Being the best they could be and never slacking up is what led Opp High School’s Landon Hughes and Matthew McColluch to be this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian.

Hughes said he’s always made good grades, and plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall and major in electrical engineering.

His love for engineering began right here in Covington County.

Hughes has had the opportunity to study industrial electronics at LBWCC while enrolled in high school.

“I want to go a little further into it,” he said.

Hughes earned a full tuition scholarship for four years plus another scholarship from the college of engineering.

While at OHS, he lettered in football and baseball, was a member of the Beta Club, served as Mu Alpha Theta president, and as an ambassador and peer helper.

He will graduate with an overall average of 102.3.

He is the son of Jeff and Georgiana Hughes.

For McColluch, academics have always been important, he said.

“I’ve always made straight A’s,” he said. “It’s always been a top priority for me to get into college.”

In the fall, McColluch will attend Troy University, where he has selected accounting as his major.

“Math has always been a strong suit of mine,” he said. “I’ve recently taken an online accounting course and I really liked it.”

McColluch has been a part of the Opp High School Marching Black and Gold, where he was drum major for two years.

He was also a member of the Student Government Association, an ambassador, and lettered in tennis, where he served as team captain.

He will graduate with an overall average of 102.2.

He is the son of Ian and Christine McColluch.