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Opp High School has announced Sarah Kate Rhodes as the senior class of 2022 valedictorian and Kasey Dyess as the salutatorian.

Rhodes is the daughter of Jud and Susan Rhodes. Dyess is the son of Sonya Deakins and Kerry Dyess with a brother, Kolby Dyess.

“I am honored and grateful to be able to represent Opp High School’s class of 2022 as valedictorian. At graduation, I know I will be sharing the stage with some of the brightest students I have ever met. My fellow classmates have been so encouraging and kind, and I could not be more proud to get to represent them. To know all my hard work and dedication paid off is one of the most gratifying moments of my life,” Rhodes said. “It’s a great honor to be able to represent my friends over the last four years in this way,” Dyess said.

Rhodes will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall and majoring in Communications. “After touring colleges and gathering information during my junior summer, I knew that God was guiding me towards majoring in communications. The amount of opportunities and possible career avenues Alabama’s College of Communications and Information Sciences had to offer was a draw for me as well. Communications combined my interests in journalism, film, and media in a way I knew I could not resist.”

Dyess will be attending Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, and majoring in Industrial Electronics Technologies with a concentration in Mechatronics. “I chose this field because I’ve always been interested in electricity since I was little.”

This year’s valedictorian and salutatorian will miss the memories they made with others at Opp High School.

“Something I have always enjoyed about OHS was the air of community. There are 82 students in my graduating class, and I know each of them by name. At a larger school, this privilege would not be available. I will truly miss the compassion of the teachers and the tight-knit group of seniors that make up this class of 2022,” Rhodes said.

“The most enjoyable part about high school for me was the friends that I made along the way. I will miss seeing my friends every day and visiting my favorite teachers,” Dyess said.

They are excited to begin the next chapter of their lives and will always be Bobcats at heart. “My parents are two of the most supportive and loving people in my life. My family is very close because I am an only child, so I am certainly going to be miss getting to be with my parents every day. I am looking forward to the new opportunities these next few years have to offer. Although small town Opp will always hold a special place in my heart, I am ready and excited to venture out,” Rhodes said. “I am looking to become my own independent person and support myself,” Dyess added.

Rhodes aims to be successful and follow the Lord’s guidance over the next five to 10 years. “I hope to be pursing whatever I am passionate about, whether that be my career, starting a family, or something entirely different. I just hope to be enjoying whatever path the Lord has in store for me.”

Dyess has the same plan in mind and hopes to be sharing God’s Word with others. “I see myself having graduated college with a well-paying job and hopefully preaching the Gospel in many different places. I’ve only made it this far because of Jesus Christ who saved me seven years ago. I wouldn’t be alive today without Him.”

Opp High School will hold the Class of 2022’s graduation ceremony Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m.

“I would just like to reiterate how much this honor means to me. Since my freshman year, I have strived day in and day out to be the very best version of myself possible. Being valedictorian has been a goal of mine for many years now, and it is encouraging to know that through prayer and preparation, I have finally achieved it,” Rhodes said. “I hope that in all I do, it brings glory to God and not me because I couldn’t remotely do anything without Him,” Dyess said.