Longtime friends Abigail Grace Rowe, the class of 2011 valedictorian, and high school salutatorian Nga Ton To Le share more than just friendship and membership in the elite Top Trojans honors group. Each of them have brothers who have shared those honors in the past. Abi’s brother Nathaniel was salutatorian in 2008 and Nga’s brother Dinh was valedictorian in 2009. Both also have younger siblings able to step into their own footsteps. Abi, the daughter of Mike and Pamela Rowe, plans to go to the University of Georgia and major in anthropology. ’Hopefully I’ll be able to take that in an archaeological direction,’ she said. ‘I’ve always liked history but the two western civilization classes I took at Gordon really emphasized that. It would be interesting to discover things from our past and make sure they’re preserved so we don’t forget our history.’ While she said the Gordon classes were her favorites, she also liked her three AP classes. Nga, the daughter of E.T. and Susan Le, will go to Oglethorpe University where she will study pre-med. ’I’ve always thought I’d be a doctor,’ she said. ‘I like helping people, so saving people would be nice.’ She shared the AP classes with Abi but said she did not have a favorite class. She prefers science in general. ’It’s straight to the point,’ she said. The history buff is set to talk about the future as valedictorian. ’I plan to talk about what we need to remember and take with us into the future and how to stay strong,’ Abi said. ‘If we can get through high school, we can get through college.’ The future doctor gets to talk about the past. ’I’m going to reflect on growing up together, staying together and giving each other a helping hand if we ever need one,’ Nga said. ‘The theme will be lasting friendships.’ Abi was home schooled through middle school and Nga has been a student of the Lamar County school system since first grade. ’Homeschooling really gave us a chance to recognize our own potential,’ said Abi. ‘We moved at our own pace and were able to explore stuff that interested us, which was nice. It was a great experience.’ Nga is loyal to her alma mater. ’I love Lamar County. I wouldn’t go to another school,’ she said. ‘I grew up with all my classmates and they’ve supported me all the way through. I like the hometown feeling of it.’ The pair have been friends since fifth grade when they played recreation soccer. ’We really started hanging out together when I began school in ninth grade,’ said Abi, who was born in Wisconsin. Nga, who is of Vietnamese heritage, was born in the Philippines but both girls have lived most of their lives in Lamar County. ’I came to the U.S. when I was one month old,’ said Nga. ‘I could have been born over the Pacific but my mom wouldn’t risk it. She waited until I was born then followed the rest of the family to the U.S.’ While Nga played tennis for the high school in her freshman and sophomore years, and both were on the academic team in their earlier high school years, both have moved on to other interests. ’Sports take too much time,’ Nga said. She is a member of the Beta Club, Future Business Leaders of America, the Leo Club (a junior Lion’s Club) and the Ambassador’s Club. Abi’s interest is music and Nga’s is community service through her clubs when she is not working in the family nail salon, Rose Nails, after school and on weekends. ’I take piano lessons, play handbells and sing in the choir at church,’ said Abi. ‘I was teaching myself to play guitar but my sister took it with her when she moved out.’ LCCHS Graduation Sat., May 28, 9 a.m. Trojan Field stadium, FAC if inclement weather
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