With the winners separated by mere percentage points and the competition fierce, it takes a special inner-drive to become a valedictorian

Zeinab Saghir is the fourth Fordson valedictorian from her family.

Few know that better than the Saghir family, which has produced four valedictorians at Fordson since 2000, including the 2009 co-winner, Zeinab Saghir.
The other winners included brother Hussein Saghir in 2004, sister Iman Saghir in 2001, and brother Mohamad Saghir in 2000.

Zeinab Saghir talked about her motivation to succeed in academics.

“Ever since I was a little kid, my mom asked me what I did at school, how I did on tests, things like that,” she said.

“Nothing came before school, my mom (Caghrid) would stay up all night with me so I could study.”

Zeinab Saghir finished with a cumulative 4.5215 grade-point average over her career, which included five advanced placement classes her senior year. She also thanked her father Ali and her brothers and sisters for setting an example for her to follow.

“I always wanted to be just like my brothers and sisters, that was always my goal. When I went to their graduations I wanted to be like them, they were my role models,” Zeinab Saghir said.

Next year, she will attend Wayne State University in the pharmacy and medicine fields. She already has earned 60 credits through both Wayne State and the University of Michigan-Dearborn to apply towards a future degree.

Zeinab Saghir also thanked her Principal Fadlallah for his support and the various local groups who awarded her scholarships. She said the race to be valedictorian brought out the best in her and co-winner Ali Zreik.

“We’re friends and I think we both deserved it, it was a good competition,” she said.