Brianna Reim was on the softball bus, coming back to campus from an away game in early April, when she got the call. Dr. Katie Barnes, interim provost, broke the good news that Reim was the Class of 2025 valedictorian.
“Oh, my goodness. Guess what?” Reim whispered to her roommate. Word spread quickly, and the bus erupted in cheers.
“That’s two years in a row that a softball player has been the valedictorian,” she says, a hint of pride in her voice. “Last year, my roommate, Madelyn Tice, got it.”
The elementary/special education major knew that she had a 4.0 GPA but assumed that others had achieved a similar academic record. “I thought there was a possibility, but I was honestly surprised,” she admits.
It’s fitting that she learned about the honor with her teammates because softball brought her to Neumann. More than four years ago, while the Knights softball coach was scouting Olivia and Emily Ammon, he also noticed a Perkiomen Valley High School infielder – Reim.
All three chose to attend Neumann, and Reim has no regrets. “I really like it here,” she says. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of people. The professors were always super nice and welcoming. I could reach out to them at any time, and they seemed like they cared about getting to know students individually.”
She is one of three students who will deliver remarks at graduation ceremonies, scheduled to speak at the undergraduate commencement at 2 p.m. on May 18. Dariana Troilo, who will receive her master’s degree in athletic training, will address the graduate ceremony at 10 a.m. on the same day. Salutatorian Nadirah Roberts will speak at the academic awards convocation at 1:30 p.m. on May 17.
Reim plans to start applying for teaching positions very soon. She is hoping to land a second-grade position, somewhere in Montgomery County near her Schwenksville home.
And she has her fingers crossed for a softball valedictorian three-peat in 2026.