One is headed to UCLA, the other to The University of Texas at Austin. Both of Fairfield High School’s top students have plans to go into science fields. They are Valedictorian Lydia Grace Morgan and Salutatorian Preston Davis Scott.
Valedictorian
Lydia is the daughter of Chad and Angela Morgan and is sister to Nate and Luke Morgan.
She graduates FHS Class of 2025 with a 5.65 GPA.
Lydia’s thoughts on being named this year’s Valedictorian: “Being named valedictorian for the FHS Class of 2025 is both an honor and a humbling experience. It represents years of dedication, late nights and weekends studying, and a commitment to learning that goes beyond grades. To me, this achievement isn’t just about academic success, it’s about the journey of growth I’ve experienced. It means I’ve challenged myself consistently and persevered through difficult courses and assignments. Most importantly, it reminds me of all the support I’ve received from my teachers, family, and peers who believed in me even when I doubted myself. I share this recognition with everyone who has been part of my educational journey.”
During her career at Fairfield High School, Lydia served as Section Leader in the Grand Band from Eagleland from grades 9-12, participated in UIL Band Ensemble 10-12 grades, JV Volleyball 9-10 grades, UIL Academics Science 9-12 grades (Literary Criticism 9-12 grades, and Math 12th grade), and Varsity Tennis 10-12 grade.
In addition to earning the title of Valedictorian, she also had the privilege of being:
-Student of the Year – Honors Biology, 2022
-Student of the Year – Pre-AP Chemistry, 2023
-Student of the Year – AP Chemistry, 2024
-Student of the Year – Dual Credit Biology 2025
-Student of the Year – Dual Credit English 2025
-Student of the Year – Persona Financial Literacy 2025
-Top Scorer in Chemistry at Regional U.I.L. Science Competition, 2023
-Third Overall at Regional U.I.L. Science Competition and Advanced to State, 2023
-Fourth Overall at Regional U.I.L. Science Competition, 2024
-Fifth Overall at Regional U.I.L. Literary Criticism Competition, 2024
-First Place Overall at District U.I.L. Science Competition 2025, Third Place Overall at Regional U.I.L. Science Competition 2025; State Qualifier U.I.L. Science Competition May 19, 2025; Second Place Overall at District U.I.L. Literary Criticism Competition 2025; Fourth Place Overall at Regional U.I.L. Literary Criticism Competition 2025
-ACT Superscore – 36 Composite, 34 Math, 36 Science, 36 Reading, 36 English
-SAT Superscore – 1550 Composite, 760 Reading and English, 790 Math
-AP Scholar
-National Merit Scholar Commended
-National Rural and Small Town Recognized Student
-Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Student of the Year 2025.
Hobbies include reading, pickle ball, tennis, swimming, studying, and watching movies.
“To my underclassmen at FHS: Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and step outside your comfort zone. High school isn’t just about perfect grades, it’s about discovering who you are and what you’re passionate about. Get involved in activities that excite you, even if your friends aren’t doing it. Build authentic relationships with your teachers; they want to see you succeed and have so much wisdom to share. Remember that it’s okay to ask for help. Finally, be kind to yourself and others, the positive impact you have on your peers and community matters just as much as any academic achievement. Your time at Fairfield will fly by faster than you can imagine, so make the most of every opportunity while staying true to yourself.”
A favorite teacher at FHS was Ms. Katie Wade. “My role model is Ms. Katie Wade, my AP Physics and Honors Biology teacher. What sets Ms. Wade apart is her remarkable dedication to her students and her passion for science. From the first day in her classroom, she challenged me intellectually in ways no other teacher had before. She never accepted anything less than my best effort, and somehow always knew when I had more to give even when I thought I’d reached my limit. Beyond academics, she taught me that perseverance through difficult problems builds character and confidence. Her unwavering belief in my abilities, especially during moments when I doubted myself, helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had. Ms. Wade’s influence extends far beyond physics and biology — she’s shaped how I approach challenges and shown me what it means to pursue excellence while helping others along the way.”
What she appreciated most about Fairfield High School was: “Being a Fairfield Eagle has been a journey of both challenges and growth.
While I’ve cherished my time at FHS, I’ve also learned to push beyond expectations and create my own definition of success. Our school, like any other, has its strengths and limitations. Throughout my years here, I’ve witnessed how easy it can be to settle for the status quo, but I’ve chosen a different path; one that demanded more from myself even when it wasn’t required. What I value most from my time as an Eagle is learning to create opportunities where they didn’t exist and finding like-minded peers and teachers who shared my drive for excellence. I’m grateful for the foundation FHS has provided, but I’m equally proud of the times I’ve stretched beyond those boundaries to reach for higher standards. As I graduate, I carry with me not just the Eagle name, but the determination to soar higher than what’s expected and to never accept mediocrity in myself or my endeavors.”
Lydia plans to attend UCLA. She intends to study Neuroscience to better understand human behavior and thought processes.
Salutatorian
Preston is the son of Jason and Rachel Scott, is brother to Catherine Taylor, Christoper and Lauren Scott, and grandson of Larry and Carolyn Williams.
He graduates the Class of 2025 with a 5.37 GPA.
During his high school years, Preston was active in Computer Applications UIL, Computer Science UIL, Spelling & Vocabulary UIL, Accounting UIL, UIL ILPC, Drama Club Tech Crew, Varsity Tennis, Powerlifting, Beta Club President, Interact Club President, and Student Council Representative.
His advice to underclassmen is a quote from Taylor Swift, “If you’re lucky enough to be different, never change.”
Preston received an ecoNRG Environmental Scholarship and a Dallas Scottish Rite Scholarship.
“I will attend The University of Texas at Austin in the fall and have been accepted to conduct research in the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI),” explains Prestin. “I plan to major in Mathematics and minor in Statistics & Data Science. I hope to pursue a career as a data scientist or machine learning engineer.”
Graduation
Fairfield High School commencement will be held Friday, May 23, 2025, at Eagle Field beginning at 8:00 p.m.
(Photo by Natalia V. Marsters)
