church youth group.

Dial plans to study elementary education at St. Mary's College.

Keirn will graduate with a GPA of 11.819. She is the daughter of Karl Keirn and Yvonne Keirn, Pierceton.

Keirn is a member of National Honor Society and received the Hoosier Scholar Award. She serves as drum major for the Whitko marching band and is a Front Line team leader.

She has also been involved in concert band, jazz band, pep band, Sunshine Society, French Club, 4-H and SADD.

Keirn plans to attend Ball State University and pursue a degree in music education.

Whitko's commencement exercises will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 30 in the high school gym. [[In-content Ad]]