Verbena High School
Parents: Mark and Jane Cleckler
What activities and organizations are you involved in?
Mattie Cleckler: I’m currently president of Beta Club; DeVena Staff, and I’m currently the editor; cheerleading; softball. I was head in cheerleading. I’m valedictorian.
What honors have you received?
MC: All A’s.
Cleckler also received the Counselor’s Scholarship to Jefferson State Community College.
What are your plans after graduation?
MC: To attend Jeff State, and I would like to get my basics there and my nursing degree down. After I get a nursing degree, I would like to be a med tech. My main one is an ultrasound technician. That’s what I want to do. They do the background work instead of what everybody sees up front.
Do you have a favorite memory from high school?
MC: My favorite thing out of everything is cheering on Friday nights. That’s like the biggest thing I look forward to during football season was Friday nights, and homecoming week at Verbena is always the same traditions. It’s always the same. You have homecoming days. The homecoming we did was my biggest thing looking forward to.
Who are your mentors?
MC: Basically my parents. My parents have always been there for me. The teachers here at Verbena, they’ve played a big role. They’ve always pushed me, like, a little more than I thought I could go. And my grandparents. They live in Clanton, and my grandma, she used to teach for Verbena for over 30 years.
What advice would you give to younger students?
MC: Just to embrace what you have now, because time does fly by so fast. People always told me, you know, you better hold onto this moment or take time with what you have, and I just thought they were crazy, but it really does fly by. I have 2 1/2 weeks left to be a senior at VHS, and it’s going to be over with.