(727) 774-3300

Melody Goodenough and Ruthie Vaughn have been selected as valedictorian and salutatorian of the Gulf High School class of 2003.

Melody, the valedictorian, is the daughter of David Lee Goodenough and the late Linda Joy Goodenough. She grew up in New Port Richey and was home schooled until third grade before attending Mittye P. Locke Elementary, Gulf Middle, and Gulf High School.

She will attend USF and major in chemistry, and plans to become a pharmacist.

Melody has been a section leader and drum major in the Buccaneer Band, president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, president of the Math Honor Society, and vice president of FFEA and the National Honor Society. She was selected for the All-County Band for five years and for the USF Festival of Winds for two years. She has made the All-A Honor Roll in grades, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. She is a National Merit Finalist and a Presidential Scholar Award candidate, and she won the AP Scholar Award, the USF Presidential Scholarship, and the University of Rochester Humanities and Social Sciences Award. She has been named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Melody scored 35 on the ACT Assessment; the maximum possible score is 36. Her GPA is 4.3987.

Ruthie, the salutatorian, is the daughter of Cheryl and Richard Vaughn. She will major in Music Education at USF, and would like to become either a high school or college choral director.

She has been President of the National Honor Society, Interact Club, and Music Honor Society, and is a member of the Math Honor Society. She has been student director of the Gulf High Chorus and team leader of the Gulf Coast Youth Choir. She has played tennis and has been captain of the volleyball team at Gulf.

Ruthie has earned a superior rating by the Florida Vocal Association at State Competition for Vocal Solo and Student Conducting, has won the Princeton Book Award and a USF Presidential Scholarship, and has been named a Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Ambassador. She was named to the All-State Choir and All-County Chorus and is a member of the Florida Youth Chorale which sang in Carnegie Hall. She has been named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students and was selected Homecoming Queen in 2002.