Like many college-bound high school seniors, Page High School valedictorian Sofia Vine says she isn’t quite sure what she wants to major in yet. Attending the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University this fall, she selected social sciences as a placeholder.
“You could say my [college plan] sums up my high school experience, too,” Vine said humbly. “Becoming valedictorian was never really a set goal for me. I always strived to be a good student, but I guess my work ethic helped me get there.”
As the majority of college graduates can attest to, the passion comes with time — and also after several trips to the dean’s office to declare a new major.
Valedictorian Molly Redman, on the other side of the coin, has known she wanted to be an architect since she was in middle school. Prioritizing drafting and science classes throughout her time in Page High School, she fast tracked that passion to give herself a head start in college. Redman will also be attending ASU’s Barrett Honors College and will major in, surprise, architecture.
With 4.0 GPAs, the girls are only 2/5 of a group of students graduating from Page High School next week with the title of school valedictorian.
You read that correctly, five valedictorians will graduate next week — a record for the most in one year for Page High. Besides a 4.0 GPA, other requirements for Page High valedictorian include at least seven semesters completed though PHS, and the passing of several higher tiered core courses.
Perhaps just as impressive as the number of valedictorians this year, are the backgrounds of each student holding the title.
“I think it’s cool because we all do so many different things. We’re all involved in different activities and parts of school. I think it shows other students they can succeed; they can come from any background and be successful,” said valedictorian Kylee Hoffman.

Hoffman, who will be attending the Honors College at Northern Arizona University where she will study social work, also received the prestigious Dorrance Scholarship award, which is only handed out to roughly 150 Arizona students per year. Providing up to $12,000 annually for eight semesters at any of Arizona’s three public universities, Hoffman had to meet a number of strict academic and civic criteria to receive the award.
When asked if there has been any competition or rivalry in their race to the top, valedictorian Theresa Wilmes was quick to point out the bonds the five have made with each other during their time in the Page school system.
“We’ve all been close to each other at one point in time, and I think we’ll always be friends. Especially with the three of us at the same school,” she said.
Wilmes will also be attending the Barrett Honor College at ASU where she plans to follow an academic track that will lead her toward medical school and, ultimately, becoming a surgeon.
Vine called sharing the graduation podium with her four co-valedictorians “bittersweet.”
“We’re sharing what we all deserve, and it’s also what we’ve all worked for together,” she added. “That’s the most important part.”
Valedictorian Danielle Solomon said the reality of graduation has just hit her — a sentiment the other four shared as well.
“I’m very, very excited, but it’s also a strange feeling. It’s one of those things where you can’t believe you’ve arrived where you are,” Solomon said.
The fourth sibling to go through PUSD, Solomon is the third of four in her family to hold the title of Page High School valedictorian. She will be attending Brigham Young University where she will major in art history and curatorial studies.
As the graduating class of 2017 winds down with its last week of school, the five valedictorians also reflected on four years during one of the most tumultuous times in Arizona education history.
They saw the dissolution of the controversial AIMs test, then the rise and fall of the short-lived PAARC and AzMERIT assessments. As a cohort, they experienced a new test and modified curriculum nearly every year of their high school careers.
The class of 2017 experienced the effects of a heated and ongoing legal battle between the state and public school districts over a chronically underfunded education system.
Hoffman commented how teacher retention was at a point where they would see brand new faculty every year in several departments. Vine said that while they don’t feel any worse for wear coming out the other side, she said she does believe all of these factors have created an air of skepticism among her peers.
But primarily, the girls said, they were excited about recent cultural shifts they’ve witnessed at Page High School. Between a new administration, which they claim has changed morale for both teachers and students for the better, and a bettering foundation of lateral respect between students and staff, the girls concluded they had high hopes for future classes.