CLARK — Arthur L. Johnson High School (ALJ) has announced Class of 2024 Valedictorian Grace Wright and Salutatorian Taylor Normann.

Grace has excelled in a challenging curriculum of honors, AP and Dual enrollment courses at ALJ, including being the lone student to take Calculus 3, a class typically reserved for the second year of college. “Grace is extremely bright and easily grasps difficult concepts,” Michael Charatan, her teacher, commented.

She had the distinction of receiving the Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award from West Point and the Rensselaer Medal for her excellence in mathematics and science. Throughout the years, Grace’s talents flourished in all of her activities, notably serving as a peer leader, treasurer for the S.M.A.C. (Student Movement Against Cancer), varsity tennis and softball player, member of five national honor societies, Key Club volunteer in both her school and community, and reigning as homecoming queen.

Seeking a new adventure this year, she had her first audition for a highschool musical and landed the starring role of Regina in Mean Girls. She will attend the University of Virginia and pursue a major in biochemistry.

Taylor has taken on the most rigorous course load that the high school offers. She has excelled in more than 10 Advanced Placement courses, including ALJ’sAP Capstone Program, which is a two-year endeavor through the art of conducting research.

Outside of the classroom, Taylor has been a dedicated member ofALJ’s Theatre Program, from coordinating musical numbers to small roles to starring in this year’s rendition of Mean Girls. Taylor is just as artistically talented as she is academically. She plans on studying pharmaceutical sciences and/or chemistry at Duquesne University in the fall.

“Grace and Taylor displayed standout academic performance,” Superintendent Edward Grande stated. “We are looking forward to celebrating their accomplishments with them and their families in the coming weeks and ultimately at graduation this June.”