ROCKINGHAM - When she started taking Advanced Placement classes during her sophomore year at Richmond Senior High School, current senior Mackenzie Webb had an inkling that she could compete for the top spot in her graduating class.
It was the simple thought of “I can do this” that ultimately propelled her to academic glory.
At Richmond’s annual academic awards banquet nearly two weeks ago, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill bound senior saw her dream come to fruition. Having to go four points off the decimal to decide the No. 1 spot, Webb edged out fellow future Tar Heel Shelby Matheson to claim valedictorian honors for the class of 2018.
“It was a true surprise to everyone,” Webb recalled of the announcement, staying modest about her 5.106 GPA. “Shelby (salutatorian) and I have been one and two for the last three years. We’ve pretty much had the same schedule and we were kind of a team.
“Being named valedictorian is a real honor,” the 18-year-old continued. “I wasn’t expecting it, but being valedictorian has always been a dream of mine. I’ve always been near the top of my class, and I actually made it happen. I just wanted to work hard (in high school), graduate and go to Carolina.”
With over $3 million in scholarships awarded at the banquet to rising college freshmen, Webb received a full-ride scholarship to attend UNC through the North Carolina Veterans Commission Scholarship.
She also was recognized as a member of the Top 30 in her class, and earned the State Employees’ Credit Union “People Helping People” Scholarship, the North Carolina National Guard Scholarship ($1,000), and Webb capped off her night by being awarded with the $10,000 Leath Memorial Scholarship, which she’ll use throughout her four years as an undergraduate.
As she prepares to graduate from Richmond in just over a week, Webb was also involved in several student organizations over the past three years at Richmond. She served as RSHS’ Senate historian her senior year, and graduated from both the National Honor Society and National Beta Club programs.
While Webb was heavily immersed in her academic studies as a high school student, perhaps more than most of her fellow Richmond peers, she also was a multi-sport athlete all four years of her high school career.
Primarily a two-sport athlete, Webb has been a member of the Richmond volleyball and softball programs since her freshman year. She joined the swim team during her senior year, making her a three-sport athlete. Webb was the setter on the varsity volleyball team from her sophomore through senior years, and spent the last two seasons as a member of the varsity softball team as an outfielder.
“I’ve always been so competitive,” Webb revealed. “Whether it was with schoolwork or sports, I always wanted to try my best. Being competitive is what I think helped me become valedictorian -- all of my friends are in the Top 30 in our class. So we pushed each other.”
Admitting that she often spent a lot of time working on assignments, which was sometimes “stressful,” Webb said she never felt that she was consumed or “buried in schoolwork.”
“I managed to juggle my social life and sports with my schoolwork,” Webb said. “I knew it’d be a lot of work, but I made a compromise with myself and balanced it out. There were still a lot of late nights, and I did a lot of my work on bus rides to and from games. There was a lot of communication with my teachers, and I got really good at time management.”
While at Richmond, Webb took a variety of classes, including several AP classes and courses at Richmond Community College. Some of her favorite classes during her high school career have been AP Government and AP Human Geography, both of which were her first two AP courses taken during her sophomore year. What made them her favorites was her “interest in both topics” and how both classes “influenced” her career path.
Webb also stated she enjoyed AP United States History, but that it was an “insane class” that “pushed” her to her limits because it was the “hardest class” she’s ever taken. But from it all, the late nights, the countless study sessions, the long days in the gym and on the diamond, Webb has grown into a successful student who is “ready” to be on her own and feels certain she’ll be “accountable” in college.
When asked which of the two she enjoyed more, between academics and sports, Webb gave athletics a slight edge. She explained that athletics are not only “more fun” to participate in, but in sports, she can see her opponent and what they’re doing. She noted with academics, it’s just her versus her mind, which can be challenging.
Set to attend college orientation in Chapel Hill on June 4 and 5, Webb will enroll in UNC’s Public Policy program. She described it as a “mix between economics and pre-law.” She’ll also meet with an academic adviser to discuss potential minor options, saying that her initial major choice of English isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility.
As far as sports go, Webb hopes to become involved with a club volleyball team around campus -- if her “time management is still good.”
“I’m really looking forward to all the opportunities at Carolina,” Webb ended with a smile. “There will be new people and new activities on campus for me to do. I’m ready to go out and explore somewhere other than Richmond County.”
