As the school year comes to a close, Norcross High School has announced their Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian and shared news about another graduating senior who has been accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Kylie Dommert, valedictorian
This year’s NHS valedictorian, Kylie Dommert, is an outstanding student, recognized for her academic achievements and dedication throughout her high school career.
An IB Full Diploma candidate, Dommert is also a varsity athlete in both cross country and track & field and served as captain of the school’s Odyssey of the Mind team.
She participated in the problem-solving extracurricular for the past nine years — devoting 500 hours annually — and led her team to five first-place wins at the World Finals.
After graduation, Dommert plans to major in psychology or neuroscience at Northwestern University with the long-term goal of becoming a sports psychologist or child psychologist.
Sonia Knauff, salutatorian
Earning the title of salutatorian is Sonia Knauff, whose academic achievements and commitment to excellence have also set a remarkable example for her peers.
A member of the National Honors Society, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and chorus, Knauff has been a well-rounded student throughout high school. In addition to academic success, she was also on the school’s swim and dive teams, played on the water polo team, and was active in Best Buddies International and the Film and Music Analysis club.
Outside of school, Knauff is a competitive pianist and works as a swim coach, lifeguard and piano teacher.
After graduation, she plans to study architecture at Georgia Tech.
Sean Balderas, NHS graduate accepted to USNA
In addition to the valedictorian and salutatorian announcement, NHS is celebrating another of their students, Sean Balderas, who will be attending the U.S. Naval Academy after graduation.
Balderas has wanted to go to the Naval Academy since he was in middle school “when he visited there with his dad, who is a ’97 USNA graduate,” shared Sean’s mother, Eileen. “He was drawn to the idea of serving his country in the military and hoped he could get an appointment; it was his first choice for college.”
With that goal in mind, Balderas met with his local Blue & Gold officer, Joe Stark, as well as local people with ties to the Naval Academy, early in his high school years. Based on their advice to take the most challenging academic classes offered, he chose to pursue the IB Diploma program at NHS.
Balderas also made time for athletics and extracurriculars in high school. He ran cross country and track, was part of the Best Buddies club, served as co-president of the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and was on the Gwinnett Student Leadership team. Through the team, he was chosen (as one of three students) to represent the school at monthly leadership trainings, then bring those lessons back to Norcross’s NSLT.
In the community, Balderas is an active participant in Peachtree Corners Baptist Church‘s youth group and has served many hours with various charities — his favorite being Fully Furnished Ministries, delivering furniture to those in need. He has also worked at Chick-fil-A for almost three years.
Balderas hopes to become a naval aviator, but is open to wherever the Navy leads him. He reports to campus for “I- Day” (Induction Day) on June 26, where he will begin his seven-week “Plebe Summer,” which is similar to boot camp. He will then serve in the Navy or Marines for a minimum of five years after graduating college.
We join Norcross High School in congratulating these students on their exceptional accomplishments and wish them continued success in all their future endeavors.
