Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a series of feature stories celebrating the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians at the five high schools in Shelby County.
Aiden Alton was in fifth grade at Loper Elementary School when a teacher sat him down and opened his eyes.
Andy Snow was the teacher of the class of advanced students in fifth grade. He had a meeting with Alton about his recent test scores.
“He is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had,” said Alton. “He said (my test scores) were exceptional. I didn’t really think anything of it because I didn’t study and didn’t really care at all.”
That moment pushed Alton into accepting a more challenging workload.
“That’s when I got to middle school and figured I would start taking harder classes,” said Alton. “From there, I just kept going and challenging myself with the hardest classes I could find.”
Years later, Alton closed out his Shelbyville education as the Class of 2026 Salutatorian. Now he will accept his next challenge as a Biological Sciences major at the University of Notre Dame.
Alton applied early to Notre Dame without the expectation of being accepted. He had backup applications at Indiana, Purdue and Butler, but Notre Dame eliminated those schools as destinations for someone interested in attending medical school.
“The academic prestige will look good on my resume,” said Alton. “What really sealed the deal for me, starting this fall households with under $150,000 annual income doesn’t have to pay tuition.”
The Pathways to Notre Dame initiative debuts this fall allowing families to receive need-based financial aid that covers the cost of tuition. That does not clear the entire financial burden to Alton, but he is at a financial amount that can be managed.
As part of his preparation to move on campus in South Bend, Alton attended a rally where he learned more about the school and its offerings.
“I truly got to know the community and the people that might be my friends in the future, some incoming first years,” explained Alton.
He is looking forward to attending Notre Dame football games and being active on campus in events offered for students.
“There is no Greek life at Notre Dame,” he said. “Individual residence halls and dormitories become closer, more fraternal. I am looking forward to that community and making new friends.”
Alton played tennis all four years while at Shelbyville and was on several academic teams and a member of National Honor Society. He is the son of Cory Harris and Brittany Andolz.
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