As the 2024-2025 academic year closes, the Walton Foundation reflects on a year of tremendous community support. Your generous contributions to the 50th anniversary capital campaign, and exuberant participation in the annual auction raised monies vital to meeting high school needs.

The WHSF recognizes the time put forth by its executive and general board throughout the year to the mission of the foundation. We note the tireless efforts of President Dayna Teichman

Her stewardship guided major achievements to realize major growth in 2024-2025, including:

• A record setting year for fundraising!
• Highlighting the McCleod legacy with major garden improvements and new dedication plaques on campus and in the garden.
• Funding staffing needs to include a teacher in the English department and a counselor.
• Addressing irrigation and planting for the front entrance to promote the sustainability of the front memorial gardens. The garden extension allowed a planting in honor of a family instrumental to establishing the foundation.
• Providing essential resources to kickstart the restart of Habitat for Humanity, a longstanding Walton club.
• Continuing the WHSF many traditions, including Coffee with the Principal, supporting the Student Leadership Committee, and painting the town blue with the bow campaign!

The memorial garden for Dr. Hugh McLeod, generously donated by his wife Leslie and his daughter Lauren, has been getting some TLC. Over the summer the large columns were pressured washed, and our landscaper has been trimming and weeding. A new memorial plaque was install and some fall foliage has been planted in the two main pots at the entrance to the garden. This garden, located behind the cafe, is used by many students to take a much needed respite, study for tests, catch up with a friend, or enjoy a sunny day. Thanks to Jennifer Labarthe for her time and talent helping the Foundation to make the garden a place for all to enjoy.

Mrs. Baldwin served as an outstanding parent volunteer, community instructor for Walton’s health classes and as a community volunteer for more than 25 years.  Over her years of service to Walton, Vivian had a tremendous impact on our student body and our school.  She cared deeply for every student she encountered.

Vivian helped create Walton’s Facilities Foundation in 1992, which was the first high school foundation in Georgia.  She served as President of the Foundation for many years after her daughter graduated from Walton. Under her leadership, the Facilities Foundation raised funds for many cosmetic and necessary improvements to the old high school building.   Mrs. Baldwin  also worked with Principal McNeill to create the Principal’s Leadership Committee where she helped students develop Leadership skills through community involvement.  The group raised funds for many charities including:  CHOA; K-9’s for Warriors; and Relay for Life.  

Vivian Baldwin’s work with Walton’s students and staff created a legacy that will always be appreciated. 

One of the benches outside the front entrance to the school has the name Cara McKim Seckman, Class of 2015, carved on the top two slats of the bench. The next two phrases, “Be True to Yourself” and “Go With the Flow” were two of Cara’s favorite sayings. Everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Cara and the honor of calling her a friend understands the meaning of these words. Cara was always true to her beliefs and never went along with the crowd if it was not for something in which she believed. She was even kneeled and believed in going with the flow and not making waves without there being a just cause.

Cara Seckman was a competition cheerleader for four years and was awarded the Ideal Cheerleader Award her senior year. This award speaks to who Cara was and how those two phrases encompassed her beliefs. The Ideal Cheerleader Award was voted on by her peers, who saw Cara as an example of what every young woman her age strives to be. She was a quiet leader who inspired those around her in every aspect of her life. Cara was a member of the National Honor Society and various other clubs at Walton.

Just a few weeks before graduation, Cara became ill. The diagnosis was HLH, a blood cancer that affects young people. Cara was too sick to attend her graduation, but her friends in the class of 2015 left her seat vacant for her and honored her that day. Cara passed away shortly after that. Because of the tremendous impact Cara had on those around her, Cara’s friends wanted to do something that would leave a lasting impression on the students who followed. They decided to raise money to build a bench in her honor. Before the new school was built, the bench sat inside the old building where students could hang out and wait for their parents. When the new building opened, the bench was placed, as was always the intention, outside the front doors. The dedication of the bench was August 6, 2017.

Judith McNeill served Walton High School for 30 years. Originally from Indiana, she began teaching in 1966. She joined Cobb County Schools in 1983 as a teacher at Osborne High. In ‘88, she came to Walton as a guidance counselor, working her way through the ranks to administrative assistant, assistant principal, associate principal and eventually principal, a role she held since 2008. Mrs McNeill was our principal for 10 years when she retired in 2018. 

Mrs. McNeill accomplished many things at Walton including increasing the number of  Advanced Placement Courses that Walton offers.  When she came to the school in 1988, Walton offered three Advanced Placement courses for students. Now, it boasts more than 30.  One of her greatest accomplishments is our new school building.  Mrs. McNeill created a multifaceted plan with the help of her staff and the faculty to present to the Cobb County Board of Education to get the new facilities built.  Originally the county just wanted to replace the theater and gyms at Walton.  With McNeill’s guidance a plan was launched to prove Walton’s need for a completely new re-build.  The new school building was opened in 2017 and the fine arts and athletic building opened in 2019. 

Mrs. McNeill retired with 42 years in education.  She is still a Raider at heart and can be spotted at Walton athletic events from time to time.