Vina Salutatorian: Mary Morgan Clingan
For Mary Morgan Clingan, earning the title salutatorian for the Vina High School Class of 2017 was a fulfilling and visible way to show how hard she has worked to excel academically.
Clingan will continue that dedication in the fall at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, majoring in biology to ultimately pursue a degree in dentistry – a career path she began considering after a job shadowing experience with Franklin County Junior Leadership.
A Red Devil since kindergarten, Clingan has been active as a student athlete on the basketball team as well as track and cross country and has also been involved in FBLA (vice president), Lions Club, Honor Society and SGA (president). She also has 24 college credit hours to her name already because of her enrollment in dual credit courses.
Clingan said she is eager to graduate, move away from home and make new friends. However, she will miss teachers and friends at Vina.
Jessica Hamilton, who teaches English at Vina, described Clingan as “the epitome of an exceptional student.” “Mary has a drive to learn, like no other I’ve ever known. It’s so refreshing for a teacher to have students with an optimal desire to learn, and that’s Mary.”
Clingan is the daughter of Paul and Heather Clingan.
