Cayden Wells named Salutatorian for Vicksburg High School Class of 2026

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — 

What began as a challenging academic journey ended with one of the highest honors a student can achieve for Vicksburg High School graduate Cayden Wells.

Just days before graduation, Wells learned she had been selected as the Class of 2026 salutatorian when Principal Lampkin and Assistant Principal Vaughn surprised her with the news.

“It wasn’t something I was expecting, but it’s a shocking blessing,” Wells said. “I took a lot of high enrollment classes, honors classes and dual enrollment, so that helped me out a lot.”

Wells earned the distinction through years of hard work and involvement both inside and outside the classroom. During her time at VHS, she served as Student Body President, Key Club President and vice president of the National Technical Honor Society. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and several other organizations.

While her academic accomplishments stand out, Wells said some of her favorite high school memories came from the relationships she built with teachers and classmates. She particularly remembers the fun moments shared in ninth-grade classes taught by Mr. Clark and Mr. Dillard.

Wells said her junior high years were not her strongest academically, but she made a conscious decision to take her education more seriously once she entered high school. That commitment ultimately propelled her to graduate second in her class.

Her story became a source of inspiration during her salutatorian address, where she encouraged her classmates to continue striving for success regardless of where they began.

“Where you start is not always determined where you will finish,” she said.

Now a Vicksburg High graduate, Wells plans to attend Tougaloo College, where she will major in political science and minor in pre-law. Her goal is to become a lawyer.

Wells is the daughter of Corey Wells and Juan Wells(Kevin Chambers).