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“Whenever I think of Springwood as a whole, I just think of my family, which makes leaving so much harder,” said Emily Jo Matthews, Springwood School’s 2025 Salutatorian.

Matthews has been a Wildcat her whole life. Her mother, Allyson Matthews went to Springwood as well, and will be taking over as head of school next year. Coincidentally, she will be the successor to Kim Plank, the step-mother of Brennan Plank, this year’s Valedictorian. 

“What’s been really special to me has been, of course, forming those connections. What’s special about Springwood is that you not only know the people in your class, but you pretty much know the whole school and your teachers very well,” Matthews said. 

The senior is heading to Samford University in the Fall. She said that the small Christian college reminded her of Springwood, making it hard to pass up. 

Matthews earned the title of Salutatorian not only because of her high GPA but also her involvement in the school. She is the Leo Club president, NHS and SGA vice president, captain of the soccer team and is on the basketball and track and field teams. Outside of school she stays busy as a junior ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce and various roles at her church. 

Matthews puts it more modestly, saying she is in “a few clubs.”

“Dr. Plank pulled me into her office after I had gotten done doing the morning announcements,” Matthews recalled being nervous she was in trouble when the headmaster called her into her office. “But I could tell she had good news.”

“I was really excited, mostly to tell my parents too, and when I told them, they were, of course, proud,” Matthews said. “I think that I’ve always looked to Brennan as someone who could help push me …be salutatorian, but have Brennan be the valedictorian is super special, because it does date back a long time.”

The pair have been classmates since before they could spell classmates. Both spoke of each other being the top of the class as a full circle moment. Plank’s story was featured in the Saturday, May 3 edition of the Valley Times-News. 

Matthews also credited her teachers for pushing her Salutatorian. 

“As far as academics go, my teachers have been very helpful and pushing me, but also caring about how well I’m doing. They’re intentional about asking how I am…I think it’s important to have to be surrounded by people who are like-minded, not only striving for academic excellence, but also in their faith,” she said. 

She highlighted a time this year. For the first time, Matthews was struggling in a class. She said [Amy] Camp, her Calculus teacher, spent extra time with her to make sure she not only got a good grade, but understood the subject. 

She also discussed the familial feeling of the school. She and Plank, who did the interview together, shot back and forth memories of incubating chickens and celebrating birthdays in Ms. Slade’s class, their second grade teacher. 

“She passed away a few years back, but we had the most special memories with her. She was always very loving,” Matthews said.

Another full circle moment was the senior retreat earlier this year. 

“We had a really fun time just bonding together…We spent quality time together at the end of the night, we all danced with our teachers, stayed up really late playing games,” Matthews said. “It was really special, because we truly got to connect and we set goals for this school year.”

As her final year at Springwood comes to an end, Matthews is taking stock of a lifetime of memories at the school. 

“I’m really excited. I, of course, have a mix of emotions because of how much Springwood means to me.”