
Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Rogelio Herrera Jr!
During Rogelio Herrera Jr.ās time at Dalton High School, he discovered a deep passion for the arts and a community that changed his life. He was heavily involved on campus through choir and theater, completing Drama 1, 2, and 3, IB Theater Arts, and spending three years participating in Catamount Singers. He made countless memories at DHS, but his absolute favorite was stepping up as the stage manager for the schoolās production of āHetty Feather,ā a leadership role he had aimed for since his freshman year. Looking back, Rogelio considers his greatest high school achievement to be making amazing, talented friends who supported him through thick and thin and pushed him to take risks. This fall, Rogelio will attend Dalton State College to study marketing, a path he chose because of his high school economics class, where he discovered a love for the business world. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Rogelio and looks forward to seeing all the wonderful things he accomplishes in this next chapter!
Way to go Rogelio!

Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Alyson Zepeda!
During Alyson Zepedaās time at Dalton High School, she was extremely hardworking and consistently achieved the goals she set for herself. She pushed herself to excel in the classroom, leading to the proud accomplishment of raising her GPA during her junior and senior years and making her mother incredibly proud. Alyson brought the same dedication onto the soccer field, where she earned the āMost Improved JVā Award. When she reflects on her time at Dalton High School and the memories she made, her absolute favorite is from her freshman photography class with Mr. Riner, where she and her close friends would laugh so hard they could barely breathe, all while enjoying the delicious brownies Mr. Riner brought for his classes each week. This fall, Alyson will attend Dalton State College to study biology with the goal of becoming a neurologist. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Alyson and her perseverance and cannot wait to see all the amazing things she accomplishes in her future career!
Way to go Alyson!

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Victor Uriel Colina!
During Victor Uriel Colinaās time at Dalton High School, he showed a strong work ethic and amazing academic excellence. Victor worked extremely hard in the classroom, leading him to maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA, place in the top 30 of his class, and become a member of National Honor Society. He was also an active member of Catamount Singers, Interact Club, and HoPe Club. When he reflects on his time at DHS, his favorite memories are the quiet moments spent eating with his classmates after AP tests and talking about life. This fall, Victor will attend the University of Georgia to study medicine, a path he chose because of his desire to make a difference and potentially save someoneās life. Victor gives all his thanks to his parents, who sacrificed so much for him and his siblings to be able to study in the United States. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Victorās achievements and looks forward to seeing all he accomplishes in this next chapter!
Way to go Victor!

Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Brizeda Cortez!
While Brizeda Cortez attended Dalton High School, she demonstrated hard work, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to giving her all in everything she did. She balanced a remarkably active schedule by participating in HOSA, Student Council, and the Big Brother Big Sister Buddy Program. She was also a member of the DHS soccer team, where she created some of her most cherished high school memories by spending four years playing alongside amazing, talented teammates and forming lifelong friendships through soccer. Brizedaās dedication truly paid off, resulting in the outstanding achievement of earning the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship to Berry College. This fall, she will attend Berry College in Rome, Georgia, to study animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine, a path she chose because of her deep connection with animals and her passion for caring and advocating for them. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Brizedaās accomplishments and cannot wait to see where her hard work takes her!
Way to go Brizeda!

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Alexander Salaises Zamarripa!
During Alexander Salaises Zamarripaās time at Dalton High School, he balanced remarkable athletic achievements with a strong dedication to academics. He constantly pushed his limits, resulting in amazing accomplishments such as maintaining excellent grades and becoming a member of National Honor Society. Equally impressive, in only his second year of wrestling, he placed third at regionals and successfully qualified for sectionals. When Alexander looks back at the memories he made as a Catamount, his favorite is winning a school soccer tournament with his friends during his junior year. This fall, Alexander will attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) to study Electrical Systems Technology. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Alexanderās hard work and dedication and looks forward to seeing all he accomplishes in this next chapter!
Way to go Alexander!

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Valeria Ferreira-Ponce!
Valeria Ferreira-Ponceās journey at Dalton High School showed both her personal growth and academic excellence. Over the last four years, she actively worked to improve her social skills and watched them flourish. She was recognized three years in a row to receive the Young Georgia Authorsā award. When she reflects on her time at DHS, her favorite memory is a rainy afternoon that despite the awful weather, she and her classmates stayed until the very end of a friendās lacrosse game, where they laughed, had a great time, and showed unwavering support. This fall, Valeria will attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) to study nursing. She chose this career out of the genuine love for helping others and to pave a path to eventually become a travel nurse, combining her passion for patient care and her desire to explore new places. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Valeriaās achievements and character, and we cannot wait to see the positive impact she makes in her future!
Way to go Valeria!

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Bring your passion to a team that celebrates learning, connection, and community. Explore opportunities in teaching, student support, nursing, clerical services, and more.
View current openings and apply: Dalton Public Schools job listings on SchoolSpring ā dalton.schoolspring.com

Today weāre featuring Cyber Academy graduate Analy Pimentel!
While Analy Pimentel attended the Cyber Academy, she showed exceptional determination and a clear vision for her academic future. Throughout her high school years, Analy committed fully to her studies, resulting in some of her proudest accomplishments: completing a dual enrollment semester at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, earning a scholarship to her dream school, and achieving the remarkable milestone of graduating a full year early. Looking back, her favorite memories include playing varsity soccer for the Lady Pumas during her freshman year and forming wonderful, lasting bonds with her teachers along the way. Analy also shares a huge thank-you to the school social workers, who always do an excellent job helping students stay on the right track. This fall, she will take the next exciting step in her academic journey by attending Toccoa Falls College to pursue a path as an equestrian horse trainer. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Analyās hard work and motivation and looks forward to seeing all the amazing things she accomplishes in the future!
Way to go Analy!

Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Ben Weaver!
Although Ben Weaver joined Dalton High School during his junior year, he made an immediate and outstanding impact on the school community. Ben adapted smoothly to his new environment with the support of his teachers and peers. His academic dedication earned him a spot in the National Honor Society and recognition as an Honor Graduate. As a dedicated student-athlete, some of Benās most valuable high school memories were made on the baseball field, specifically bonding with his coaches and team during their unforgettable trip to Gulf Shores and celebrating as the team made the state playoffs during his senior year. Ben is incredibly grateful for his time at Dalton High, stating that everyone made him feel welcomed and truly like a Catamount since his first day on campus. Following graduation, Ben will attend Georgia Southern University to study construction management, a path he chose because of his passion for hands-on work. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Benās adaptability and excellence, and we look forward to seeing all that he builds in his future!
Way to go Ben!

The achievement reflects a shared commitment between Dalton Public Schools, the Dalton Police Department, and the Dalton City Council to provide safe, supportive learning environments for students and staff.
Over the past year, the Dalton Police Department successfully expanded its School Resource Officer program to ensure officer coverage across all district campuses. With staffing and operational plans now fully in place, each Dalton Public Schools campus will have a dedicated full-time SRO serving students, staff, and families throughout the school year.
š Read more: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/3010765

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Campbell Fox!
While Campbell Fox attended Dalton High School, she demonstrated a brilliant combination of academic excellence and a heart for community service. During her four years, Campbell consistently showed strong motivation toward her academic performance, enabling her to maintain straight Aās, earn recognition as an AP Scholar, and rank in the top 10 of her graduating class for multiple years. Beyond her dedication to her studies, she was extremely involved in her community, serving as a dedicated member of several organizations such as the Big Brother Big Sisters Program, United Way Youth Council, Latin Club, and Interact Club. She was also involved in the National Honor Society and National Beta Club, consisting of high school students who maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and commit to doing a specific number of service hours under these programs. Alongside these many extracurricular activities, she also competed as a passionate equestrian and was a part of her churchās youth group. Reflecting on her years at Dalton High, Campbellās favorite moments center around the unforgettable times spent alongside her closest friends and the teachers who supported her throughout high school. When she looks back at all of her accomplishments, one major milestone for her was being accepted into Wake Forest University. This fall, she will be attending Wake Forest to pursue a degree in Chemistry with a minor in Business on a Pre-veterinary track. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Campbellās outstanding achievements, and we cannot wait to see her excel in this next chapter!
Way to go Campbell!

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Ethan Bailon!
During Ethan Bailonās time at Dalton High School, he showed a strong sense of pride and dedication towards achieving his academic milestones. Throughout his high school career, Ethan focused heavily on staying on top of his classes, resulting in his proudest achievement: being able to graduate with full credits! When looking back at his time at DHS, Ethan is thankful for the incredible people he met along the way who truly helped define his experience, stating that his high school years wouldnāt have been nearly as special without the connections he made and the memories created. This fall, Ethan will take the next step in his journey by attending Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) to study welding. He chose this path due to a passion for hands-on, independent work that has interested him since middle school. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Ethanās hard work and commitment, and we look forward to seeing all the amazing things he accomplishes in his future!
Way to go Ethan!

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Huda Rizvi Waseem!
While Huda Rizvi Waseem attended Dalton High School, she showed an exceptional commitment to rigorous academics and the creative arts. During her time, she maintained a flawless 4.0 unweighted GPA and earned straight Aās while taking the load of the AP, IB, and dual-enrollment courses. Allowing her to gain recognition as an AP scholar and a member of the National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society. Alongside all of these academic success, Huda also achieved many fine arts accomplishments, earning her the Fine Arts Diploma Seal and completed her rigorous IB Visual Arts exhibition. This program is a challenging two-year journey where students do not only make art, also gain a strong understanding of art history and the entire creative process. Her talent also gained recognition across the Whitefield county community, where she won first place and had artwork displaced annually at the North Georgia Fair and the Creative Arts Guild. Now that Huda has graduated, she will attend Kennesaw State University to pursue a degree in nursing, driven by her desire to give back to the community, having a career in a field that makes constant positive difference in peopleās lives. We are incredibly proud of Hudaās achievements and look forward to seeing her thrive in her next chapter!
Way to go Huda!

The new Rookie of the Year program was created to recognize educators who demonstrate exceptional dedication, creativity and impact in their classrooms and schools from the very start of their careers. Through this recognition, Dalton Public Schools aims to support, encourage and showcase the important contributions of its newest teachers as they help shape student success.
Ruiz was selected from nominations submitted by Dalton Public Schools employees. To be eligible, nominees must be fully certified teachers who completed their first full year of teaching at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year.
Throughout her first year in the classroom, Ruiz has made a meaningful impact by building strong relationships with students, creating a positive classroom culture and maintaining high expectations for learning and growth.
Read more about Ruiz: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/3006841

Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Lucas Ceballos!
As Lucas Ceballos spent his time at Dalton High School, he demonstrated a strong dedication to his education, sports, and personal growth. He also learned how to balance a packed schedule between Marching Band, FCA, DECA, and the DHS lacrosse team, where he took pride in helping the team get the first program win in the 2024-2025 season. Lucas also got the opportunity in the summer of 2024 to be a part of the Atlanta CV All-Age Drum Corps, where he got to travel and perform at the Indianapolis Colts stadium. But out of all his accomplishments, he is most proud of his strong Christian faith and dedication to God. As he thinks back to all of his high school memories, his favorite is when he and the lacrosse team celebrated their last away game over dinner at Champyās, a time that was filled with celebration and food. This fall, Lucas will attend The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he will major in Business Entrepreneurship, because he was driven to have a major that is versatile and can be applied to many different fields in life. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Lucas and his achievements, and cannot wait to see him thrive in his next chapter!
Way to go Lucas!

Today weāre featuring Dalton Academy graduate Brisa Angeles!
During her time at The Dalton Academy, Brisa showed dedication and learned how to manage a packed schedule while still completing every task with her absolute best effort. She had an especially busy senior year, participating in flag football, soccer, and cheer while also serving as an active member of Student Council. Her dedication extended into the classroom, where, because of her intelligence and motivation, she graduated a year early with college credits. Because of her academic success, she was also involved in National Honor Society. While these achievements are spectacular, her favorite memory is attending prom in 2025, where she shared an amazing and memorable night with her closest friends. Now that Brisa has graduated, she plans to attend Dalton State College, where she will study child development. Dalton Public Schools is excited to see how she continues to grow her knowledge and leadership in this next chapter.
Way to go Brisa!

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Leah Cagle!
While Leah Cagle attended Dalton High School, she was very involved in both academics and athletics. She participated in varsity softball, tennis, Beta Club, and National Honor Society. One of her greatest achievements while participating in extracurriculars was winning region in tennis during her sophomore year. Leah is most proud, however, of how she used her high GPA and completed credits to begin a cosmetology dual enrollment program, allowing her to get a head start on her future career. One of Leahās favorite memories from her time at Dalton High was when her DHS Spanish class took a trip to Spain, which she described as an eye-opening experience that allowed her to see what she had learned in the classroom come to life. She will now attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College, where she will continue her path in the cosmetology program. Driven by a lifelong passion for helping others, Leah chose this field so she can help others feel more confident and beautiful in their own skin. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Leahās drive and heart, and we cannot wait to see her succeed in this next chapter.
Way to go Leah!

Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Jay Zhou!
While Jay Zhou attended Dalton High School, he demonstrated both athletic success and student leadership. Throughout his time at DHS, he dedicated his time to both band and the tennis team. Through his hard work, he accomplished many achievements, including being named Region Runner-Up and becoming an impressive four-time State Tennis Qualifier. Beyond his athletic achievements, Jay also showed excellent leadership within the school community, where he was elected as an officer for National Honor Society. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Jayās outstanding achievements and cannot wait to see the impact he makes in the future!
Way to go Jay!

Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School graduate Layla Smith!
During Layla Smithās time at Dalton High School, she showed a profound commitment to academic success and community involvement. Throughout her four years, Layla maintained straight Aās, earned recognition as an AP Scholar with Honor, and ranked within the top 10 of her graduating class. Aside from her academic schedule, she was a dedicated member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, Interact Club, Pep Club, and Dancersā Workshop. Looking back at her time at Dalton High, Laylaās favorite memories are the unforgettable moments she made with her best friends. Her motivation created the path to her biggest accomplishment: being accepted into her dream school. Layla will attend the University of Georgia to pursue a degree in psychology, driven by a genuine fascination with human nature. She chose to major in this field because she loves understanding the deeper reasons behind why people behave and think the way they do. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Laylaās outstanding achievements and cannot wait to see the incredible impact she makes in the future!
Way to go Layla!

recent graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton Academy graduate Jasmine Sanchez!
Jasmine Sanchez spent her time at The Dalton Academy dedicated to uplifting her community and pushing herself academically. She spent a lot of her senior year being a constant volunteer in her community service class directed by Mrs. Quick. As Jasmine reflects on her senior year, she is grateful for the opportunities she got to help others by volunteering at the events at Dalton Square Nursing Home. She is also proud of how she pushed herself to keep her GPA high and stay motivated all year long. Following graduation, Jasmine will be attending The Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology to pursue her passion for cosmetology and master all fields. We are incredibly proud of Jasmineās hard work and selflessness, and we cannot wait to see her shine in her future career!
Way to go Jasmine!
