Phil Campbell Salutatorian: Abby Swinney

Phil Campbell Class of 2017 salutatorian Abby Swinney will begin her college years in the fall at Northwest-Shoals Community College, followed by the University of North Alabama, with a career goal to become a radiologist.

Swinney said she started shaking with excitement when she found out she had accomplished the title of salutatorian.

“I’ve always been a perfectionist with my grades,” Swinney said. “Both my parents are teachers, so they’ve always said education is important, and it’s always been important to me.” But that’s never made her achievement a foregone conclusion – Swinney said she has had to study hard and balance her competing passion of inspiring school spirit as a cheerleader for Bobcat athletics. “I decided, I’m going to take on that challenge and still make good grades, even with cheer.”

Family, Swinney said, is her focus outside of school hours. “I have a really big family, and we’re all really close,” Swinney said. “All my family is from Phil Campbell.”

As she graduates into the next phase of life, Swinney said she will miss all her friends and classmates at Phil Campbell but looks forward to meeting new people and making new friends in college.

Swinney is the daughter of Ryan and Tina Swinney.