The six valedictorians to represent the Albert Lea High School class of 2009 are Alexandra Ciota, Anna Enstad, Cody Hanson, Kelli Hansen, Jessica Henderson and Katherine Schou.

“In general, all these kids are hard working. They’re great kids, and they represent their community, and their family and themselves very, very well,” said Jim Haney, a social studies teacher who taught all the valedictorians in AP Government.

“These six are representative of most of the students at Albert Lea High School,” Haney added.

All of the valedictorians agreed they are pleased to see their hard work culminate in being named valedictorians.

“It’s something when I was in ninth grade, I had straight A’s then, and I just told myself I should try to get straight A’s all through high school, because I’ve always looked up to all the other ones who’ve graduated as valedictorians,” Enstad said.

All the valedictorians were happy to be relieved of the pressure of maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average.

“I just remember in sixth grade, I got a B one time in spelling, and I kind of freaked out a little bit, but it’s just sixth grade, so it didn’t really matter,” Hanson said.

Enstad said it’s nice to no longer have to obsessively check grades online.

“Everyday, always in the back of your mind, you have homework or what you have to do in your mind. It feels good not to have that,” Enstad said.

At the same time, Hanson said she felt like she had more freedom and respect in advanced placement classes like AP biology. Enstad said she believes these AP classes have prepared students for college.

“I think it’s good that we kind of know how to study and know how tests work to succeed in college,” Enstad said.

While the valedictorians are being honored for their academic achievements, they were all active in extra curricular activities.

“I think that my golf and my sports experiences are just as big as my academic experiences,” Hanson said.

Many of the valedictorians were involved in church. Henderson, Schou and Ciota teach Sunday school, and Hansen was involved in his youth group. Hanson sang in a choir at her church.

All of the valedictorians were active in National Honor Society, and they were all active in music at the high school. Hansen was in choir. Ciota played the violin in orchestra. Enstad played flute in concert band. Schou played trombone in band, jazz band and orchestra, and she was also in chorale, choir, and show choir. Hanson was active in choir and marching band.

Henderson played both flute and bassoon in band. Henderson also danced with Just For Kix. She plans to attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., next year, and she plans to major in math and education.

“Jessica Henderson is absolutely sweet,” Haney said. “She goes above and beyond what I ask her to do. Just an absolute pleasant person to be around. It’s just fun to be associated with her, because she’s just so pleasant.”

Hansen is the only male valedictorian this year, and Haney said Hansen “leads by example.

“Cody Hansen is kind of the all-American guy,” Haney said. “He was quarterback of the football team. He was homecoming king. He was a great wrestler.”

Hansen was captain of the wrestling team and he will wrestle at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, where he will major in elementary education. Hansen also played baseball and was active in student council.

The commencement ceremony for Albert Lea High School is at 7:30 p.m. today in the school’s gymnasium.

Hanson recently competed in the state golf tournament with the girls golf team. She was captain of the golf team for two years, and she was captain of the tennis team. She also played hockey. Hanson will attend the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management next year where she’ll seek a career in business.

“I just love her curiosity,” Haney said of Hanson. “She loves to know new stuff.”

Ciota was captain of soccer, dance and track teams. She was in Youth in Government, student council and was a member of the wall of inspiration committee.

“Alex is one of the most pleasant, intelligent, hard working young ladies I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with,” Haney said. “she is a difference maker in the lives of people.”

Ciota plans to attend Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, next year, and she will major in biology and minor in Spanish.

Enstad has participated in the figure skating club, and she played volleyball and cross-country. She was also on the high school dance team, and she was on the choreography committee. She also danced at Joyce Matthies Dance Center.

“Infectious smile, driven, loves to be challenged by school work and life and so forth,” Haney said describing Enstad. “She’s just a neat, neat lady,” Haney said.

Next year Enstad will attend The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, and she plans on majoring physical therapy.

Schou played volleyball, softball, basketball, and she was captain of the volleyball team, and she was captain of the girl’s basketball team for two years.

“I know Katie loves math, but my nickname for her is the guru, because she is one of the strongest social studies students I’ve ever had. She just knows how to do it,” Haney said.

Schou will attend Winona State majoring in statistics, and she said she may look into actuarial science.

Enstad said she saw the entire senior class come closer together during their senior year, because there are a lot of events and classes seniors participate in together.

Hansen said one of his favorite memories from his senior year was teepeeing the front area of the school.

Many memorable events occurred during homecoming week like the senior dance, and Schou said one of her favorite memories is the powder puff games.

Henderson said she’ll miss her friends the most next year. Cioti and Schou both said they’d miss playing sports and the bonds with teammates.