PHS Valedictorian, Aubrey McVicker-Adkins is the daughter of Rich Johnson of Nichols Hills, Oklahoma and April McVicker of Perry. She is the granddaughter of Rick and Kerri Johnson of Edmond and Jim and Trina McVicker of Perry. She has attended Perry Public Schools since she began school in Pre-K and two of her favorite teachers throughout the years were Mrs. Erica Matthiesen and Ms. Anna Schieffer.
Aubrey has been a member of several clubs and activities during high school including cheer for four years and golf for three years, senior cheer captain, football and basketball homecoming queen candidate, a 4-time cheer Academic State Champion, Yearbook Editor, Academic team member, a Student Council officer, National Honor Society, Gifted and Talented, BPA, Leadership, Student Lion, and Youth on Main Street.
Aubrey excelled academically to earn several accolades, such as Oklahoma Academic All-State, Oklahoma Academic Scholar, Oklahoma Regents’ Institutional Nominee Award Recipient, selected to the University of Oklahoma’s President’s Leadership Class (top 125 students out of 10,000 applicants), TestOut Certified Office Pro, along with many PHS subject awards.
While in high school, the classes Aubrey says benefitted her the most were advanced placement classes and concurrent enrollment classes, and the most memorable classes were Yearbook and Leadership. Her favorite school tradition was the fun class vs. class competitions during football homecoming spirit week each year, “wall decoration, float decoration, spirit stick; it all creates such a fun and exciting environment to add to an already amazing spirit week.”
The thing she’ll miss the most after graduating PHS are the friends and faculty that have made her past four years great. She shared that the key to being successful in high school is to prioritize balance by managing your time effectively and taking care of your physical and mental health.
Aubrey says the highlight of her senior year was applying for a grant that was awarded to PHS to cover the fees of all students enrolled in 2023-2024 concurrent classes at NOC (a total of $63,396).
When asked who has made the biggest impact on her life, she said, “My mom. She is my biggest supporter, best friend, and greatest role model all in one, and I owe my success to her.”
The best advice she says she has ever received is from her Grandpa Rick, who says: “Happy is not just an emotion, it is a choice. Wake up each morning and choose to be happy. It will make life a lot more fun.”
She attends Life.Church Stillwater and in her free time enjoys spending time with my family and friends, reading, and traveling.
Her future goal is to one day become a corporate attorney with concentration in real estate law. She says her interest in this field sparked in elementary school and was inspired by her dad’s business and legal experience. Aubrey has been accepted to the Honors College at the University of Oklahoma and will pursue a business degree in finance, then attend law school.
Someday, Aubrey says she would like to make a difference in the world by leading by example, “I believe it is so important to live my values, demonstrate empathy and compassion, and inspire others to join me in making the world a better place.”
Farewell Message from Aubrey McVicker:
Dear PHS, we’ve been through a lot together, and senior year brought its own version of the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good: my senior year will forever be filled with unforgettable memories, from long nights of dances or winning games to long, fun-filled days or weeks of school-wide activities. My friendships grew deeper, and my bonds grew stronger as we all navigated the challenges of high school together. The bad: amidst all of the excitement, there were many late nights of studying, some moments of doubt, and the immense pressure of taking the right next steps in life. But through perseverance, we all overcame, and we are all here now. The ugly: saying goodbye is never easy. As I leave PHS behind, I will miss the familiar halls, the people I grew up with, and the comforting feeling of a routine I’ve had for the past four years. Yet, I step confidently into the future with hope for what lies ahead. Here's to embracing the good, overcoming the bad, and finding beauty even in the ugly.
PHS Salutatorian, Grace Byrd is the daughter of Shannon and Lance Byrd and the granddaughter of Jerry and Sherry Gottschalk of Mannford, and Suzi Byrd of Tulsa. She has one sibling, Hayden Byrd who is 13. She’s been attending Perry Public Schools since 5th grade and her favorite teachers that left an impact on her were Mr. Brady, Mrs. Chenoweth, and Coach Bengs.
Grace is involved in Leadership, Student Government, Academic Team, Youth on Main, National Honor Society, Gifted and Talented, Student Lion, Student Rotarian, and has been a FCCLA officer, Student Council officer, and class officer. She was a RYLA candidate with an award in teamwork specialty, Questbridge finalist, Masonic Student of Today, DAR annual good citizen, and named an Oklahoma Academic Scholar. She’s been a member of the Lady Maroons wrestling team, where she served as team captain and was an Academic State Champion, and has played softball and tennis during high school.
She says the class that has benefitted her the most in high school was FCCLA because it taught her important skills to use for college and the workforce, plus it also gave her wonderful opportunities to volunteer, build leadership skills, and be comfortable in public speaking roles. In addition, wrestling has made a lasting impact on her, saying “I learned discipline, commitment, perseverance, and most importantly, what a team truly is. I really got to experience having a second family and getting to bond with those girls, and being a part of something bigger than myself was truly the highlight of my high school experience overall.”
Her favorite school tradition is football homecoming because it builds up class camaraderie and gets the whole town involved as students decorate floats, dress up all week, and have a pep rally the day before the big game.
The best advice she has ever received is from her coach, Bryan Wilson and it’s that, “Nothing in life comes for free. You either work hard and take the opportunity, or you sit back and continue wishing for it.”
Grace attends Perry First Baptist Church and in her free time enjoys reading, working out, listening to music, running, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family.
After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Oklahoma to pursue a bachelor’s degree, double majoring in criminology and criminal justice with a minor in Spanish. She also intends to intern for the OSBI through a program at OU and obtain a masters degree. Her dream is to become a criminologist for the OSBI or FBI. When asked what inspired her interest in this field, she said, “I just really have a passion for people and want to help make the world a better place by doing something I am interested in, which is criminal behavior and sociology. I believe I have a purpose and that it is to help others through a career in law enforcement.” Aside from academics, she will also be a manager for the men’s wrestling team and possibly participate in the new women’s club.
Someday, Grace says she would like to make a difference in the world by helping people turn their lives around, “You see many different types of people in the criminal justice system and being able to be a part of that change for both the convicted and the victim is one of my main career goals.”
Farewell Message from Grace Byrd:
To be honest, my high school career has been a rollercoaster. If I could have a conversation with my freshman self, I think she would be surprised to see me where I am today and with that, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has gotten me to where I am now. While it is bittersweet to say goodbye to the past four years, I am more than ready to begin the next chapter of my life.