Both Pleasant Home’s valedictorian and salutatorian said they have always been encouraged to do their best.

Cassidy Godwin completed a sort of family rite of passage when she became the third member of her immediate family to be named valedictorian at Pleasant Home.

“I always strive to be the best in everything that I do,” Godwin said. “That’s just how my parents raised me.”

Godwin said that being valedictorian at PHS has become kind of like a family tradition.

“My parents have always encouraged me to do the best that I can,” Godwin said. “I’ve had a lot of family members that have been valedictorian here, so it’s kind of like a family tradition.”

Godwin said that Pleasant Home has been a very special place for her.

“The closeness of the school and the students,” Godwin said of what makes Pleasant Home special. “It’s like one big family and you create friendships that you know will last.”

Next up, Godwin plans to attend UAB and pursue a degree in nursing.

Anna Bulger said that it wasn’t much of surprise when she found out at Christmas that she would be the salutatorian for the 2016 class at Pleasant Home.

“We had kind of known for a while, so I wasn’t really that surprised when I found out,” Bulger said.

Bulger said that her parents provided the motivation for her to complete this accomplishment.

“My mom and dad push me in everything that I do,” Bulger said. “They always want me to do my best.”

Pleasant Home has been a very special place to her, Bulger said.

“All the people I’ve met and all the memories that I’ve made here have made this a truly special place,” Bulger said.

After graduation, Bulger said she plans to attend LBWCC for two years before transferring to Auburn University or Florida State University to pursue a degree in civil engineering.

Bulger said that she become interested in civil engineering after she and another PHS student job shadowed a local engineer.