BOURBON - Triton Junior-Senior High School announced its valedictorian and salutatorian Friday evening at the annual academic awards dinner at Christo's Banquet Center.
Peggy Nifong was named valedictorian for the Class of 2009, and Joseph Teeple earned the honor of salutatorian.Nifong achieved the all-A honor roll each grading period this year, as well as being selected as this year's top student in English, mathematics and science departments. She was presented an engraved clock at the academic awards banquet for reaching the top level of academic points at Triton.
Treasurer of the senior class this year, Nifong also serves as vice president in Triton's chapter of the National Honor Society and president of Key Club while actively participating in student council, FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Science Club and 4-H. A graduate of the Kosciusko County Youth Leadership Academy, as well as developing leadership skills through Hoosier Girls State, Lugar Symposium and 4-H Junior Leaders, she is a four-year golf athlete. She has volunteered many hours serving on Bettering Every Aspect of Marshall County and Marshall County Teen Court.
Selected as a Hoosier Scholar Award winner, Nifong will attend Purdue University where she plans to study chemical engineering.
She is the daughter of Nancy and Paul Martin, Bourbon, and Ross Nifong, Plymouth.
Teeple is active in NHS, student council, Key Club and Spirit Club. Performing in both musicals and dramas at Triton, he is a four-year band member. Selected as a Hoosier Boys State Delegate and a Lugar Symposium representative his junior year, he has volunteered numerous hours to the after-school tutoring program over the past four years and served as a team manager to the volleyball team.
Teeple was presented a gold medallion at the awards banquet for his total academic points as well as being selected for the Arion Award as the top band student and chosen as the top social studies student of the year.
In addition to being selected as a Hoosier Scholar Award winner, Teeple was awarded scholarships from the Carson Foundation and from Valparaiso University as a presidential scholar. He plans to attend Valparaiso University and study political science and sociology in preparation for law school.
