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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - Just a year ago, Fort Smith's Alice Mawdsley was still in Edmonton recovering from life-threatening head injuries suffered in a snowmobiling accident.

Now, she is preparing a speech to deliver as graduating class valedictorian at Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High School.

Alice Mawdsley has been chosen valedictorian for this year's graduating class at Fort Smith's Paul William Kaeser High School. Mawdsley spent a month in a coma in 2008 after a snowmobiling accident and had to relearn to walk and talk. - photo courtesy of Christy MacKay

It's just one more step on Mawdsley's remarkable - many say miraculous - recovery from her injuries.

The 18-year-old said she is very happy to have been chosen valedictorian, which is done by secret ballot from all graduates.

"I didn't believe it at all," Mawdsley said. "I was completely shocked they would pick me, but I was very happy about it."

The valedictorian said her speech will focus on overcoming the odds to graduate.

"Even with all the setbacks the graduates have had, they set the goal of graduating and reached that goal," she said.

Mawdsley said she will talk about her own "more obvious" challenge in reaching graduation, but she said the other graduates also had to face their own challenges.

"It's about all the graduates and a celebration for everybody," she said.

Mawdsley, was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident in January of 2008.

She was riding on an inner tube being dragged to the top of a sliding hill by a snowmobile. The tube struck a parked vehicle.

After the accident, Mawdsley was in a month-long coma and underwent a number of operations. Gradually, she relearned how to talk and walk.

She returned to Fort Smith in June to an emotional greeting at the airport.

PWK principal Al Karasiuk thinks Mawdsley is a great choice for valedictorian.

"I think she would have been a great choice regardless, even is she hadn't been in the accident," Karasiuk said.

The principal said everyone will be very interested to hear what Mawdsley has to say in her speech at the May 28 convocation and it might be very emotional for people.

"I think it will be one that's listened to closely," he said of the speech.

Carolyn Gill, another member of the graduating class, said Mawdsley dominated throughout the selection process for valedictorian.

"Everyone pretty much agreed she deserved to represent us and she would be the best at it," Gill said, adding, "Looking at what she had to do to get there, it's pretty awesome."

In fact, Mawdsley herself is surprised she is graduating from high school this year.

"I was completely shocked that I would be able to graduate this year and completely happy about it," she said.

When she returned from Edmonton - after missing half of last year's school - she figured she could graduate next year at the earliest.

However, she said she worked hard to get the credits she needed. For example, she would begin studying for tests a week in advance and was helped by a tutor once or twice a week.

Those around her at PWK have been impressed by her effort.

Karasiuk said he also didn't believe Mawdsley would graduate this year.

However, she worked hard at her studies and surprised everyone, he said. "She's been there like a trooper."

Mawdsley plans to return to PWK next school year to retake some courses to earn higher marks and take additional courses so she can study to become a physical therapy assistant, a career she has been interested in since she was 15.

She said she is pretty confident about how things are going overall.

"I'm completely amazed with myself," she admitted.

However, she said it will take a few more years for her to completely recover from the snowmobile accident, adding she still has work to do to further improve her motor skills and memory.