By Thomas Sellers Jr.
“War Eagle” has been shouted in the Werner household for years
With matriarch of the home Judy being raised in Auburn, Ala., she natural developed a love for the University of Auburn and the school’s athletic programs.
But by this fall, Judy might have to swallow her pride and learn how to say, “Roll Tide,” because her daughter Noelle will be attending The University of Alabama.
The Munford High School Class of 2021 Salutatorian recently got the good news of her acceptance into the rival of Auburn sparking a family-friendly rivalry.
“My mom was not thrilled being raised up in Auburn,” Noelle recalled. “Neither was my brother Jase now that he lives there. My dad has been the only one to say, ‘Roll Tide,’ in our house.”
While Todd is already on board, the rest of the family will come around as Noelle will be a part of the Alabama ROTC Air Force program. Taking on academic challenges is nothing new to Werner achieving a 4.0 grade point average and scoring a 33 on the ACT.
Her hard work earned her the No. 2 ranking and a speech on May 21 during the Munford High School graduation.
“It’s very exciting and very humbling to be up here with such great classmates surrounding me,” she said. “The top 10 this year is a very great group and we all get along. We’re so eclectic. We’re all in different clubs and aspect of the school. We all just get along very well.”
Surrounded by high-achieving peers like Rebekah Callahan, Chase Millican, Wesley Bolton, Sophia Ayers, Kori Pilgrim, William Wallace, Kyle Bomar and Mikala Crump, Werner craved her own niche’ to reach success.
“I really tried to take it one day at a time,” she said. “Just trying to get through this class. I have to pass this test. I thought about long term every once in awhile but I tried to focus on what is going on right now. And that had really helped me through all the changes we’re going through right now.”
All the member of the Class of 2021 and the rest of the students had to adjust to pandemic protocols. With multiple changes in her daily routine, Werner said the familiarity of the MHS faculty, staff and administration helped her through her four-year journey.
“Mrs. Huffman really helped me through everything,” she recalled. “From freshman year on, I went to her with any question or any concerns. She was always open.
“I had Mr. Smith for three years,” she added. “He was my Academic Knowledge Team coach and I had him for multiple classes. He really introduced to Chemistry which is my planned major for college right now. He really opened the door for me on that. He made it always very interesting and kept it upbeat.”
Things are still upbeat in the Werner home. For one night in November when the Iron Bowl is played, lines will be drawn. But the rest of the time Todd and Judy will continue to support their daughter in her dreams.
“It would be my parents who are my biggest supporters,” she noted. “They always supported me whether if I wanted to try a new sport or do STEM when it came into choosing my focus area.
“That was a very difficult discussion in my house, which area would I go into once I leave high school,” Noelle added. “They supported me through all of that. They helped me select my classes to make sure I was prepared to succeed. Through all my studying they helped me get through it.”
Getting through challenges will be a part of Noelle’s and the Class of 2021’s legacy.
“I would say we’re a very strong group to have gotten through all of this and maintain our friendships,” she concluded. “I think it all has brought us all together.”
