Sylacauga High School has announced that the Class of 2025 Valedictorian is Catherine Price and the Salutatorian is Bayleigh Patterson.
Catherine Wilson Price is the daughter of Amy and Dale Price and has one sister, Lily Frances. She is the granddaughter of Vicki and Grant Shipley and the late Patricia and Roger Price.
Price will attend the University of Alabama, where she plans to major in nursing with a minor in political science. Following her undergraduate studies, she intends to pursue a graduate degree to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
She has been awarded the University of Alabama Prestige Scholarship, UA Competitive Housing Scholarship, Boys & Girls State Scholarship, 2025–2026 Alumni Scholar Award, Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union Scholarship, Lisa Baird Memorial Civitan Scholarship, Alumni Heritage Scholarship, Harry and Margaret Brown Scholarship, and the Freelancer Legacy Scholarship.
Among her honors, she was selected for the 82nd session of ALA Alabama Girls State and recognized as a member of the Leadership Sylacauga Class of 2025. As an accomplished athlete, Catherine became the first volleyball player in school history to be named to the 5A Alabama All-State Team and was recognized as the 2022 Talladega County Volleyball Player of the Year.
Price held multiple leadership roles throughout high school. She served in the Student Government Association as president, external vice president, and secretary, and was a five-year letterman and captain of the SHS varsity volleyball team. Her additional involvement includes the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Sister 4 Sister, HOSA–Future Health Professionals, Future Business Leaders of America, and vice president of Interclub Council. She also served as president of the Junior Scholastic Society.
Bayleigh Grace Patterson is the daughter of Kim Nix and Jonathan Patterson and the granddaughter of Brenda and John L. Durden and Paula and John Patterson.
Patterson will attend Southern Union State Community College, where she plans to major in nursing. After completing her associate degree, she intends to transfer to a university to continue her education with the goal of earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). She has been selected for Southern Union’s Presidential Honors Program and will serve as a peer tutor through the program.
She has earned the Southern Union Presidential Honors Scholarship, Southern Union Presidential Academic Scholarship, ALFA Foundation Scholarship, Energy Southeast Scholarship, Live Más Scholarship, Masie Knight Memorial Scholarship, Heritage South Credit Union Foundation Community Service Scholarship, and the ANANYA Award for Compassion.
Patterson participated in several academic and service organizations during high school. She was a member of Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Future Business Leaders of America, HOSA–Future Health Professionals, Student Government Association, Junior Scholastic Society, and the National Honor Society, where she served as treasurer. She was also chosen by school counselors to represent Sylacauga High School as an “Emerging Leader” at a statewide leadership conference hosted by Jacksonville State University. In addition, she earned certifications in Microsoft Office, CPR, AED, first aid, Be There, and financial literacy.
Sylacauga High School will hold graduation commencement on Tuesday, May 20, at 7:00 p.m. at Legion Stadium.
