When Eva Cochran first walked the halls of Buford City Schools as a fifth grader, no one could have predicted how far her journey as a Wolf would take her. However, at the 2025 graduation ceremony, she walked across the stage at Buford Arena as class salutatorian — an honor earned through hard work, determination, and a deep-rooted love for her school.

As she prepares to take the next step as a Georgia Bulldog, Cochran’s story is one of academic excellence, leadership, and big dreams for the future.

“My main goal for senior year was to find a balance between academics and life,” Cochran said. “I wanted to have fun and participate in all the senior activities while maintaining my grades, and I think I did just that.”

While she may have found balance, her academic resume was rather impressive, making it clear how she earned her accolades as salutatorian. Cochran completed 13 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, including statistics, chemistry, physics, and Seminar — earning her the title of AP Scholar with Distinction and AP Capstone diploma recipient.

In addition, she was named a STAR Student as a result of her SAT score of 1540, and recognized as a National Merit Finalist for having the highest SAT score among the top 10 seniors at Buford based on GPA. Cochran also served as president of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and was a member of the Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Anti-Vape Club, Beta Club, and National Honor Society — all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

“Out of everything, FBLA has been the most influential,” Cochran said. “When I was a freshman, I was terrified of speaking in front of other people. When I became an FBLA officer my sophomore year, I was thrown in front of the projector at our monthly meetings and told to talk about competitive events. It really is true when they say practice makes perfect, and I know for a fact that I would not be as confident with speaking as I am today without that experience in FBLA.”

She also found meaningful connections and personal growth through the arts during her time at Buford.

“Another influential activity was chorus,” Cochran said. “Through chorus, I met so many people that I would never have met in my other classes, which taught me not only the importance of compassion but also how to communicate with people who I don’t have much in common with.”

Her experiences in chorus deepened her love for music and became a cornerstone of her high school years. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Cochran participated in chorus for a total of eight years, attended District 13 Honors Chorus three times, and participated in Advanced Freshman Chorale as a ninth grader.

Cochran’s ability to connect with classmates extended far beyond shared classes or club meetings — she helped shape the culture around her. Teachers, too, recognized the quiet leadership and compassion she brought to every room. Taylor Greer, choral director at BHS, witnessed firsthand the influence Cochran had on those around her.

“Eva is humble and kind. Although she’s probably the smartest one in the room, she makes everyone feel valued and seen,” Greer said. “I am so proud of her and blessed to have been her teacher for four years.”

That same quiet confidence and passion extended well beyond the chorus room. In addition to her interests in music, Cochran found her greatest strengths in the classroom.

“I definitely excel the most in academics,” Cochran said. “Specifically, I think that English is the subject I stand out the most in. I think that, in such a subjective subject, it’s easy to get discouraged, but my love of writing — hopefully — shines through everything I write.”

Cochran identified Dr. Amber Simmons as her favorite teacher. When awarded STAR Student honors, Cochran chose Simmons as her STAR Teacher — a testament to their strong academic bond and mutual respect.

“Dr. Simmons is my favorite teacher. She teaches AP Seminar and AP Research and she also taught 9th grade honors English when I was a freshman,” Cochran said. “Having Dr. Simmons for three years in a row, I got to know her so well. She is so funny and so caring. She’s one of those teachers who genuinely wants her students to succeed and is willing to sacrifice her own time and effort to help in that process. She is truly amazing.”

The admiration was mutual. Simmons spoke just as highly of Cochran, reflecting on the lasting impression she made in and out of the classroom.

“Eva is obviously hard-working and intelligent, but it is her generosity of spirit that will make the most positive impact on the world,” Simmons said. “To walk through the world with such grace and composure at this age is such a rare quality, and being a part of her educational journey has been an absolute honor.”

In her free time, Cochran loves to read and write and enjoys being outdoors — especially with her dogs — and playing pickleball. She credits her parents, William (Billy) and Amy Cochran, for instilling in her morals and work ethic — something for which she’s deeply grateful.

“Without a doubt, the most influential people in my life are my parents. I would not be the person I am without their constant support, life lessons, and advice,” Cochran said. “Every day, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have been born to the smartest and coolest parents in the whole world.”

In the fall, Cochran will be attending the University of Georgia, where she plans to major in finance and minor in English as part of the UGA Honors College. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend law school to become a corporate lawyer.

As she closes the high school chapter of her life, Cochran reflects not only on what she’s achieved but on the kind of legacy she hopes to leave behind — one marked by effort, integrity, and kindness.

“I want to be remembered as someone who gave their all to Buford. I want to be remembered as someone who tried their best in everything they did,” Cochran said. “I also want to be remembered as someone who focused on uplifting others and spreading positivity.”