The Eagle’s Taya Cowley named 2025 Valedictorian

Earlier this spring, USU Eastern announced that Taya Cowley was named the Class of 2025 Valedictorian, an accomplishment that Cowley did not see coming. 

Cowley is from the small Emery County town of Cleveland. She attended Cleveland Elementary School, Canyon View Middle School, and Emery High School. She is the daughter of Keaton and MacKell Cowley and has three younger siblings. Cowley believes that her passion for academics started at a young age. 

“I developed a passion for academics and reading at a fairly young age, and it has propelled me through life,” Cowley said. 

Cowley excelled at Emery High School and was highly involved in extracurricular activities.” My high school experience was extremely busy, but I made time for my family and friends,” Cowley said. 

She spent her time as a Spartan, participating in cheerleading during her freshman year and playing tennis during her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She also participated in the Student Council as a student body social committee member and senior class president during her sophomore and senior years. Cowley did not stop there. She was also a General Sterling Scholar (winning region runner-up), National Honor Society Reporter, and was voted “Most School Spirit” by her peers. 

Cowley brought her leadership skills here to Eastern and put them to work. Cowley serves the university as an Ambassador and an Aggies Elevated Mentor. 

“Being an Ambassador and an Aggies Elevated Mentor has created friendships, memories, and unforgettable experiences on and off campus,” Cowley said. 

While in leadership, Cowley has proven her academic excellence to her advisors, professors, and teammates. She credits her family with motivating her to keep up her grades and work hard. 

“I was motivated by my family. They never pressured me to do well in classes, but I still felt the need not to be a burden. They had to worry about my siblings, and I didn’t need to add any more stress to that. I guess it’s just an older sibling thing,” Cowley said. 

Cowley also credits those who have helped guide her on campus, specifically Kevin Van der Spek, Senior Admission Specialist, and Jordan Buscarini, Eagle Newspaper Advisor. 

“A specific advisor who has impacted my experience is my Ambassador Advisor, Kevin Van der Spek. He is very knowledgeable and has led our team similarly to how I like to lead. A professor who stood out to me is Jordan Buscarini. He has been somewhat of a hometown hero since I was young. I took one of his classes, then he invited me to join the newspaper. Being on the newspaper crew is something I have never expected, but it has made me grow in the best ways,” Cowley said. 

Cowley is extremely honored to be named USU Eastern’s Valedictorian. She recalls having impostor syndrome because she wanted to be Valedictorian at Emery High due to having family serving in the role. 

“Lately, I have also felt a bit of impostor syndrome, if I am honest. Valedictorian is something that I wanted so badly in high school (I had cousins with that title), but by the time Sophomore Year came, I knew that wouldn’t happen. The fact that it is happening in college blows my mind,” Cowley said. 

After graduation, Cowley will serve an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Melbourne, Australia. After she returns, she plans to continue her education and strive for academic excellence. 

“As for academic excellence, I plan on never losing motivation! I know that I will get burnt out, because that has already happened, but taking breaks is super important for motivation.”