File photo | Of the almost 1,500 students across the Public Schools of Robeson County set to receive their high school diplomas today, 14 valedictorians and salutatorians represent the top of their class.

Margaret Lowery

Dadisy Vazquez

Seth McDonald

Thomas Bailey

Alec Dent

Makayla Smith

Mariah Kirkwood

Sara Barfield

Mariah Lovin

Rachel Maynor

Cheyenne Bullard

Sayvon Sampson

Sheila Morales Gutierrez

Dylan Brooks

There will be 1,478 students to graduate from six public high schools in ceremonies that will take across the county today. Afterward many of them will attend the annual Project Graduate, an annual event that is designed to give the students a way to celebrate and so safely.

As has become tradition, The Robesonian today will provide brief profiles of the valedictorias and salutatorians in the public high schools.

Fairmont High School

Sara Lindsey Barfield, valedictorian for Fairmont High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Timothy and Paula Barfield. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she will study Pre-Law. Barfield was a member of the varsity tennis, softball and bowling teams for four years, along with being a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. She served as co-president of the Beta Club and was the president of the Future Farmers of America and the Native American Student Association. In her free time, Barfield participates in her youth group at Bethesda United Methodist Church.

Mariah Lovin, salutatorian of Fairmont High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Mike and Angie Lovin. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she will study Nursing. Lovin was inducted into the National Honor Society and the Technical Honor Society. She served as co-president of the Beta Club and played volleyball, bowling and softball during high school. She was captain of the bowling team and made the All-Conference and All-State teams in the last two years. She also served as captain of the softball team for two years, making the All-County and Second All-Conference teams. In her free time, Lovin volunteers in her community by completing beautification projects, donating blood to the Red Cross, giving canned food to needy families, participating in Dr. Seuss’s Read Across America, making shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child and helping her mother with the Fairmont Farmers Festival Pageant.

Lumberton High School

Thomas Bailey, valedictorian of Lumberton High School class of 2015, is the son of Joseph and Laura Lynn Bailey. He will attend North Carolina State University in the fall as a Park Scholar and honors student and will work towards earning a degree, and eventually a doctorate, in Physics. Bailey is an Eagle Scout from Troop 301 and an N.C. Governor’s school alumnus. Thomas,who earned 12 varsity letters, is a member of the National Honor Society, Young Republicans Club and the Ultimate Frisbee Club. In his free time, Bailey enjoys playing music with his church youth band.

Alec Dent, salutatorian of Lumberton High School class of 2015, is the son of Eric and Amy Dent. He will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he plans to study Journalism. Dent is a member of the cross country, swim and tennis teams, Science Olympiad team, Beta Club and National Honor Society. He is the recipient of the N.C. National Honor Society Scholarship, Super Pirate athletic award, regional winner of the “Voice of Democracy” essay/speech contest and participant in the annual Tar Heel Boys’ State, where he won an election for the Senate and Supreme Court. Dent is an Eagle Scout and president of his church youth group.

Purnell Swett High School

Dylan Brooks, valedictorian of Purnell Swett High School class of 2015, is the son of Brian and Nicole Brooks. Brooks will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was offered early assurance admission into the Keenan Flagler Business School. He participated in varsity soccer, tennis and basketball, serving as captain for each. Brooks was a member of the Young Christians Association, the Native American Student Association and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. He was awarded the Mountaire Farms/Civitas Media Scholarship Athlete of the Month, was an AP scholar, won a State Employees Credit Union Scholarship, a William “Can” Chavis Scholarship, Woodmen of the World Scholarship and the Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship, and the Mercy College Summer Business Leadership Award for public speaking. In his free time, he participates in clothes drives, car washes and other youth events at Pembroke First Baptist Church.

Margaret Lowery, salutatorian for Purnell Swett High School, is the daughter of Ronnie and Endora Lowery. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the Pogue Merit Scholarship and study Biology with a pre-medicine concentration. She hopes to become an obstetrician. In her free time, Lowery enjoys running, baking, writing poetry and tutoring.

Red Springs High School

Daisy Vazquez, valedictorian of Red Springs High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Catalina Hernandez. She will attend North Carolina State University, where she plans to study Mechanical Environmental Engineering. She will be enrolled in the Navy ROTC with the goal of becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. Vazquez was the president of the Beta Club, Science Club and Spanish Club as well as a member of the National Technical Honor Society and the Native American Student Association. She also served as the captain of the varsity soccer team. She will graduate as an N.C. Scholar, Student of Excellence and the Female Scholar Athlete of the year.

Seth McDonald, salutatorian of Red Springs High School class of 2015, is the son of Luke and Theresa McDonald. McDonald plans to attend The University of North Carolina at Pembroke with hopes of transferring to North Carolina State University to pursue an Engineering degree. He was a member of the Beta Club, Science Club and National Technical Honor Society. McDonald played on the football and bowling teams, all while working a part-time job. He is an N.C. Scholar. In his free time, McDonald enjoys playing sports.

Robeson Early College High School

Rachael Maynor, valedictorian of the Robeson Early College High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Wendy Maynor. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she will major in Biology with hopes of pursuing a career in orthodontics. Maynor earned her associate degree in Science from Robeson Community College4. She served as the president of Phi Theta Kappa and the Native American Student Association while maintaining a membership in the National Technical Honor Society and the Beta Club. She has received the perfect attendance award, Eagle Award, President’s Outstanding Academic Award, Superintendent’s Award and the North Carolina Community College Academic Excellence Award at Robeson Community College. She graduated from Robeson Early College High School on May 22. In her free time, she works at Outback Steakhouse.

Cheyenne Bullard, salutatorian of Robeson Early College High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Angel Bullard. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she will study Biology with hopes of enrolling into medical school to become a medical doctor. Bullard has already earned her associate degree in Science from Robeson Community College. Bullard has received the Carolina Covenant, Golden LEAF and Jon H. Poteat scholarships as well as the Carolina Computing Initiative grant totaling $65,000. Bullard graduated from Robeson Early College High School on May 22. Since graduating, Bullard has enrolled in one of UNC’s summer school.

South Robeson High School

Makayla Smith, valedictorian of South Robeson High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Jerome and Melissa Smith and Jamie Butler. She will attend The University of North Carolina at Pembrok,e where she will study Criminal Justice and minor in Psychology with hopes of becoming a defense attorney. Smith has served as the president of the Beta Club and has also been active in the Native American Student Organization, National Technical Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and the History Club. Outside of school, Smith works 35 to 40 hours a week.

Mariah Kirkwood, salutatorian for South Robeson High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Felicia Walker. She will attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she will study Language with hopes of becoming a speech pathologist or interpreter. In her free time, Kirkwood enjoys reading, drawing, cooking and making people laugh.

St. Pauls High Schools

Sayvon Sampson, valedictorian of St. Pauls High School class of 2015, is the son of Mike and Erica Setzer. Sampson plans to attend Duke University, where he will study Pre-Law with hopes of becoming a lawyer. Sampson was a member of the football, basketball, golf and track teams and a Mountaire/Civitas Media scholar athlete. He was also a member of the Student Government Association, Beta Club, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and the Native American Student Association. Outside of school, he has served as a page with the N.C. House of Representatives and attended a summer NFL leadership camp. He plans to be a walk-on for Duke’s football team. In his free time, Sampson enjoys playing basketball, working out, playing video games, serving as an usher at Sandy Grove Baptist Church and hanging out with family and friends.

Sheila Morales Gutierrez, salutatorian for St. Pauls High School class of 2015, is the daughter of Omar Morales and Isabel Gutierrez. She will attend The University of North Carolina at Pembroke with hopes of transferring to UNC to major in Biology. She hopes to become an anesthesiologist. She served as the president of the Student Government Association and the vice president of the National Honor Society while maintaining a membership in the National Technical Honor Society. In her free time, Gutierrez likes to volunteer with Southeastern Regional Medical Center and participate in her church’s youth group.