Valedictorian Inspired By Butler High School Teammates

Senior Michael McConville, 18, blushed when asked how good his grades were throughout high school. As a top achiever in his class, his smile revealed the answer.

But his high school career did not fly by without challenges.

"It was just a lot of work and a lot of late nights," McConville said.

The hard work paid off and McConville was named the Butler High School Class of 2012 valedictorian. As such, he will be delivering a speech to his fellow classmates, family members and friends during the high school's commencement ceremony Monday.

McConville, who will be taking prerequisite courses for medical school at Duke University in the fall, played soccer, baseball and basketball for Butler High School and in 2011, was

He was also by the for being awarded a National Merit Scholarship, along with the 2012 salutatorian Min Chen. In addition to participating in sports throughout high school, McConville was active in the PEER Club, in which he helped younger students become accustomed to high school.

McConville said junior year was his toughest, with an increase in workload on top of the pressures of preparing for choosing a college. But his teammates became like a family to him and helped motivate him, he said.

"Playing soccer, I got to know a lot of the upper classmen," he said. "I had people I could turn to with questions."

In fact, being a part of so many teams and organizations helped him learn self-discipline and time management.

"It wasn't even that hard to get through, just because everyone was so close together," he said.

Sports truly helped shape McConville's high school career and even his favorite memories involved sports. Sophmore year, McConville said his baseball team made it to the championship level. For a week, the teammates were able to leave school early to go to games, and though the team ultimately lost, McConville said each day brought new excitement.

"It's never been more fun to be part of a team," he said.

McConville will speak about the future during his speech Monday night, but offered some words of advice for incoming Butler High School students as well.

"Put yourself out there because the more opportunities and risks that you take, the better the chance you have to succeed," he said.