Samantha Casey (17), fiddler and vocalist of Samantha Casey & The Bluegrass Jam, graduated from Princeton High School in Princeton, NC on June 13, 2014 as valedictorian of her class.
Samantha plans to attend NC State University in Raleigh, NC in the fall.
Prescription Bluegrass requested a copy of Samantha's speech so that it could be reprinted here. We were told by her mother, Judy, that Samantha didn't have her speech written and "she spoke from the heart and did not read a speech"
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She spoke of being part of a very special community and living in the greatest country in the world founded on the principles of freedom. As a result, the students thus have the freedom to choose where they go from here. She challenged them to focus on the positive, be the best they can be at whatever they do, live their lives with the utmost integrity, reach their fullest potential, and never stop learning. When she spoke about being positive in challenging situations, she used one of her favorite quotes, 'Turn your face to the sun, and all the shadows fall behind you.' ”
Samantha will major in textile engineering to pursue medical textiles and has received a full ride to NC State University, earning three scholarships: The General Hugh Shelton Leadership Scholarship, The Centennial Scholarship, and The Galaxy Scholarship.
Samantha began fiddling at the age of 5 and has been performing since the age of 7. She made national news at the age of 11 when she won the 2007 National Oreo & Milk Jingle Contest with her bluegrass version of the cookie jingle.
She will continue playing music in college and already has her first NC State show scheduled for September.
For more information on Samantha Casey & The Bluegrass Jam, please visit: www.thebluegrassjam.com
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