Mr. and Miss DeKalb County High School for 2023-24 were announced last Thursday with Seniors Conner Close and Abby Cross named with the honors.  Close is the 17-year-old son of Richard and Gina Close, while 17-year-old Cross is the daughter of Tony and Shelly Cross.

“How this comes about is the teachers all nominate students, girls and boys, for the honor and then the whole school votes for Mr. and Miss DCHS,” Cross explained.

“To me it’s a big honor. I want to thank all the students for voting for me and Abby,” said Close.

Both Close and Cross have excelled inside and outside the classroom and they are enjoying their high school experience. “I love it. I have made a lot of friends and made a lot of memories with my buddies. I have got to participate in a lot of things,” said Close.

Close is a member of the DCHS basketball team, as well as the FBLA club. He also participates in some of the FFA club activities.

Cross is a football manager and is a member of the FBLA, Beta, Science and Spanish Clubs, along with the Service Society.

Close said he would like to go on to college after high school and perhaps continue playing basketball. “I would like to attend college, probably Tennessee Tech, and maybe even have an opportunity to go play basketball somewhere if I don’t go to Tech. I would probably like to get into the agriculture field or maybe somewhere in the engineering field.”

Cross said she wants to further her education at Tennessee Tech University and get accepted into the nursing program.