Top of their game and class: Meet DeKalb County’s 2025 top student athletes

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—As graduation nears, the DeKalb County School District is honoring 20 student athletes exiting their high school eras as standouts— valedictorians/salutatorians in the Class of 2025. 

Eleven of the 20 athletes are graduating as valedictorians and nine as salutatorians. 

Miller Grove High’s valedictorian, Saniya Francis, is a softball and track star. During the fall, Francis was part of the Wolverine softball team that made history for the school by reaching the Elite Eight of the Class 2A State Softball Tournament. Francis finished her track career at the Class 2A State Track and Field Championships by capturing the gold medal in the discus.

Other athletic valedictorians  in the Class of 2025 nclude: 

Cedar Grove’s Angie Hernandez Chavez (tennis)

Chamblee Magnet’s Yonatan Nemenman (swim) Lithonia High’s Samaya Awadh (volleyball)

Redan High School’s Niquitta Nijimbere (volleyball/tennis)

Columbia High’s (Magnet Program) Zachary Davis (football/soccer)

Salutatorian athletes include: 

Arabia Mountain High’s (Magnet Program) 

Makaylah Deshield (volleyball/basketball

Chamblee High’s Garrett Moore (tennis) 

Columbia’s Dajah Boswell (flag football)

Druid Hills High’s Amanda Philpot (swim) 

There are five DeKalb schools with student athletes honored as both their valedictorians and salutatorians: 

Southwest DeKalb High’s (resident) valedictorian Indiya Ray(cheerleading/volleyball)

Southwest DeKalb High’s (resident) salutatorian Joy Moreland (softball and soccer) 

Lakeside High’s valedictorian Cooper Ruckert (lacrosse)

Lakeside High’s salutatorian Addison Cook (golf)  

MLK High’s valedictorian Keionna Hull (volleyball/soccer)

MLK High’s salutatorian Kortney Williams (softball)

Dunwoody High’s valedictorian Anna Siegel (cross country) 

Dunwoody High’s salutatorian Wendell Rogers (tennis)

McNair High’s valedictorian Chloe Taverne(volleyball)

McNair High’s salutatorian Yuko Zheng(volleyball)

Photos via Mark Brock, DeKalb County School District Athletics Specialist

Photos From L-R: MG Saniya Francis, MLK Kortney Williams