Bhamidipati, Puderbaugh top senior students at Center Grove

<p>The final version of the speech Vinay Bhamidipati plans to give at Center Grove’s commencement has yet to be penned.</p><p>Nonetheless, Bhamidipati, the Class of 2020’s valedictorian with a 4.846 grade-point average, hints that his message to those in attendance will likely deal with the importance of optimism at a time when it’s never been more important.</p><p>Center Grove has scheduled graduation for 10 a.m. July 11 at the school’s football stadium. In all, 629 students will receive their diplomas, making it the largest class in school history.</p><p>Bhamidipati is the younger of Rao and Vidya Bhamidipati’s two sons. Center Grove’s salutatorian, Anna Puderbaugh, is the oldest of Chris and Cheri Puderbaugh’s two daughters.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>Both seniors have been inspired by their lone siblings.</p><p>Bhamidipati thinks about the countless wrestling matches he’s engaged in with older brother, Vivek, a 2016 Center Grove graduate, over the years. How they made him stronger, more resilient and willing to take on challenges that at one point might have seemed daunting.</p><p>“Thinking back on it, that’s probably one of the best things to happen to me,” said Bhamidipati, who is going to major in computer engineering at Purdue University. “You have to fight back against what’s pushing down on you.”</p><p>A decade has passed since Puderbaugh’s sister, Sara, 13, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This helped shape Puderbaugh’s interest in pursuing a medical career. </p><p>“I’ve always wanted to become a doctor. My younger sister was diagnosed (at age 3) with Type 1 diabetes,” said Puderbaugh, who carries a 4.81 GPA and will major in neuroscience with a pre-medicine track at the University of Kentucky. “I remember at the time checking out library books to read about it.</p><p>“I focused on my grades and never really pushed myself to become salutatorian. I feel my parents have taught me how to stay grounded in my faith and strive for excellence in whatever I do.”</p><p>Puderbaugh has been part of Center Grove schools since kindergarten; Bhamidipati joined the class as a fourth-grader.</p><p>He remembers how his journey to becoming valedictorian began.</p><p>“When I was an eighth-grader, there was an orientation at the high school. I was talking to my friends and some person I knew said, ‘You’re going to be valedictorian’,” said Bhamidipati, co-president of the Center Grove debate club the past three years and treasurer of the rotary club. “That sort of stuck with me my entire time in high school.</p><p>“I always had that in mind, to take whatever classes gave me the biggest challenge. I’ve always been more of a self-motivated kid.”</p><p>Among Puderbaugh’s extracurricular activities were serving as vice president of National Honor Society and being part of student government and HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America).</p><p>A total of 317 seniors will receive Core 40 with Academic Honors diplomas, and 25 will receive the Core 40 with Technical Honors diploma. The class of 2020 also includes Philip Golder, who has accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="The Bhamisipati File" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Name: Vinay Bhamidipati</p><p>School: Center Grove High School</p><p>Class ranking: Valedictorian</p><p>Age: 18</p><p>Parents: Rao and Vidya Bhamidipati</p><p>College plans: Major in computer science at Purdue University</p><p>Career goal: Become an entrepreneur and own a technology start-up</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="The Puderbaugh File " ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Name: Anna Puderbaugh</p><p>School: Center Grove High School</p><p>Class ranking: Salutatorian</p><p>Age: 18</p><p>Parents: Chris and Cheri Puderbaugh</p><p>College plans: Major in neuroscience (pre-med) at University of Kentucky</p><p>Career goal: Physician </p>[sc:pullout-text-end]