After four years of academic achievement, leadership, and involvement across campus, Charlieze Ganges will graduate as the Bonner & Prendie’s 2026 valedictorian. We recently sat down with Charlieze to reflect on her high school experience, the supportive B&P community, and what she hopes to share in her graduation speech.
Why did you choose Bonner & Prendie?
I came from a public school district and was looking for a more structured school environment. When I shadowed a student here, I immediately felt like the community was really welcoming and supportive.
Do you have any other family members who attended Bonner & Prendie?
No — I’m actually the first one.
What has been your favorite part about being a student at Bonner & Prendie?
I really like the community here. The students support each other, and the teachers are always willing to help.
I also love how many opportunities there are to get involved. I’m part of 10 different activities, including Student Council, Student Ambassadors, theater, Hi-Q, yearbook, newspaper, and National Honor Society.
Freshman year, the club fair encouraged me to try things I never had experience with before. Some activities helped me explore creativity, while others gave me leadership opportunities and helped me become a more well-rounded person.
What has been your favorite class?
My favorite class was AP U.S. History with Mr. Martin Watson. He made learning about different historical periods really engaging.
Is there a teacher or staff member who had a big impact on you?
My current English teacher, Ms. Kaitlyn Rodgers has had a huge impact on me. She taught my sophomore literature class and now teaches my senior AP Literature class. She’s also the Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs.
She’s always positive, encouraging, and supportive of students, and that really made a difference in my experience at B&P.
What’s one of your favorite Bonner & Prendie memories?
One of my favorite memories was our sophomore-year AP U.S. Government trip to Washington, D.C.
We were able to explore the National Mall and monuments in our own groups, which made it really fun and memorable. At one point, someone in our group got lost, but we eventually found them. It turned into a great story.
What are you most excited about as the 2026 valedictorian?
I’m most excited to give my speech. One of the main reasons I wanted to become valedictorian was because I wanted the opportunity to speak at graduation.
The main theme of my speech is that it’s okay to ask for help. Throughout high school, especially during some difficult classes, I learned that asking for help is part of being successful. You don’t have to go through challenges alone.
What was the journey to becoming valedictorian like?
Freshman year, I didn’t really understand the ranking system. I was ranked No. 5 at the time, and by the end of sophomore year, I moved into the No. 1 spot.
For the next two years, I definitely felt pressure to maintain my GPA, especially in difficult classes like calculus. But I’m proud of how hard I worked to stay focused.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’ll be attending the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois to study civil engineering. After that, I hope to stay for graduate school and earn my master’s degree in architecture.
Looking back, what makes Bonner & Prendie special to you?
The teachers are a huge part of why I’ve been successful. So many of them stay after school to help students and genuinely care about our future.
That supportive community is what makes Bonner & Prendie special to me.