The Black Girl Magic just won’t quit, and two graduating seniors from the Junction City School District in Arkansas are making history as they are set to graduate as valedictorian and salutatorian…the first Black girls to ever do so.
“This is the first time we have had a Black female valedictorian and Black female salutatorian,” Principal Joy Mason told KTVE.
Alexis Peterson will be graduating as valedictorian – having held a 4.0 GPA throughout her entire high school career – and has plans to head off to Northwestern State in the fall.
“It feels good to be the top two black females because they have never had it,” Peterson said.
Peterson, who is a cheerleader, has been in several school organizations, as well as church and community activities while keeping up her grades. She encouraged students to keep working hard for what they want and take things day by day.
“You have to take it day by day so that you won’t become frustrated with it,” she said.
Taykeetria Rogers, who will be the salutatorian, will be heading off to Louisiana Tech in the fall. She also juggled being a teacher, while participating in various school clubs and also being a star athlete.
According to the news station, Rogers was named all-conference and player of the year in basketball and was named to the all-state cheer team two times in a row.
She also encouraged other students to take their tasks one day at a time.
“I managed by taking it a day at a time,” Rogers said. “Focusing on one thing and when the next thing got here focusing on that.”
The two girls, who have been friends since kindergarten, and acknowledge that they never knew they would end up making history.
“It’s a great thing to me,” Rogers added about their accomplishments. “It doesn’t seem like we should be graduating but it’s something that we’ve managed to accomplish.”
