Lauren Gilstrap, Marshall High School's 2002 valedictorian, was recently accepted to Harvard Medical School where she will begin her studies in August.

"I'm excited about going halfway across the country," the 22-year-old daughter of Rodney and Sherry Gilstrap said.

While at medical school, she hopes to do health care policy research as well.

"Well-known professors in the country work at the (John F.) Kennedy School of Government (at Harvard)," Ms. Gilstrap said.

Ms. Gilstrap was one of 165 accepted to the medical school out of more than 8,000 applicants.