Being both a mother and student can be a difficult task to accomplish. However, Phil Campbell High School Valedictorian Taylor Pace was not only both of these, but also became the top student of her class.
“I did not want to be one of those teen moms that dropped out of school,” said Pace.
Pace has a two-year-old daughter named Lacey Benford. Pace shared that she would have not been able to be a good student and mom without help from her parents, Dalana Baker and Kevin Pace.
Pace also has two brothers, Cole and Kyle Pace. Her grandparents are Ralton and Carolyn Baker and Danny and Sandra Pace. She attends Cornerstone Fellowship Church with her family.
Before she moved to PCHS in the 9th grade, Pace attended East Franklin Jr. High. While at PCHS, Pace has been a member of FCCLA, FBLA, 4-H, National Honor Society, Student Council, Junior Civitan and Math Team. She also served as Reporter for Student Council, and played basketball for her school. One of her favorite memories is actually from basketball season.
“I enjoyed playing at Wallace State Community College my senior year,” said Pace, who put up 27 points and 14 rebounds in the Lady Bobcats’ regional semifinal game in Hanceville against Cold Springs. “It was the first time we were able to do that in 9 years. Our new coach, Craig Thomas, helped us a lot. He motivated us to go farther.”
During her senior year, Pace won many awards such as Homecoming Queen, Dream Girl Queen, Dream Girl Highest GPA and Who’s Who Most Intelligent. She also received several scholarships including UNA Vanguard Scholarship, “There’s a Way Scholarship” and Arturo Meneses Memorial Scholarship.
Pace plans to attend the University of North Alabama and major in Nursing.
“I decided to become a nurse after I had Lacey at 15,” said Pace. “I remember how big of a miracle it was, and I would like to work in labor and delivery or something with babies.”
Pace will graduate with her fellow classmates on Friday, May 22 at 6 p.m.
