Roy Costner Named Liberty High Valedictorian

When Liberty High School’s 151 graduates march on June 1, three of them will walk home with very special honors.

Valedictorian Roy Costner IV, salutatorian R.J. Little, and Most Improved Senior Linda Stancil all look forward to big goals after high school.

Costner plans to head to Clemson University in the fall to pursue a bachelor of science degree in computer science.

“I have big ideas for mobile applications, and even for starting a new social network, but I don't have the knowledge to pull it off yet,” Costner said. He said he hopes to work as a computer programmer overseas, but has dreams of saving up enough to come back and start a chain of restaurants in the U.S.

He said computer programming was an interest he picked up outside of school as he developed a local news website, Liberty Speaks.

Costner cited James Burrell, his Club One advisor and science teacher, as making an impact on his high school career. "He has been someone I've been able to talk to about not just school related stuff, and he's given me advice. He's just been there for me,” Costner said.

In addition to earning the title of salutatorian, R.J. Little also served as student body president his senior year. Despite an outgoing personality, he has stayed tight lipped about where he is going to college, planning a surprise reveal to his friends later this year.

“I'm going to college to study pre-dentistry my plan is either to become an oral surgeon or a prosthodontist,” Little said. He admitted that his reaction to dentistry was different from most young people.

“I love to see people smile. I know it sounds weird, but I seriously always loved going to the dentist. To this day, I get excited about going. Even when I got my braces, it wasn't so much that I needed them, but I really wanted to get them.”

Little mentioned English teacher Amy Hendricks, as an important influence on him in high school. “I seriously go to her for every little thing in life,” he

said. “I know about her life,and she knows about mine. She's there when I need her.”

When Linda Stancil learned she had been selected by her teachers as the Most Improved Student in her class, her initial reaction was disbelief.

“When I got the letter I thought, ‘Is this a joke? Where's the hidden camera?’”

Stancil said she enjoyed math and science, but struggled with English throughout high school. She said guidance counselor Cherie Latham and math teacher Beth Roy did a lot to help her succeed.

“Miss Latham lets me come to her office for anything I need—personal issues, grades. She's helped me find out what I need to pass.”

Stancil said she plans to work for a year before enrolling in technical college for a year, then transferring to Southern Wesleyan University to study to become a teacher.

“I don't see myself doing anything but teaching. I love the excitement I see in kids' faces when they learn things,” she said.