Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The valedictorian and salutatorian of Dallas County High School are among several seniors at the school who are leaving with their diploma and a degree.

Makayla Muse, the DCHS valedictorian, has already earned her associate of science degree and plans to go to the University of Alabama-Birmingham to study biology. Her goal is to be a pediatrician.

“I really love children,” Muse said. “I just finished my internship as a (teacher assistant), and I love being around kids.”

Joshua Davis III, the Dallas County High School salutatorian, said he wants to study computer engineering at Faulkner University.

“I already received my associates degree in electrical from Wallace,” Davis said. “I want to transfer that over to computer engineering. I love robotics. I took it as an elective, and I really enjoyed it.”

Davis will also be playing basketball at Faulkner University. He was recruited as a point guard.

“It’s a big jump from high school to college,” Davis said. “I’m a little nervous because of the transition. The speed of the game is different, but I am also confident and excited because I get to continue my basketball career.”

Muse said being valedictorian was something she set her mind to do early on.

“Back in the sixth grade, I told myself that I wanted to be the valedictorian,” Muse said. “My best friend (Shareena Braxton) was a member of the Class of 2021 and she was the valedictorian. I told myself that I wanted to be the valedictorian. And I did it.”