After achieving dream of being PCHS valedictorian, Hutcheson sets goal of making an impact in neurology
For Easton Hutcheson, years of hard work and dedication in the classroom culminated in one of the highest honors a student can achieve as he was named valedictorian of the Phil Campbell High School Class of 2026.
The son of Whitney Hutcheson, an educator at Phil Campbell Elementary, and Burt Hutcheson, an employee at TVA, Easton has attended Phil Campbell his entire life. And for as long as he’s been a Bobcat it’s been his aspiration to walk across the graduation stage at the top of his class.
“Being valedictorian is truly an honor,” he said.
“Since I was a younger child it’s been a dream of mine to be the valedictorian. It’s been a goal of mine my whole life,” he added.
That’s a bit of a theme in the Hutcheson household. If you know the Hutcheson family, you might know that Easton’s older sister, Emma, was salutatorian of the PCHS Class of 2023. A bit of sibling rivalry is always good for a little added motivation, and knowing where Emma placed, Easton said he wanted to top her.
“Being valedictorian was a big goal of my sister, Emma, too. Seeing her get salutatorian, it kind of pushed me even harder to try to beat her and get first,” he said.
Easton wasn’t gloating, though. Humble in his achievement, he thanked his family for helping him accomplish his dream.
“This has always been one of my life-long goals and reaching it means a lot to me. My parents and my whole family have always been so supportive. And I think for my parents, them having a salutatorian and a valedictorian, it’s made them very proud,” Hutcheson said.
One life goal achieved, Hutcheson, recipient of UAB’s Presidential Merit Scholarship and Enrollment Management Scholarship and who will be attending the Birmingham-based university this fall, is setting out to reach his next one: a career in the field of neuroscience. Hutcheson said he’s always been intrigued by a career in medicine, but events close to home have driven him to consider neurology as a specialization.
“In my four years (at UAB) I hope to get some clinical exposure and job shadowing and volunteer hours and then hopefully go to medical school after that,” he said.
“I’ve always been interested in becoming some sort of doctor, but more recently, just seeing the impact of neurological diseases in my family and in my friends’ family, that’s pushed me to look into a career in that,” he added. “It’s been interesting to me, and I just want to hopefully make an impact some day in peoples’ lives.”
We can all look forward to Hutcheson’s future impact in the world of medicine, but in his conversation with the FFP Hutcheson also looked back at the impact Phil Campbell High School and its people have made on him, both as a student and a person.
In addition to his parents and family, Hutcheson said PCHS principal Bart Moss has played a large role in his academic career.
“He’s real big on academic success and he gave incentives for good grades and high ACT scores,” he said of Moss. “He’s really pushed me and helped me to succeed in my academics.”
High school has also aided Hutcheson in breaking out of his shell. His favorite memories from Phil Campbell, he said, will always be hanging out with his fellow students in the student section during home football games—this past season’s barnburner against rival Red Bay being especially memorable. And as he got older, he became more involved in extracurriculars like Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior Leadership, Yearbook Staff, Student Impact Ministry, Giving Club, and the golf team.
If there’s one last message Hutcheson could leave for PCHS students coming up behind him it’s to get involved and open up.
“Get out of your comfort zone,” he said. “For a long time I was—and I still kinda am—an introvert and it limited me so much. But these last couple of years I’ve gotten more involved in clubs and Junior Leadership and making more connections. It really helps to get out of your comfort zone. You can do so much more when you just step out.”