Mineral Point High School is proud to announce its top scholars for the Class of 2026: Valedictorian Grady Finley and Salutatorians Addison Burris and Alyssa Jones.
Graduation is set for Friday, May 22 at 7 pm in the high school gym. The biographies below were written by the students themselves.
Valedictorian Grady Finley
Grady Finley is the youngest child of Mark and Andrea Finley. He has one older sister, Natalie, who graduated from the Mineral Point Unified School District in 2021 and is currently a Senior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Grady was born in Madison and has lived in Mineral Point his entire life.
Grady has been a student of the Mineral Point Unified School District for his entire life. He has been on Student Council since his Sophomore year and is a current member of the National Honor Society. Grady values the effort he puts into his schoolwork, as he was named Freshman Student of the Year and has been named to the High Honor Roll every semester of his high school career. He has been named Biology Student of the Year, Biology 2 Student of the Year, and Chemistry Student of the Year. During his high school years, he has taken part in extracurricular activities such as Future Business Leaders of America and Sources of Strength. Grady was privileged to be named Mineral Point’s Prom King last spring, and he was also named Homecoming King for this year’s festivities.
Sports have been an essential part of Grady’s life since he was a kid. He’s a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. In his high school career, Grady has been a three-year letter winner for the baseball team, including two First Team All-Conference selections in his Sophomore and Junior years. His Junior year, he was also named a captain of the baseball team, where he was honored with Academic All-District, Academic All-State, and many Mineral Point team awards. In basketball, Grady was a letter winner his Junior year and was named Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Academic All-State as the team was Conference Champions, Regional Champions, Sectional Champions, and State Qualifiers. For football, he has been a two-year letter winner coming into his Senior year, where he was named a team captain. He is extremely grateful for the relationships that sports has brought him, and his leadership positions have allowed him to become a better version of himself.
Outside of school and sports, Grady has been employed at Lands’ End and Farmers Savings Bank over the past two summers. He enjoys working out, golfing, and hanging out with friends and family in his free time.
After high school, Grady plans to continue his education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and pursue a Biomedical Sciences degree. He is excited for the opportunities and relationships that college will bring.
He would like to thank his teachers and coaches for challenging him and bringing out the best in him. He would like to thank Mrs. Erika Brunson in particular for making many opportunities available to him throughout his high school career and Mr. Tom Steger for furthering his love of studying human biology. Finally, Grady would like to thank his parents, grandparents, family, and friends for their continued support.
Salutatorian Addison Burris
Addison is the daughter of Morgan and Andy Burris and the oldest of three siblings. Her sister, Emmie, is a Sophomore, and her brother, Kelby, is a 7th Grader. She is a lifelong resident of Mineral Point and is proud to be a Pointer.
Academics have always been a priority for Addie. She has earned High Honor Roll every semester and was recognized with the Sophomore Student of the Year Award. Her dedication led to induction into the National Honor Society, an achievement she is especially proud of. She was also named Academic All-State in volleyball and represented her class on Homecoming Court during her Junior year.
In addition to her studies, Addie has been active in many clubs and activities, including Key Club, Skills USA, Pointer Media, and Blue Crew. This past school year, Addie earned 1st place in cosmetology at the Skills USA State Competition, which qualified her for Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia, an unforgettable experience she will always cherish. With Pointer Media, she helps set up and livestream the daily Wake Up Mineral Point News, bringing announcements to students and staff each morning.
Addie’s school spirit shines through athletics as well. She has played volleyball since her Freshman year and was part of the 2024 Mineral Point Volleyball team that went to state for the first time in school history. In the winter, she manages wrestling, where she takes stats and videos for the team. She was part of the 2025 Wrestling State Champion Team. These experiences have given her lasting memories and strong connections with teammates, coaches, and friends.
Outside of school, Addie has enjoyed supporting and mentoring others through her work as a babysitter and math tutor. During the summer of 2025, she earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license through Southwest Technical College. She currently works at Upland Hills Health Nursing and Rehab Center, where she enjoys interacting with residents and providing compassionate care. In addition to her CNA training, Addie has completed several college-level courses, demonstrating her commitment to academic and professional growth.
After graduation, Addie plans to pursue a Nursing Associate Degree at Southwest Technical College with the goal of becoming a Registered Nurse in either an emergency room or an assisted living facility. She also maintains a passion for cosmetology and hopes to use that skill to help people feel confident, beautiful, and cared for.
Addie is grateful for the support of her family, friends, teachers, and the Mineral Point community. She wants to thank her parents for always showing up and encouraging her to be her best. They supported her in her education, sports, extracurricular activities, and her life outside of school. She also appreciates her siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins for their love and support, even when they try to embarrass her. She wants to thank Mr. Matt Austin, Mrs. Erika Brunson, and the Mineral Point teachers who have guided her throughout her school years and helped prepare her for her future. Mineral Point holds a special place in her heart, and Addie will always be a proud Pointer.
Salutatorian Alyssa Jones
Alyssa Jones is the youngest child of Brad Jones and Kelly Oflahrity. She has two older sisters, Hailey and Savannah, who previously attended Mineral Point High School. Aly was born in Dodgeville and has lived in Mineral Point her whole life.
Aly has been a student of the Mineral Point Unified School District her whole life. Aly is currently serving as President of the National Honor Society. She has also participated in extracurricular activities since her Freshman year, including Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America, and Sources of Strength. She’s also been a Pointer Media News Anchor since her Freshman year, while contributing to other aspects of Pointer Media and Blue Crew. In addition, she represented the Senior class on the 2025 Homecoming Court.
Academically, she has challenged herself and taken several dual-enrollment, college-level courses. She also worked hard to earn recognition on both the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll throughout her high school years. Aly also received the Student of the Year award in her Junior year. Her dedication to academics has been a key factor in her achievements.
Outside of school, Aly has been involved in Dodge-Point high school girls varsity soccer and club/winter soccer, and has worked at Lands’ End year-round. She will start her CNA course in March and begin employment in the summer. In her free time, she loves staying active and spending time with family and friends.
After graduation, Aly will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a degree in Nutritional Sciences. She hopes to further her education and possibly attend dermatology school. Aly is passionate about helping others improve their health and overall well-being.
Aly would like to thank her family, friends, and Mineral Point Schools for their constant support. She wants to thank her parents for always encouraging her to work hard and for being there through every challenge. She also appreciates her sisters and grandparents for their endless love and encouragement. She wants to thank Mrs. Erika Brunson, Mr. Matt Austin, and her other teachers for always believing in her, helping her grow both academically and personally, and pushing her to be her best. Mineral Point has shaped who she is today, and she will always be grateful for the experiences and community that made her high school years so meaningful.
(Finley photo by Ann Gorgen; Burris photo by Beth Digman; Jones photo by Madisyn Heim)