Its not easy to move to a new school your senior year of high school. But Iola High School valedictorian Mackenzie Palmer said she enjoys Iola so much, shes going to stick around and go to college here, too.
Palmer and her family moved to Iola from Texas last summer, just before the start of her senior year. The area is quite familiar, though. She has a lot of family in the area and visited often. She previously lived in Chanute and Burlington. She had been in Texas since her freshman year.
Keeping up on her grades wasnt too challenging, Palmer said. The biggest problem was transferring her school records from Texas. Her previous school first sent her records to an Iola High School in another state.
Those records included a history of straight A grades, allowing Palmer to graduate with a 4.0 GPA and qualifying her as one of the Class of 2018s valedictorians.
Most of her classes are electives, which gives her time to focus on her work with the high school yearbook. Shes dedicated to photography and enjoys being part of the yearbook staff. In Texas, she had been involved in theater and the Gay-Straight Alliance club.
Palmer said shes pretty selective of her friends. She appreciates how Iola students welcomed her into the fold and made it easy to make new friends.
I wouldnt trade moving here for anything, Palmer said. Im happy here. Its a good school, good students.
Palmer said its been easy for her to maintain her GPA. But for students who struggle, she encourages them to ask for help.
The teachers are going to help you. The staff is really nice and willing to help their students, she said.
Palmer plans to attend Allen Community College. She isnt sure yet of her major or her future plans but thought ACC would be a good place to continue her education. It also will allow her to stay close to her family in Iola.
She is the daughter of Archie and Dena Palmer. She has an older sister, two younger sisters and a niece.
