Sandry earns salutatorian honors

Tayla Sandry, 19, is NRHEG’s salutatorian for 2025. She is the daughter of David and Sherri Sandry of Waldorf. Tayla has two siblings, Reid and Addison. Her future plans are to attend college for a degree in elementary education.

During her time in school, Sandry has been selected for the National Honor Society, was part of the prom committee and yearbook club, and was the golf team manager. 

She volunteered at vacation bible school, was a Sunday School teacher, and she worked for the New Richland School Age Care program. 

Of her accomplishment of becoming salutatorian, Sandry says, “I am very proud to have earned this. I have worked hard to achieve good grades for my entire school career.” She says her family is very proud she has pushed herself academically while maintaining a steady job. 

Sandry’s suggestion for younger classmates is that they get the work done right away. She added, “If you procrastinate and do it at the last second, it won’t be your best work and it will cause you unnecessary stress.” 

Regarding being named salutatorian, Sandry said she had always hoped she would be eligible to be either valedictorian or salutatorian and has worked toward it. 

She believes something she will miss most about high school is “all of the activities and time spent with my friends. I will also miss homecoming.” Her favorite memories include being on homecoming court her senior year because of all the fun activities. “My favorite was when we all went out to Applebee’s after the coronation, and we told the waiter that it was Harbor’s birthday, so they sang Happy Birthday to King Cromwell.” 

Sandry’s favorite subjects in school were English, Spanish, and foods class. Her least favorite was math. Señora Olson was one of Sandry’s favorite teachers because “she made Spanish fun”; Ms. Chartrande, “I’m so glad she joined our school for my last year”; and Mr. Domeier, “I loved being teacher’s assistant for him.”

Sandry said she most looks forward to living somewhere warm in her future. In ten years, she said she will hopefully be living somewhere warm and teaching kids that she loves. 

As for advice she would give herself as a freshman, Sandry says, “Don’t let school stress you out so much. It’s still important, but you also need to focus on living your life and having fun.”