Love for science and math propels Triton Central Valedictorian to Franklin College

Triton Central High School Class of 2024 Valedictorian Kennedy Brown weighed her collegiate options but opted for an environment similar to the one she loves in Fairland.

Brown will attend Franklin College in the fall to study Computer Science.

“As a kid, I always knew I was interested in science and math. I was always around my house taking things apart, putting them back together,” said Brown. “I was always better at science and math so I knew I wanted to do something STEM-related.

“I wasn’t exactly sure what that would be until I got into high school. It was last year that I took a computer science class here (at Triton Central). It helped a lot with me realizing what I wanted to do. I picked it up very easily. I fell in love with it. That helped me make my decision.”

That and advice from her older brother, Triton Central Class of 2019 Valedictorian Jared Brown, who went on to study Computer Science at Ball State University in Muncie.

“He loves his job. I feel like I am following in his footsteps a little bit,” she said.

Where Brown veers from her brother’s track is opting for a smaller campus environment closer to home.

“Going here kind of made me realize the sense of community it brings being around people you know,” she explained. “Here, I felt like I knew everyone. Franklin College has that and it’s really close to home.

“So when I was first considering where I wanted to go – big or small, close or far – I just landed on close and small like this school is.”

Brown intends to live at home her freshman year before moving to campus to expand on her college experience.

“First year I am going to commute to save money,” she admitted. “My sophomore year, I plan to live on campus. I want that experience too.”

Brown was a four-year soccer player at Triton Central and played basketball for three seasons and track and field two seasons. She also was part of Sunshine Club and peer mentoring.

With the valedictorian honor, Brown was prepared to give a graduation speech and spent many hours working on just what to say.

“I had a few different ideas and kind of struggled putting my ideas together,” she said. “I changed it a lot. I worked on it for about two weeks before it was due. I ended up going past (the deadline) a little bit when it was actually due. I was still making tweaks. I practiced it over and over. My parents could probably repeat the speech to me.”

While expecting to be nervous on stage, Brown believes she was comforted by being well prepared.

“For some reason with this speech, I got up to the podium and just started reading and it came naturally,” she said. “I think part of it, I knew this was what I really wanted to say because I tweaked it so much and I read it over so much and I knew it was what I wanted to say to the class and the people in the stands.”

Now a month from graduation, Brown is still getting used to not having to travel to Triton Central’s campus on a regular basis.

“To me, it’s still kind of crazy not coming back here and sitting in a classroom anymore,” said Brown. “I am ready to move on. I am ready to try something new … try college but I am going to miss Triton Central.”

This is the fifth in a series of 10 feature stories by the Shelby County Post on Shelby County’s Class of 2024 valedictorians and salutatorians.