Strong Concord val, Armour salutatorian
Concord Christian School has announced Allison Strong as this year’s valedictorian, and Jacob Armour as salutatorian for the Class of 2021.
Strong has a cumulative grade point average of 4.60, and had an ACT composite score of 33.
She plans to major in accounting at the University of Tennessee, and has future aspirations to be a corporate lawyer, she said.
“I would also like to pursue public service at some point,” Strong added. “I have a passion for justice and our country. I would love to hold a public office after working it the law field for a while.”
While a student at CCS, she served as Key Club president; was chaplain and representative for the Student Government Association; was a member of Science Olympiad; and was captain of the Concord Theater Program.
She also participated in Knoxville Children’s Theater, where she was volunteer summer stage manager; was theater day camp leader at Maynard Elementary; was in Student Leadership in youth ministry; and was a member of the Worship Band.
Her community service and volunteer projects have included: serving as church volunteer in the youth ministry program; two service trips to Montreal; volunteering with the Dogwood Arts Festival; and serving as a Salvation Army bell ringer.
Achieving valedictorian “was definitely a goal of mine,” Strong said. “I have always prized my education and the education of others. ...
“My parents (Brian Strong and Dana Strong) are very proud of me and have always been my No. 1 fans,” she added. “They’ve encouraged me to go after my dreams but most of all try my personal best.
“My teachers throughout the years have played a huge role in my success at school and otherwise. My mom is a teacher, so I have a bit of insight in the life of a teacher. My Spanish teacher (Sonya Wright) taught me Spanish, but also taught me about how to learn, how to study and how to not give up. My theatre teacher/director (Christi Watson) was very influential and encouraged me greatly.”
Strong received several scholarships, including being one of only 112 state-wide receiving the Ned McWherter Scholarship, receiving a Chick-Fil-A scholarship and also was accepted into the UT Honors Program, where she chose the Chancellor’s Honors Program, and UT’s Haslam Business School.
Armour
Armour has a 4.55 GPA and a composite ACT score of 32. He was described by CCS guidance counselor Tamara Dallery as, “an amazing young man … positive, determined, perceptive ... a critical thinker … a tireless volunteer who, along with his brother, founded the CCS Key Club chapter.”
Dallery also made note of Armour’s “love for all things aeronautical, as well as interests in marine biology and engine engineering.”
He also is a member of Youth Leadership Knoxville, swims and plays soccer and has attained his pilot’s license.
Armour was accepted to numerous colleges and universities, and between Texas A & M, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the Naval Academy, he chose the Coast Guard Academy for his post-graduate studies.
“I was happy to find out I was salutatorian,” he said. “It was not necessarily a goal at all, but I was aiming for United States service academy appointments, so strong academics and good grades have always mattered.”
His parents, Greg and Kim Armour, “Have supported me and helped me obtain my goals,” the senior said.
CCS graduation
CCS graduation begins at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 22, in the worship center of First Baptist Concord.
