Saturday’s West High School graduation could lead to a bit of déjà vu for valedictorian Melinda Speckmann.

She’ll share the stage with her salutatorian and good friend, Neda Dastgheyb, just as she did when they graduated from Freiler School four years ago.

Speckmann, 18, credits Dastgheyb for helping her become the student and person she is today.

“She’s an amazing person,” Speckmann said. “She’s probably the reason I am where I am. All my friends are amazing people, and I’d never be arrogant and say I’m the smartest person in my class, by any means. My friends are so much more intelligent — I’ve learned so much from them.”

However, after this summer, the buddies will part ways. Speckmann will attend the University of California, Los Angeles, while Dastgheyb will study at University of California, Berkeley, 371 miles away.

“She’s pretty mad at me for not choosing Berkeley, but she knows I fell in love with the campus at UCLA,” Speckmann said. “I’m not worried about the distance at all. She’s easily going to be one of my lifelong friends.

“I’m used to seeing her every day, but I’m so tied to her emotionally that I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”

Speckmann said she plans to double-major in physics and applied mathematics at UCLA. She loves physics and said math goes hand-in-hand with that. At West, Speckmann put her physics knowledge to good use as president of the school’s Space and Engineering Academy.

In addition to her on-campus involvements on the cross country and track teams and Key Club, among others, Speckmann has her hands in a cornucopia of community activities: She donates her time to programs such as the McHenry House Family Shelter, A Brighter Christmas, Ethiopia Reads and Kids in a Box.

“Melinda is an amazing person, academically and personally,” West High counselor Sarah Banchero said in a letter of recommendation. “It is a privilege to know a student like Melinda — she is respectful, reliable and self-motivated. She will, without doubt, be successful in her educational and career endeavors.”

Melissa Speckmann 4-1-1

Age: 18

Education: West High School, valedictorian

How long in Tracy: nine years

GPA: 4.42

Will attend: University of California, Los Angeles

Graduation: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Steve Lopez Stadium, 1775 W. Lowell Ave.