Valedictorian Erin Stanton and Salutatorian Tara Sova lead Union High School’s Class of 2011 at Dowagiac’s 147th Commencement.

Erin, daughter of Mike and Melissa Stanton and DUHS’s DAR Good Citizen, plans to attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., to major in nursing, then attend medical school for a physician assistant program, specializing in neonatology.

Erin’s top eight high school activities include volleyball, basketball, cross country, National Honor Society (vice president), Student Senate (treasurer), dual enrollment, vacation Bible school volunteer and church youth group. She earned a 3.99 grade point average.

Tara, daughter of Roger and Pamela Sova, wants to attend Michigan State University and become a child psychiatrist. Her GPA is 3.9.

Tara’s high school activities include NHS, softball, cheerleading, competitive cheer, Rocket Football cheerleading coach and Challenger League helper. She played varsity softball all four years, varsity basketball, cheerleading (four years) and varsity football cheerleading (two years).

Rounding out the top 10 are:

• Aaron Blaske, son of Dan and Julie Blaske, seeks a chemistry degree while playing baseball at Lake Michigan College, then working for a science company that works in association with agriculture.

• Miss Dowagiac Gabrielle Dorman, daughter of Jeff and Karen Dorman, plans on attending the SMC nursing program and hopes to work at a local hospital as a registered nurse in obstetrics.

• Samantha Mathews, daughter of David Mathews, plans to major in business and minor in Spanish at the University of Michigan.

• Hannah Pacheco, daughter of Tom and Donna Pacheco, plans on attending the SMC medical and billing certificate program, then work in a hospital as a health record professional.

• Rachel Petro, daughter of Todd and Ellen Petro, will be attending MSU to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biomedical laboratory science to work in a hospital laboratory specializing in blood bank.

• Amarpal Sarao, son of Hardev Sarao and Baljit Kaur, wants to major in business at U of M, then pursue a career in investment banking or corporate finance.

• Jason Turner, son of Bob and Becky Turner, desires to attend Trine University or Aquinas College to major in education or sports management with career plans to teach math or history and possibly become an athletic director.

• Jessica Whitmore, daughter of Rebecca Ahmad and Edwards Waldschmidt, attends SMC as a dual enrolled business academy student, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business and accounting.

She plans to stay at SMC to enter the Ferris State program for her bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Besides pursuing a career as a CPA, she wants to run her own bank someday.