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The Decatur County Board of Education announced Hannah Sprenkle as the Valedictorian and Sandy Baker as the Salutatorian for the Bainbridge High School Class of 2020.

While the school year has not technically come to a close, the BOE voted to determine the Valedictorian and Salutatorian based on their cumulative grade point average at the end of the third nine weeks.

“I did not want Valedictorian and Salutatorian to be based on grades they have no control over,” Superintendent Tim Cochran said.  “The third nine weeks was the last official grade, while the rest of everything has been online.”

The Board unanimously agreed on this and suggested completing class rankings this way as well.

“If you’re going to hold the Valedictorian and Salutatorian to that grade for their status, you should do that for every other student as well,” board member Bobby Barber said.

Holding every student to this same nine week cut off period would alleviate any issues when it comes to speeches being given at the eventual graduation ceremony or Baccalaureate ceremony.

The Board did think that suggestion was fair and proposed to continue talking about it at their Thursday, April 16 meeting.

Following the discussion and approval of ranking Valedictorian and Salutatorian, Sprenkle and Baker were named the top two in the class.

“I am proud of both of them,” Cochran said. “They are great kids and students and they represent our county and their families very well.”

Sprenkle is a member of the BHS award- winning band.

She has played a role in the marching, symphonic and concert band and additionally served as band secretary for 2018-2019, while becoming captain and section leader for 2019-2020.

Sprenkle was also named the 2020 STAR student for BHS.

Baker also plays a role in the symphonic band and has been a member of the BHS Danceline for her four years of highschool. In addition to participating in the band, she is also on the BHS Girls Swim team and the BHS soccer team, where she has been deemed a fierce competitor who always strived to be the best.

“Both girls are not only excellent students but also wonderful people that truly care about doing right by others,” BHS Principal Roy Mathews said. “They try to be the best person they can be each and every day and are leaders among their peers.”

Mathews, along with the rest of the faculty at BHS will sorely miss Baker and Sprenkle, he said.

However, the two young ladies have much to be proud of as they continue their academic future.