THOMASVILLE — The Thomas County Central High School Class of 2020 valedictorian has an affinity for chemistry and finds classical music beautiful.

Joshua Caleb Stephens also is talented in both areas and will put his prowess to work at Georgia Tech in the fall.

He will pursue a degree in chemical molecular engineering, a chemical process used in fuel research or in the processing of chemicals in some manufacturing. His dream job is energy research.

Stephens has a partial scholarship to Tech and is waiting to hear more about the scholarship. The coronavirus crisis interrupted the scholarship process.

Stephens said he is a little disappointed about the virus-related interference in his senior year of high school and the absence of traditional senior-year events, but he has stayed focused and completed the school year with a focus on strength.

A member of the TCCHS band, Stephens plays piano, French horn and bass. He has taken piano lessons — “mainly classical” — since second grade.

“It (classical music) has so many intricacies to it. I think it can be really beautiful. That’s why I enjoy it,” the valedictorian said.

At Tech, he will play bass in the Georgia Tech Jazz Band, French horn in the Tech Marching Band and piano for his own pleasure.

Stephens thinks some of his musical talent was inherited from his parents, Lisa and Michael Stephens. His mother, a TCCHS social studies teacher, sings and plays the piano. His father played trumpet in his high school band.

Stephens reads the classics and some modern works. 

“I do a little bit of writing,” he said. “I enjoy writing poetry. I think most of my poetry is free verse.”

He hopes COVID-19 does not leave negative, long-lasting effects in its path. “I would feel terrible about that,” Stephens said.

Pointing out many people working at home, Stephens hopes certain businesses and industries take note of the pandemic and work toward incorporating necessary virus-related repercussions into their structures to be more prepared if an event similar to the virus occurs.

In reference to online schooling, Stephenson said he “kind of” missed the social atmosphere of traditional school.

The 17-year-old valedictorian’s grade point average (GPA) is a weighted 4.574. Certain courses are more advanced than others, and he successfully completed the courses necessary to attain the weighted GPA.

Stephens expressed gratitude to those who helped him attain his scholarly status.

“I know I could not have done this by myself,” he said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820