AHS announces Class of 2026 valedictorian, salutatorian
Moore’s visit inspired her to believe that maybe, one day, she too could be valedictorian. Seven years later, Wolfgang has achieved that goal – she has been named Auburn High School’s valedictorian for the Class of 2026, with Andrew Bennett earning salutatorian honors.
“I was incredibly excited (when she was told), this is a huge honor, and it’s been something I’ve been working towards for years,” Wolfgang said. “I remember in fifth grade when the valedictorian came to our classroom. That’s when I really wanted to be able to be in that position, so from that moment on, this was a goal.”
“Madeline is brilliant,” said Auburn High School Principal Brian Morgan. “She puts forth tremendous effort in pursuit of her academic goals and is motivated to get the most she can out of her classroom experiences.”
Wolfgang said she plans to attend college on a pre-med track, studying biology or a similar major. Her top three college choices are Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and Boston College. She’s involved in multiple school activities, including the National Honor Society, the SADD Club, Z Club, and plays clarinet. She played varsity soccer and participated in a state athletic association leadership conference last spring.
“I was proud to hear that she was selected (for the conference), because, on top of what we see in soccer, she is also a top student,” said Karen Foos, Maroons girls' varsity soccer coach. “It shows that she is a well-rounded student athlete and deserves to be recognized.”
Bennett expressed his happiness with being named salutatorian.
“I was pretty excited,” he said. “I was a little disappointed not to be No. 1, but overall, I was very happy with where I stood. It is a big accomplishment. I’m really proud of myself for the work I put in.”
Bennett, a member of the National Honor Society, is involved in multiple activities, including History Club, Newspaper Club, and Literary Magazine Club. He’s a player on the soccer, swimming, and track and field teams. He’s earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a Boy Scout and is a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.
Bennett plans to study civil or environmental engineering in college. His top choices are Georgia Tech, MIT, and Cornell.
“Andrew is incredibly well-rounded,” Morgan said. “He is a gifted student with an outgoing personality and excellent communication skills.”
Bennett said being motivated helped him achieve the honor of being named salutatorian.
“It takes a lot of effort. You’ve got to really be focusing on getting it the whole time,” Bennett said. “You can't just be putting work off; you’ve got to be doing it, and you‘ve got to always be involved in classes. You can't just be sitting there doing nothing.”
– Christopher Sciria / AECSD Public Information Specialist
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