Abilene High best friends share spotlight as valedictorian & salutatorian

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) — Many students work diligently to become valedictorians or salutatorians at the pinnacle of their high school careers. At Abilene High School this year, two best friends are sharing the stage as the top two in their class.

AHS Seniors Sydney Spell and Arabelle Marz have been friends since the middle of kindergarten. Spell said she will never forget the first day Marz walked into class.

“I distinctly remember the first day she walked in, and I was like, I want to be friends with her. I got to go talk to her. We were friends ever since,” Spell said.

The two were honored at the Kawani’s Club of Abilene for their achievement alongside other local seniors. Selena said she was not expecting the news that arrived a week earlier.

“I did not know that I was the salutatorian until it was announced last Tuesday, and so I was really not expecting at all, and so I was very, very surprised,” Spell said.

Marz, who has held the spot for the last few years, told KTAB/KRBC she is excited to share it with her best friend.

“I was so excited for her whenever she found out because we were both on the way. I kind of had an inkling that I was going to be first,” Marz said. “We’ve been friends throughout all the 12 years, which is really special.”

Both young ladies plan to further their education by majoring in biochemistry. Marz plans to attend Yale University, and Spell is still deciding between Abilene Christian University and the University of Texas.

Marz wants to use her degree to become a neurosurgeon or reproductive endocrinologist, and Spell wants to pursue pharmaceutical research.

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