Today at noon the South Whidbey High School class of 2003 will graduate in front of proud parents and family members.

Five of the 168 graduating seniors are at the top of the class with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages for their high school careers. All five were named class valedictorians and will be speaking during the graduation ceremony.

They are Emiko Hastings, Danielle Hendrix, Kira Hubbard, Chris Long and Sara Pierce-Magdalik.

When asked about their academic success, all five credited their parents for being supportive of all their endeavors.

The other common thread that seems to link them is that they all have a variety of interests beyond academics.

Emiko Hastings

Emiko Hastings says her parents have taught her the value of life-long learning.

“When I was younger, my dad and I built models of things, like the pyramids, just for the fun of it..”

Hastings was a member of the Wind Ensemble, HiQ and Science Olympiad.

As she prepares to leave the school, Hastings has advice for incoming freshman.

“Learn time management skills early. Sometimes I think I spent way too much time doing homework.”

It paid off, though, because Hastings is the recipient of the William O. Douglas Scholarship-Whitman College National Merit Scholarship, Whitman College Japanese American Citizens’ League Scholarship, Music Lesson Scholarship Whitman College, American Legion Post 141 Scholarship and the Alan G. May Scholarship.

Danielle Hendrix

Danielle Hendrix will be attending Bennington College in Vermont in the fall where she will continue to pursue her constant goal.

“My goal has always been to try to do the best I possibly can in everything.”

Hendrix was a Whidbey Island Waldorf student until fifth-grade when she went to the Intermediate School.

Her interests vary from photography and oil painting to foreign travel and languages. She was an exchange student in her junior year in Italy and in eighth-grade joined an ecology study trip to the Amazon Basin in Peru.

She has played clarinet in the school band for four years and says Brent Purvis, the band director, was one of her most inspirational teachers.

She has received the Arise Charitable Trust Grant, Island Arts Council Scholarship, Coldwell Banker/Tara Properties Scholarship, American Legion Post 141 Scholarship, Skagit/Island County Builders’ Association Scholarship, and the Alan G. May Scholarship.

Kira Hubbard

Kira Hubbard, also a product of Waldorf education from kindergarten through eighth-grade, said her parents have always taught her to try new challenges.

“They taught me that if I want it, it will happen,” Hubbard said.

She was a high school volunteer firefighter during her sophomore and junior years and was the founder of Operation Smile at the high school. Operation Smile is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization providing reconstructive surgery and related health care to indigent children.

Hubbard’s interest is in pre-med and she hopes to practice medicine in South America.

She is the winner of the Rotary Club Scholarship, South Whidbey Volunteer Fire/EMS Association Scholarship, American Association of University Women Scholarship, Alan G. May Scholarship, and Whitman College Scholarship.

Sara Pierce-Magdalik

Sara Pierce-Magdalik’s goal is a career in biochemistry as a research oncologist. She became inspired when a young cousin developed leukemia.

“My cousin survived the illness, but cancer affects so many people and families I want to help find a cure.”

Her advice to her younger sister who is graduating from eighth-grade this year is “find a balance between work and play.”

“I spent too much time on homework, and not enough on other activities.”

However, Pierce-Magadlik was instrumental in the developing a Suicide Prevention Program at the high school, she is a member of the Wind Ensemble and works part time at Lind’s in Langley.

She is the recipient of the Dave Parent, DVM-Biological Sciences Scholarship, Soroptimist/Violet Richard Award for Volunteer Action, Penrose Scholarship-Whitman College, and W. Jim Roller/Boeing Employees Scholarship.

Hastings, Pierce-Magadlik and Hubbard will be attending Whitman College in Walla Walla next fall.

Chris Long

Chris Long, the only male student in the group said, “setting priorities is very important.”

“For me school was my first priority and I remained focused on that,” Long said.

His advice to younger students is avoid becoming self-centered and, when it comes time to choose a career, find something based on what they like to do.

Long is an Eagle Scout and was a member of the wrestling, football and track teams. He couldn’t have done it without help from mom and dad.

“My parents pushed me and supported me at the same time.”

He was awarded the following scholarships: American Legion Post #141 Scholarship, South Whidbey Athletic Booster Club Scholarship, Snohomish/Island County Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Scholarship, Masonic Lodge #1 Boy Scholarship, Boeing National Merit Scholarship, Boeing Employee Credit Union Scholarship and Alan G. May Scholarship.