Clarke Central High School seniors Wyatt Meyer and Avery “Kai” Menke were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, by the Clarke County School District in a May 19 press release. Throughout his four years on campus, Meyer contributed to CCHS in various spheres. “Wyatt’s recognition as valedictorian isn’t surprising due to his pursuit of academic excellence, but his achievements extend beyond the classroom,” CCHS principal Dr. Swade Huff said. “His leadership has elevated the ODYSSEY Media Group and inspired his peers to optimize their talents in the school community. The legacy he created during his tenure at Central will have an everlasting impact.” Graphic by Lea D’Angelo
The CCSD named CCHS’ Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian on May 19.
In a May 19 press release, the Clarke County School District officially named the Clarke Central High School’s Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian.
CCHS senior Wyatt Meyer, the Editor-in-Chief of the ODYSSEY Media Group, was named valedictorian. Meyer’s academic achievements include being named a CCHS STAR Student and a National Merit Scholar, as well as the 2025 Georgia Champion Journalist and a National Journalist of the Year finalist, in addition to over 80 scholastic journalism awards at the state, regional and national level.
Clarke Central High School senior Wyatt Meyer poses at the ODYSSEY Media Group Spring Media Day on Feb. 9 in the CCHS Competition Gym. Meyer was named the Class of 2025 valedictorian by the Clarke County School District in a May 19 press release, but his achievements at CCHS are shown both in and out of the classroom. “I’m always amazed at the amount of things he can accomplish in a given day, a given week, given season, and do them all at such a high level and be so successful and be able to balance his time playing soccer while also (being a) full time academic student taking rigorous AP classes, while also playing very high level club soccer,” CCHS varsity boys soccer coach Chris Aiken said. Photos from the ODYSSEY archives
“In sports, you talk about a five-tool player. In the academic realm, it holds true, as well. Wyatt has intellectual prowess, humility, genuine care, a great work ethic and solid citizenship,” ODYSSEY Media Group adviser David Ragsdale said. “He’s been a fine ambassador for our school through his tenure, and valedictorian is a feather in the cap.”
Meyer’s achievements were also shown on the CCHS varsity soccer team, where he played as a goalkeeper and served as team captain for two years, growing as both a player and a leader.
“He came into high school already with very refined skills and was going to be a very productive player for us all four years,” CCHS head varsity soccer coach Chris Aiken said. “He’s a tremendous asset to have in the soccer program, because beyond the on-field success, he’s the one that leads our practices. He leads the warm ups, he keeps the morale high. A lot of what we do as a soccer program is really following his lead. He sets the tone for what the season is going to look like.”
A timeline shows the students who have been named valedictorian at Clarke Central High School history over the last decade. The Clarke Country School District released the names of the top students at CCHS, Cedar Shoals High School and Classic City High School in a May 19 press release. “The district commends these students for finishing with the highest and second-highest grade-point averages, respectively, in their graduating classes,” CCSD Executive Director of Public Relations and Communications Dr. Cyndee Moore stated in the press release. Data compiled by David Ragsdale, graphic by Lea D’Angelo
After graduation, Meyer will attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, majoring in either English or History. CCHS Principal Dr. Swade Huff expressed praise towards Meyer and his various accomplishments during his time at CCHS.
“Wyatt’s recognition as valedictorian isn’t surprising due to his pursuit of academic excellence, but his achievements extend beyond the classroom,” Huff said. “His leadership has elevated the ODYSSEY Media Group and inspired his peers to optimize their talents in the school community. The legacy he created during his tenure at Central will have an everlasting impact.”
An Instagram post about Clarke Central High School senior Kai Menke’s artistic contributions in the creative spaces of CCHS are shown. Menke was named the CCHS salutatorian by the Clarke County School District in a May 19 press release. “(Menke) received the AP Scholar with Distinction Award. Aside from academics, Menke has also excelled in the arts, taking both ceramics and 2D classes at Clarke Central and serving as secretary of the school’s National Art Honor Society,” CCSD Executive Director of Public Relations and Communications Dr. Cyndee Moore stated in the press release. Post by iliadlitmag
CCHS senior Avery “Kai” Menke was named the Class of 2025 salutatorian. A dual-enrolled student at the University of North Georgia and a recipient of the AP Scholar with Distinction award, Menke has also excelled in CCHS creative spaces, serving as Secretary for CCHS’ National Art Honors Society chapter.
“To have a student that is that dedicated and that passionate about what they create is such a privilege for an art teacher. It was such a gift to have him as a student, and I can only hope that in the future I have students that are at least half as interested as he was in the 3D program here at CCHS,” Heather Garland, CCHS fine arts department teacher and NAHS sponsor, said. “I am not surprised that he is salutatorian, as he puts so much energy into everything he does.”
Clarke Central High School senior Avery “Kai” Menke attends the ODYSSEY Media Group Awards Banquet at 1055 Barber on May 4. Along with being named the CCHS Class of 2025 salutatorian by the Clarke County School District, Menke made several artistic contributions to the CCHS creative scene, including contributions to the CCHS National Art Honors Society chapter. “The first year I taught him, we were all wearing masks, and Kai has very serious eyes. I thought maybe he had a great disdain for me, and as it turns out, that was not the case. Kai made my job so easy,” Heather Garland, CCHS fine arts department teacher and NAHS sponsor, said. “(As the secretary for NAHS), he was a dedicated member that always contributed great ideas and never missed a meeting.” Photo from the ODYSSEY archives
Menke’s artistic work is also shown outside of NAHS, receiving the Lorien Award for the pencil and marker creation, “Eliza” in the 2025 iliad Literary-Art Magazine, and has been a student at Canopy Studio for over a decade.
“The CCHS community and the Athens community have benefited from Kai’s artistic vision through the last few years,” Ragsdale said. “I know the Lorien Award was but a token of the iliad’s esteem for Kai’s creativity and excellence.”
“Kai is more than deserving of being recognized as the salutatorian due to academic performance but should also be commended for having a passion for the arts,”
— Dr. Swade Huff,
CCHS Principal
Menke plans to attend Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts in the fall, double majoring in Book Arts and Applied Mathematics.
“Kai is more than deserving of being recognized as the salutatorian due to academic performance but should also be commended for having a passion for the arts,” Huff said. “Kai will be a great ambassador at Tufts University.”
