At the time of the interview, nobody knew yet. Not Alex Reames, not Louella Lumbley, not even school counselor Dr. Jeffrey Dufour. The final grades hadn't been entered. Valedictorian and salutatorian at Joppa High School would be decided the following Wednesday.

Neither student seemed particularly stressed about it.

"They both worked really hard," Dufour said. "This is just a stepping stone for them."

Just before we went to press, we learned that Alex had emerged as the Valedictorian and Louella was named Salutatorian. Both amazing achievements.

Alex is heading to the University of Kentucky's engineering program on West Kentucky's campus in Paducah — close enough to home to be practical, strong enough academically to matter. Mechanical engineering. When asked what he sees himself doing with it someday, his answer was direct.

"Maybe someday I can make something in production faster," he said. "Make it cheaper. Make good money."

No idealism. No script. Just a kid who has always liked working on stuff — "monkeying around," as he put it — and figured out that engineering is where that instinct leads.

He's already positioned himself well. Through honors coursework and dual credit with Shawnee Community College, Alex has completed most of his college prerequisites before graduating high school. He'll leave Joppa with a degree from Shawnee in hand.

He's also an Eagle Scout — earned at the beginning of freshman year. The final requirements included a 15-mile hike and a 20-mile hike, both completed with Dufour, who was then serving as the school's principal. On one of those hikes, Alex spotted a copperhead on the trail.

"Watch out, there's a copperhead," he told Dufour.

"Oh yeah, there is one," Dufour confirmed.

They kept walking. That's the kind of relationship small schools produce — a counselor who hiked with you in the woods, dodged a snake with you, and is still in the building when you need him four years later.

When asked who shaped him most, Alex started with his parents. "It's kind of obvious," he said. "They've helped me from before I could even walk."

Then he named Chris McGinness, a long time school board member — a man who started as his dad's boss, managed Fort Massac and other state parks, and became something more over the years. Alex calls him his adopted dad or granddad. McGinnis took him hunting, taught him things no classroom covers, and remains a phone call away.

"I could call him right now and tell him I need something," Alex said, "and he'd help me out."

Alex's mother Stacey Reames is currently on the Board as well and serves as the Secretary. He also named Chad, his dad's friend since high school, another man who took him out, showed him the woods, and invested time without being asked to.

Louella's path points in a different direction — nursing, with plans to continue her education as her career develops. When asked how she wants to make a difference, she didn't reach for anything grand.

"Pursuing nursing will help me to be able to get to know people," she said, "and be able to find different ways to help them. With whatever maybe their needs are."

She's an Illinois State Scholar — news that arrived in the fall, shortly after longtime counselor Penny Bellamy retired. Bellamy came back to see Louella when the recognition was announced. That kind of thing doesn't happen at every school.

Dufour, who shadowed Bellamy in the fall before taking over, credits her with much of the groundwork.

"She's made a lasting impact on their lives," he said.

And both students know they can still pick up the phone. Bellamy's number still works. So does Dufour's.

"In a smaller district, they know they can always get hold of somebody," Dufour said.

What Joppa gave them, in their own words, was different for each. Louella pointed to relationships — the closeness that comes from playing every sport, joining every club, and spending four years with the same small group of people.

"We as a school, and especially in sports, we are very close to each other," she said. "Really good friends."

Alex pointed to access. Small class sizes. More opportunities. More attention. More room to pursue advanced coursework without getting lost.

"It gives me more opportunities," he said.

This summer, Alex is mowing yards with his own zero-turn mower. Louella is planning a cross-country road trip — no fixed destination, just the road and whatever's out there.

Two seniors standing at the top of their class at a small school in Southern Illinois. One heading toward engines and production lines. The other toward patients and hospital floors. Both carrying something Joppa gave them that doesn't show up on a transcript: people who know their names, answer their calls, and hiked with them through copperhead country.