2023 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Northfield Jr/Sr High School has announced their 2023 Valedictorian, Miss Avery Shrider and Salutatorian, Mr. Malachi Higgins.

Valedictorian Avery Shrider

Avery Shrider is the daughter of Matt and Shannon Shrider. She plans to attend Purdue University in the fall to study Biomedical Health Sciences on the Pre-Med track. Once in medical school, Avery plans to specialize in Internal Medicine.

During her years at Northfield, Avery participated in many activities, including volleyball, softball, cheerleading, basketball, Key Club, and National Honor Society. She is also a 10-year member of 4-H.

Through these experiences, she received many awards and held leadership positions, including TRC Academic All-Conference, All-County Volleyball Team, Scholar Athlete, Volleyball Captain, Softball Mental Attitude Award, All-State Academic-Gold, and National Honor Society Vice President. She was also the 2022 Wabash County Fair Queens Pageant 1st Runner-Up.

Avery stated the staff of Northfield had a true impact on her. “Teachers, coaches, and other staff members care so much about every student, and they will go out of their way to make sure you are happy. Northfield employs the greatest people that have had such an impact on me and have got me to where I am today.”

Salutatorian Malachi Higgins

Malachi Higgins is the son of Jon and Ann Higgins. This fall, he plans to attend Rose-Hulman University to study Mechanical Engineering.

During high school, Malachi was involved in football, wrestling, baseball, FCA, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, and the Wabash First United Methodist Youth Group.

He has received a plethora of awards and honors, including the Voice of Democracy award winner, Most Outstanding Math Student, Most Outstanding History Student, Tri-Athlete Award, 4-H County Champion Woodworking, Football All-Conference, Football All-County, Football Academic All-State, Wrestling Regional Qualifier, Football and Wrestling Captain, Wrestling Mental Attitude Award, TRC Distinguished Athlete Award, 1st Team Academic All-State Wrestling, Gus Dorais Award, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Part 107 Drone Certification, USMC High School Scholar All-American Award. Perhaps most notably, he is the 2023 recipient of the Ford Family Community Scholarship, a four-year full-tuition scholarship given to one Wabash County senior each year.

Malachi stated, “What I appreciated about Northfield was the helpful staff members who were ready and willing to help me whenever I needed them. They made it easy to ask for help whenever a challenge arose. I know that the challenges I faced at Northfield have helped prepare me for a bright future.”

Avery and Malachi will speak to the 2023 graduates during the Northfield Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 4, at the Honeywell Center.