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DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac Union High School recently released its list of top 10 graduating seniors.

10. William Craft

Graduating 10th in his class is William Craft with a 3.79 GPA. In school, he earned the Academic Award of Excellence in 2016 and 2017. After graduation, he will attend Western Michigan University to study public policy, eventually hoping to earn a master’s degree.

“After gaining experience in the field in between my degrees, I hope to work as a program analyst in either the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the Internal Revenue System,” he said.

9. Alexis Ross

Graduating ninth is Alexis Ross with a 3.83 GPA. At DUHS, she was in chamber choir and received academic awards for her GPA in her sophomore and junior years. In the fall, she will attend Southwestern Michigan College. She hopes to become a certified nurse assistant and eventually a registered nurse.

8. Kylee Cromer

Coming in eighth in the class is Kylee Cromer with a 3.872 GPA. She has been a member of North Red Hill 4-H Club, Dowagiac Equestrian Team, DUHS softball, DUHS powerlifting, DUHS Rotary Interact Club and DUHS National Honor Society. She was dual enrolled student at Southwestern Michigan College, a volunteer at Dowagiac Conservation Club, an employee of Dowagiac Schools Athletic Department, an employee at Lutz’s Drive In and an employee at Double Diamond Performance Horses.

At DUHS, she earned the following awards: Academic Award of Excellence all four years, High Honors at Southwestern Michigan College, Academic Letter and Varsity Letter for equestrian and powerlifting. She was a three-time district champion on Dowagiac Equestrian Team, placed second at Regional Powerlifting Meet and was a powerlifting state finalist.

After graduation, she plans to finisher her associate degree of arts at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and transfer to Western Michigan University to pursue a master’s degree in healthcare.

7. Jose Carrillo

Graduating seventh in his class is Jose Carrillo with a 3.9 GPA. In high school, he was captain of Dowagiac soccer team, a member of National Honor Society, member of Student Senate and treasurer of Rotary Interact Club.

His honors and awards include: Certificate of Excellence, High Honor Roll, three-time First Team All-District, two-time Honorable Mention All-Conference, Honorable Mention All-Region and Second Team All-State.

After graduation, he plans to attend Western Michigan University to major in business and minor in communications.

6. Jenna Davis

Jenna Davis was named sixth in her class with a 3.91 GPA. Her high school activities include: co-president of Student Senate, treasurer of National Honor Society, first runner-up to Miss Dowagiac 2020, captain of the varsity volleyball team and goalkeeper for the varsity soccer team. Her honors and awards include:  MVP, Second Team All Region, Second Team All Conference, and Honorable Mention for volleyball, Academic All State, Certificate of Academic Excellence and High Honor Roll for four years.

After graduation, she plans to attend Grand Valley State University to study human resources management and Spanish.

“I aspire to work for Ulta Beauty and eventually become a human resources manager for the company,” she said.

5. Cristian Wilson

Cristian Wilson was named fifth in his class with a 3.985 GPA. His high school activities include: member of National Honor Society, member of Rotary Interact Club, member of Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates, varsity soccer, varsity football, JV and varsity baseball.

His honors and awards include: President’s Award for Educational Excellence, Certificate of Academic Excellence, Academic Award of Excellence, Microsoft Office Specialist, Wolverine Conference Honorable Mention, All District Team, All Regional Team, All-State Honorable Mention, First Team All Conference, First Team All District, First Team All Region, Second Team All-State.

After graduation, he plans to attend Lake Michigan College before transferring to a four-year university. He hopes to work as a travel nurse.

4. Rebecca Franklin

Coming in fourth is Rebecca Franklin with a 3.986 GPA. Throughout high school, she was a four-year varsity golfer, two-year varsity tennis player, four-year member of marching and concert band, co-president of Student Senate, president of Rotary Interact Club and president of National Honor Society. Also, she was a member of Chieftain Heart, Humanities, Youth Advisory Council, jazz and pep band.

For her honors,  she was on the high honor roll all four years. In golf, she was part of the Team All-State Academic for four years, was MVP four years in a row, was All-Conference all four years of high school, and in 2017, she was named All-State Honorable Mention. During her time in concert band, she participated in solo and ensemble all four years of high school. She received two division II ratings and two division I ratings. In November 2017, she was awarded student of the month.

After high school, she will attend University of Michigan and pursue a career in business.

3. Jossalyn Rogalski

Jossalyn Rogalski is the salutatorian with a GPA of 3.992. Her high school activities include: Student Senate officer, Rotary Interact Club vice president, National Honor Society vice president, Chieftain Heart, and basketball. Her awards and honors include: four years of the Academic Award of Excellent and varsity letter in basketball.

After graduation, she plans to finish the Early Middle College program at Southwestern Michigan College before transferring to Western Michigan University with an associates in general science while majoring in biology.

“Ultimately, I just want to be working somewhere that I am happy and pleased with my tasks,” she said. “I want to be a zoologist, so anywhere working with animals is really fine by me, but lately I have been feeling drawn to sea life a lot more, so we will see where life takes me.”

1. Matthew Nelson

and Nicole Whan

The top spot of valedictorian is shared by Matthew Nelson and Nicole Whan, who both achieved 4.0 GPA.

Nelson was on the Student Senate and the National Honor Society. His awards include achieving high honors all four years. After graduation, he plans to study pre-engineering at Lake Michigan College beofre transferring to Western Michigan for mechanical engineering.

“[I want to] become a mechanical engineer and work in either product design or design troubleshooting,” he said.

Whan was involved with basketball, volleyball, National Honor Society and Student Council. Her awards and honors include: All conference for basketball and volleyball, all region for volleyball, High Honors at Grant High School and dean’s list at Muskegon Community College.

After graduation, she plans to attend Lawrence Tech University, where she will play volleyball. She plans to major in chemistry.

“I want to be a Forensic Scientist and work in a crime lab as a lab tech and then work my way to being a lab manager,” she said.