Valedictorian, salutatorian run neck and neck

HARLINGEN — Every vote counts, right? That’s what we always hear at election time.

The same can be said of school work. Every grade counts, every assignment, every class attendance. The proof of this principle rings loud and true this year at Harlingen High School, where Alec McManus’ GPA of 4.71 earned him the place of valedictorian.

Running a very close second is Cole Charvat’s average of 4.7002, which made him salutatorian.

Close call, maybe, but both young men seem to be taking it all in stride — albeit with a great deal of pride.

“It just kind of happened, to be very honest,” said Cole, 18. “My freshman year they told me I was number five or something like that.”

Alec, 18, is also pretty proud of his accomplishment. His long evenings of sports, livestock show and studying have paid off.

“It’s something I have been going for all four years of high school,” Alec said.

Taking the top spot in high school seems to be a tradition. Two years ago Alec’s brother Justin also graduated as his class’s valedictorian. And like his brother — and his father and grandfather — Alec plans to attend Texas A&M University at College Station.

While Justin is studying agriculture, Alec is heading toward a career in chemical engineering like his father Brian.

“I’ve always been interested in math and science,” Alec said. “I’ve always been interested in engineering.”

He thanks all his teachers and administrators for directing him toward this goal, but he made special mention of Samantha Ortega, Advanced Placement chemistry teacher.

“She was always caring, very supportive,” he said.

Alec and Cole, curiously, weren’t in any kind of a dead heat for the top position. They played soccer together when they were little, but they attended separate middle schools. These days they know each other only casually. That said, they were both just trying to pull the best grades they could with the obvious result.

Cole considered for a moment his work and the results.

“It’s a great honor, all the minutes and hours of study paid off,” he said.

There was a time when his intense dedication got the better of him.

“I feel like I was a little too much OCD (obsessive-compulsive) with my work,” he said. “It was stressing me out. I was trying too hard. I didn’t really relax until my junior year.”

Curiously, his grades improved once he slowed down a little.

He plans to study business at the University of Oklahoma.

“I’ve always been a people person and I like to get out and get involved,” he said.