Twenty-four graduates from Mancos High School will walk across the stage Sunday, May 17 for their high school diplomas.

For many, the journey has been long and difficult.

Courtney Colyer is this year's valedictorian with a GPA of 4.19.

The race to the top was close. Colyer was followed very closely by salutatorian Jessica Willburn, who finished high school with a 4.187 GPA.

Both of Mancos' top students plan to go into the medical field. Colyer plans on attending the private Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., to study premed on her journey to become an anesthesiologist. Willburn plans to go to Colorado State University and hopefully become a pediatric cardiologist.

Willburn said her desire to be in the medical field was cemented when at age 14, she underwent two heart procedures known as catheter ablations.

Willburn said she first knew there was a problem when her heart started to race.

"It started when I was in the sixth grade. They thought I was having panic attacks," Willburn said.

But eventually, at the Children's Hospital in Denver, doctors were able to find out what was wrong.

"I'm fine now. I don't have to have any medication or anything," Willburn said. "That's why I decided I wanted to go into that field."

Those who attend Mancos High School have probably seen little of Colyer and Willburn this year as the two both were taking a full load of classes at Fort Lewis College. Willburn will go to Colorado State University with 23 college credits.

Willburn's brother Zane is in the Air Force Academy and graduated in 2013 as the valedictorian. Her parents are Tara and Joe Willburn.

Colyer said she knew it was going to be a close race for the top class spot.

"It's been that way our whole lives," Colyer said of Jessica.

Colyer hopes to major in bio-chemistry.

"I want to do anesthesiology," she said. "I've always wanted to do something in the medical field, but I didn't want to be the one cutting people."

Colyer was drawn to anesthesiology during an internship at Southwest Memorial Hospital when she was in her 10th-grade.

Colyer said she is looking forward to this weekend.

"I'm excited and kind of nervous," she said.

Colyer's brother Cody will graduate from the Naval Academy this year. Her mother and father are Debi and Tern.

Mancos Principal Adam Priestley said he was proud of this year's class, which has earned $680,000 in scholarships. They were presented Monday night.

"Congratulations on a job well done," Priestley said.

Brady Archer will be the speaker at graduation on Sunday.

"The senior class is a mixture of very well thought-out students," Priestley said. "They know what they are going to do, and how they are going to do it."

Another student worth recognizing is Maria Bradshaw, who will graduate from Mancos High School with her cosmetology degree, a first at the high school.

"Overall. this bunch of kids is pretty focused on what they want to do after high school," Priestley said.