Whether in the classroom, in the pool, playing the piano, volunteering, or more, Lily Cantrell has shown a propensity for high achievement. Her many skills and a life-long love of learning have served Cantrell well as she has been named Rome High School’s Valedictorian for the Class of 2025.
Lily is the daughter of Paul and Jenny Cantrell. She has a 4.677 grade point average and has taken 17 AP classes and six dual enrollment classes. She has been on the honor roll all four years, is a Georgia Certificate of Merit Recipient and a Leadership Rome graduate, and has earned AP Honors with Distinction.
“Being valedictorian means a lot to me because I've worked so hard for it. But I really love learning, so it means a lot that my love of learning helped pay off in this way,” Cantrell said. “It was hard, but it was also a lot of fun to get to take a lot of classes that I would have never taken if I wasn't going for it. It just represents a lot of love for me.”
When not in class or serving as a volunteer, Lily has participated in a slew of activities. She is the founder and president of the 21st Century Leaders Club, participated in the Student Youth Leadership Summit at Emory Goizueta Business School, is the National Honors Society Vice President, BEAR Club Vice President, and the Junior Civitan Animal Service Project Coordinator. She is also a member of the Interact Club, League of Young Voters, Student Ambassador, and serves on the Superintendent Student Advisory Council.
Along with those activities, Lily can often be found in the water. She has been a member of the Three Rivers Swim Team for 11 years and has competed for Rome High’s Swim Team earning varsity letters and qualifying for the Georgia High School Association State Swim Meet.
She also is an avid pianist, having played for more than 14 years. She has performed at graduations, numerous piano guilds, piano sheet music premiers, and more.
Along with her many school activities, Cantrell has been an active volunteer for several organizations. She has logged more than 300 volunteer hours working with kids education and literacy, volunteering at Montessori educational camps, tutoring, reading to low-income kindergarteners, and participating in Main Elementary STEM days. She has also spent a lot of volunteer time with Floyd Felines.
Her post graduation plans include majoring in political science with a minor in history in college with a plan to attend law school and become a lawyer. She has also spent time as a legal intern at Stephen P. Woodard, LLC.
“I definitely want to be a lawyer. I just really want to help people. I don't know what type of law I want to practice, but I'm not going to be the type of lawyer that just goes after people to hurt people,” Cantrell said. “I want to be the type of lawyer who makes a difference and helps people.”
While she has received acceptance from several schools as well as numerous scholarships she hasn’t determined where she will go to college yet.