Schools
2011 Graduation: A Friendly Competition to Valedictorian
North County High's valedictorian and salutatorian have been good friends throughout high school, and the friendship pushed them to be at the top of their graduating class.
In the fall, ’s 2011 valedictorian and salutatorian will be dorm-mates at the Honors College at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Throughout high school 2011 valedictorian Daniel Haller and salutatorian Joey Landgraf, who both live in Linthicum and have known each other since sixth grade, said they took many classes together. They will graduate at the Towson Arena Center at Towson Unversity
“We pushed each other the entire time. It was a competition at first but eventually I just gave up,” Landgraf, 18, said. “I was No. 1 before [Haller] came.”
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Haller, 16, attended Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School from seventh grade through the first half of ninth grade. Haller said he skipped fourth grade.
Landgraf said eventually Haller’s GPA exceeded his.
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“We took the same [Advanced Placement] classes. So I’m not sure I would have done as well [academically] if it wasn’t for the competition,” he said.
Haller said he just kind of "fell into" being the valedictorian accidentally.
“I just did my best and that’s what happened,” he said. “It feels like I’m standing on the top of a mountain. It’s not Everest—it’s high school—but it feels good to be standing on the mountain and look back at the climb you made.”
When Haller and Landgraf reflected back on their time at North County, both agreed that their friendship was one of the most memorable things of their high school years.
“We’ve been best friends throughout high school,” Haller said. “That friendship has—in some ways—defined us. It made high school a worthwhile experience.”
Haller plans to study mechanical and electrical engineering. He said he plans to pursue a doctorate in some type of engineering and eventually work for a military contractor.
Landgraf plans to study government and politics and economics so he eventually can become president of the United States or a political pundit.
In addition to his friendship with Haller, Landgraf said he really enjoyed serving as a page in the Maryland House of Delegates during his senior year.
“That was really cool,” he said.
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