Kaylynn Miller, left, and Caroline Stump are the valedictorian and salutatorian respectively for the Tippecanoe Valley High School Class of 2024. They were honored at a small reception at TVHS on Friday, Feb. 16.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — Kaylynn Miller and Caroline Stump share friendship and dreams of becoming lawyers one day.

And they also have in common being at the top of the Tippecanoe Valley High School Class of 2024.

Miller, of Mentone, and Stump, of Silver Lake, are the 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian. They were honored at a small reception on Friday, Feb. 16, at TVHS, at which their family, friends and Valley staff were present.

“It’s really, really exciting,” said Miller of being named valedictorian. “It’s something I’ve been working towards for a really long time obviously, and so it was just good to know that all the hard work wasn’t for nothing. I’m just really grateful to all the people too who have supported me.”

Miller, the daughter of Steve and Jill Miller, plans to go to Indiana Wesleyan University and study political science and prelaw, with hopes to eventually attend law school.

While at Valley, she’s been in cheerleading, student council, National Honor Society, Sunshine Society, the mock trial team, the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy, theater and church youth group.

Steve said he and Jill “were extremely proud of the work ethic that (Kaylynn) demonstrates.”

“When she sets a goal, she doesn’t stop until she achieves that goal,” said Steve of Kaylynn.

“I’m super proud of her too just because she’s worked so hard, but also she’s a great person and she cares about others,” added Jill. “I love her heart as well.”

Stump said being salutatorian felt “really nice, especially to accomplish it alongside my two best friends.”

She referred to her twin Katelyn Stump, who is finishing just behind her in third for the 2024 graduating class, and Kaylynn.

“I’m grateful to my parents and all my friends,” said Caroline.

She and Katelyn are the daughters of Herb and Donna Stump.

Caroline is planning to attend Indiana University in Bloomington, with her studies to be in international law and institutions. She one day wants to go to law school.

Her activities while at Valley have included National Honor Society, student council, the mock trial team, Sunshine Society, theater and KYLA.

Donna said “as a teacher, (the twins have) definitely met the expectation of doing the right thing.”

She called Caroline “a leader.”

“I’m very proud of her. She set a goal of that she wanted to be top of her class or close to the top and she was,” said Donna of Caroline.

Herb added his daughters have “exceeded (his) expectations.”

“They studied hard,” he said.

TVHS Principal Brandon Kresca said he and other Valley staff were “very proud of Kaylynn and Caroline.”

“They are excellent representatives of Tippecanoe Valley High School and just the amount of work that it takes to be successful and to dedicate to your academics, and they have just no doubt demonstrated that over their four years of school,” he said.