SANDPOINT — Sandpoint High School’s seniors have less than a month until the end of the academic year and the conclusion of their journey through the local public education system. 

While it might be tempting to coast across the finish line, class of 2025 valedictorian Fisher Dail and salutatorian Calie Bailey have their feet on the gas; even with college acceptance letters in hand, the pair are hard at work preparing for a combined seven Advanced Placement course exams they’re facing this week. 

You don’t become one of your class's top two students without being a “doer.” Dail and Bailey exemplify the term, each acting as a team captain for their respective sports — tennis and volleyball — and taking full advantage of SHS’s elective offerings.

Dail has studied Spanish all four years of high school, taken a welding course and participated in in the school’s honors international relations class, which recently made a trip to New York City for a simulated United Nations conference. Bailey is an avid trombone player who has studied music theory and participated in the school’s symphonic and jazz bands. 

Come fall, both students will head out of state to continue their education. Dail will study engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.; Bailey will begin a program at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, that will prepare her to become an airline pilot. 

Bailey’s interest in aviation was sparked two years ago in a moment of serendipity. 

“I was just laying on a hammock one day, and I looked up and saw a plane go by,” she said. 

That led her to look into flying opportunities at Sandpoint Airport and eventually get behind the yoke. Today, she has more than 40 flight hours under her belt. 

“I didn't realize how addicting it is once you really get into it. And then I thought, ‘I could actually make a career out of this,’” she said. 

Once at Purdue, Dail hopes to be admitted into the university's aerospace engineering program and eventually enter the workforce as a design or testing engineer working hands-on with emerging aviation technology. 

“As we're going into the future, I think there are going to be a lot of opportunities,” he said of the field. 

Both students spent time at Farmin Stidwell Elementary School and Sandpoint Middle School before arriving at SHS. As they prepare to take the next step toward their future, each recognized the educators who have brought them to where they are today. 

Bailey expressed gratitude for SHS band teacher Aaron Gordon, who has instructed her throughout all four years of high school. 

“He's definitely been one of my biggest motivators,” she said. “Whenever I complain about classes, he'll always tell me, ‘You might as well do it, because you know you can, so try your best to get a good grade.’” 

Dail shared appreciation for SHS math teacher Troy Minogue, who guided him through Advanced Placement calculus last year and has helped him navigate a college-level calculus course this year. 

“He really knows his stuff, which helped me to stay on top of the challenging topics,” Dail said. 

He also praised SHS Spanish teacher Mary Imaz, who he said has played a critical role in his high school experience and that of many other students. 

“She's really close with the students here,” Dail said. “She’s that person you can always go to, and she's always there for you.”