Three Valedictorians, One Shared Commitment to Excellence at UMO
March 23, 2026
Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations
MOUNT OLIVE – Three students. Three different paths. One shared distinction. Riley Wynne, Cristina Diaz Alcala, and Austin Williams each graduated as valedictorians of their high school class before continuing their academic journeys at the University of Mount Olive (UMO). Their stories begin in small communities across North Carolina and are continuing on the UMO campus, where they are building what comes next.
Austin Williams, from Liberty, NC graduated from Providence Grove High School in Climax. Raised on his family’s beef cattle farm, he said being named valedictorian was a special recognition of the work he had invested in his education. “It was an honor,” he said. “It felt really special to be recognized for the hard work and effort I put into my education.”
Williams, a veterinary bioscience major, chose UMO because of its small-school atmosphere and the encouragement he received from faculty, including Dr. Jason Davis, who visited his high school through UMO’s dual enrollment program. Having already completed 60 hours of college credit in high school, Williams said his transition to UMO was gradual, though college has still challenged him to sharpen his time management skills.
“My classes have taught me the importance of effective time management,” he said. “To be able to participate in all the activities I am involved in, I have to think through how I spend my time and make sure I use it as efficiently as possible.”
Now involved in the Animal Science Club, Ducks Unlimited, and the Dairy Challenge team, Williams is already building hands-on experience to support his future goals. He hopes to attend veterinary school and become a food animal veterinarian serving rural communities, offering reliable and affordable care to producers like those he has known all his life.
Cristina Diaz Alcala of Albertson is a graduate of Duplin Early College High School. As a high school student, she also earned her associate in science degree and a certificate in business administration entrepreneurship.
Diaz Alcala’s rise to the top of her class was not driven by competition as much as by consistency. “Being named Valedictorian did not mean that I was better than the rest. Rather, it meant that through hard work and dedication, I was able to overcome challenges and prove to myself that consistency and discipline truly pay off,” she said.
Now a UMO marketing major, Diaz Alcala said UMO’s affordability, close proximity to home, and welcoming environment made it the right choice. As a commuter student, she values being able to remain close to her family, her pets, and her church while still pursuing her education.
Diaz Alcala’s says her collegiate experience has been both rewarding and challenging. Courses like Managerial Accounting and Principles of Macroeconomics have tested her patience and stretched her academically, but she views those experiences as part of her growth. She is also beginning to explore ways to become more involved on campus while balancing her responsibilities at home.
Looking ahead, Diaz Alcala’s hopes to complete her degree, possibly earn a master’s, and build a successful career in marketing. One day, she plans to launch her own agency, helping organizations promote products, services, and events in ways that leave a lasting impact.
Riley Wynne of Williamston graduated from NERSBA Early College. Raised on a farm and heavily involved in 4-H livestock showing, Wynne said her years of working with cattle and sheep helped shape both her work ethic and her future goals. “Being named valedictorian is one of the greatest honors I have ever received because it represents the years of hard work, discipline, and commitment I have spent working toward my goals and my future,” she said.
Wynne, an animal science major, chose UMO for its strong agriculture program, hands-on learning opportunities, and faith-based mission. She said the University’s emphasis on both personal and spiritual growth confirmed it was the right place for her. She has already gained practical experience through her coursework, work at Cherry Research Station’s dairy unit, and involvement in events like the UMO Livestock Exposition.
Her first collegiate year has been a period of both challenge and growth. Living away from home has required adjustment, and college coursework has demanded stronger time management and increased independence. Still, Wynne said she has embraced the experience and found encouragement from professors, classmates, and the campus community.
Wynne plans to pursue a career in livestock production, first working within an established operation before eventually owning and managing a farm of her own.
Though their stories differ, the three students are linked by more than their valedictorian titles. They are united by a mindset that values discipline over recognition. None of the three speaks of success in boastful terms. Instead, they describe it as growth and staying focused on long-term goals. Together, Cristina Diaz Alcala, Austin Williams, and Riley Wynne represent a promising class of students whose achievements began before they arrived in Mount Olive, but whose stories are still just beginning.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
