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Two Florida teens are making history at their high school on graduation day.
For the first time at the Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida, the top two students of the graduating class are Black young men. And they are hoping to inspire generations of learners behind them.
"In elementary school, my sister graduated 8th in her class actually from here — Ribault High School," Jeffery Francis told First Coast News. "From there, I kind of aspired to be number 1."
Francis achieved this goal and is graduating as valedictorian. "I seen that there weren't many African American men who were valedictorian. So I wondered how I could help inspire other African American young men if I was valedictorian."
Salutatorian Darrell Worrell said he was inspired to thrive academically in order to achieve a feat for his family.
"I wanted to get rid of a generational curse," Worrell told reporters. "You know, like, a lot of my family, some didn't graduate."
The two said they weren't rivals, but rather saw success while working hard and moving up in their class of 300 students.
"Becoming salutatorian kind of more so fell in my lap," Worrell said, quite humbly considering the extensive resume of extracurriculars and awards the teen has. "I did work hard for it of course, but it definitely was like, 'Oh, I'm moving up in the ranks.'"
Francis is headed to Florida A&M University and plans to enter the medical field. Worrell, who is a first-generation college student, will be attending Florida State University and has plans to work in finance.
Congratulations to these history-makers and all the 2022 graduates!
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