CAK ’19 ‘val, sal’ profiled

The Class of 2019 at Christian Academy of Knoxville high school has announced its class valedictorian, Sam Klauer, and salutatorian, Cole McDaniel. 

Klauer is a scholar-athlete “who has accomplished much” during his time at CAK, according to a school press release. As a National Merit Finalist, Klauer has achieved the highest academic average in many courses at CAK including Honors Spanish III and IV, AP English III, AP statistics, AP psychology, Honors biology and Honors algebra II, while receiving the Outstanding Student Award in several others, such as AP calculus BC and AP chemistry.

He is a National Spanish Exam Silver medalist in both Spanish III and Spanish IV; a member of the National Honor Society and the National English Honor Society; achieved “Excellent” marks from the ACSI Creative Writing Festival and was a finalist in the Optimist’s Club Essay Contest.

Klauer also is a four-year varsity letterman, captain and All-district player on the CAK soccer team.

He is planning to attend the California Institute of Technology to study applied mathematics and aerospace, where he also will play collegiate soccer.

McDaniel also strongly excels in academics and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. He sets a strong Christian witness example as Student Senate chaplain and a member of the Worship Band.

McDaniel also is a student-athlete who contributed to his team’s tennis state championship, and founded the school’s bowling club.

He is planning to attend Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia, where he will major in finance.