Sidney Class of 2016 Valedictorian – Megan Neal

Megan Neal has been at the top of her class since freshman year at Sidney High School. Even so, the competition from her classmates was intense, so she was pleased when, after all of the dust settled, she was named the Class of 2016 valedictorian.

"Our class is very intelligent," Megan said. "So it was definitely a competition, especially between (salutatorian) Logan (Uhlir) and I."

Megan, 18, is the daughter of Mike and Christi Neal. She has to older brothers, Sean and Patrick.

"My dad was high up in his class, either one or two, and Sean was in his top ten, but I'm the first valedictorian in my family," she said.

Megan has kept busy with extracurricular activities while in high school, participating in one-act plays, speech, golf, science club, swing choir and the National Honor Society.

"I'm in a lot of stuff," she said.

Megan said she was especially proud of her accomplishments with the swing choir, which she said was grueling with the number of competitions this year, and with golf, where they went to the state contest.

"We were working hard to get back to state, and I medaled this year," she said. "So that was great."

Balancing academics and personal life can be difficult, but Megan handled it by keeping an eye on her time management.

"You need to learn that there are times when you need to work on your scholarly stuff," she said. "Even if you want to just watch YouTube or have fun with your friends."

Megan said her family helped keep her on track as well.

"My mom was good at kicking me in the butt," she said. "She kept on me to get my stuff done."

With her high school years soon to be behind her, Megan said she is preparing to study biological science at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Her goal is to enter medical school for post-graduate studies on the path to eventually become a pediatrician.

"My dad's a dentist, so I knew that I liked the medical and biological sciences," she said. "But I didn't want to go into dentistry. But medical, that'll be fun."

As for pediatrician, Megan said she felt working with children would be a worthy cause.

"Little kids are the future," she said. "If they're sick now, who knows what's going to happen. They could be the next president or the person that cures cancer. I want to protect our future."

With the graduation ceremony set for Sunday, Megan said she has been working hard on her valedictorian address.

"I think it'll be a fun speech," she said. "It's not going to be a review of what we've done over the four years, but it will be nostalgic for everyone."

As a member of the school's speech team, Megan said she has experience talking in front of crowds, so she does not thing she will be nervous come Sunday.

"I shouldn't be," she said. "Well, I hope not, anyway."

As for advice to incoming freshmen, Megan said the best thing she could tell them was to "just get your work done."

"I've known people that got 'B's' in their freshman year, and then all 'A's' the rest of the time," she said. "And now, they're like, 'Why didn't I work hard from the beginning.' Get involved, but keep your grades up. It's important."