Swainsboro High School seniors earn scholarships and recognitions at Honors Night

Swainsboro High School held its annual senior honors program Monday, May 6, in the gym. Students who have exceeded expectations in academics and athletics were awarded with scholarships, recognitions, and distinctions. Seniors Tisey Powell and Quintus Williams began the program. Angela Hooks, College & Career Coach, coordinated the presentation of awards.

Special Awards/Recognitions:

The American Legion School Award was presented to McKayla Hall as the valedictorian of the graduating class.

The Daughters of the American Revolution Award, which is given each year by the local chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was presented to Caleb Long. This award recognizes the senior who best exemplifies the overall quality of citizenship. Caleb is the DAR Good Citizen for SHS and Emanuel County.

The Coca-Cola Principal’s Choice Award is sponsored by Coca-Cola and recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of the two top students in the senior class. The award this year went to McKayla Hall and Elaina Hutcheson.

Principal Brandon Andrews presented the Jostens Principal Award to Caleb Long. This award is given to a student from the top 10% of the class who exhibits the qualities of leadership, character, and academic excellence.

Ricardo Jose-Lara was recognized as STAR Student for SHS and Emanuel County. He earned this distinction for being the senior who has the highest SAT score in one sitting. Jose-Lara selected Selena Reynolds, former history teacher/current instructional coach as his STAR Teacher.

Ava Cook was recognized for her contribution to the Young Georgia Authors Writing Contest. It is open to any student enrolled in Georgia public schools and no prompt is given. Morgan is the 12th grade winner for SHS.

Caleb Long and Zoe Carter were recognized for being named the Exchange Club Youths of the Year for SHS. They were selected because they show strong character, leadership, academic performance, and community service.

Jayden Beneteau, McKayla Hall, and Quintus Williams were recognized for serving on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council.

Members of the Flag Football team were recognized for their standout performance. Sha’mya Benjamin received Most Positive Athlete, Jocie Hendrix received Highest Academic Average, Hannah Howard received Most Valuable Player and All-Area Defensive Back, De’Zaria Jordan received Most Improved, Tanyia Williams received Offensive Player of the Year, and Jayden Wynn received Coach in Training.

Scholarships:

Ella Canady received the Taylor Nicole Hooks Memorial Scholarship, which is given in memory of the late ECI Class of 2016 graduate.

Claire English was awarded the H. Randall Tanner Memorial Scholarship, which is presented by the Emanuel County Young Farmers in memory of the late SHS Agriculture teacher.

McKayla Hall and Kirah Middleton received Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Scholarships presented by the Nu Upsilon Omega Chapter.

Kason Palmer was awarded an Altamaha EMC Foundation Scholarship.

Caleb Long was the recipient of the Alton Slawson Jr. Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is in memory of the 1977 SHS valedictorian, who was killed by a drunk driver in 1989, and is given to a senior who excelled in history, as did Slawson. Caleb also received the Don Braswell Memorial Scholarship.

Jayden Beneteau received the Candace Canady Memorial Scholarship. Kirah Middleton is the recipient of the Eloise Vining Scholarship. FaithAnn Rogers was awarded Emanuel County 4-H Foundation Scholarships.

Quintus Williams received the ClearWater Solutions Scholarship. This company manages water and wastewater for the City of Swainsboro. The scholarship is given to 16 students across four states. Quintus is also the recipient of the inaugural NAACP Erma Wakefield-Jenkins Scholarship, which is given in honor of the former superintendent of Emanuel County Schools.

Caleb Long and Savannah Hooks were awarded Danny “Stat Cat” Henry Scholarships. Henry graduated from SHS in 1975 but began working with athletic stats at the age of 10. He is a dedicated Tiger fan, and this scholarship is given to students who exemplify his ideals of loyalty, commitment and devotion to SHS. Caleb was also awarded the Family Connection Scholarship.

Jocie Hendrix was honored for committing her future to East Georgia State College through athletics. She will place softball for the Bobcats. Hannah Howard, De’Zaria Jordan, Tanyia Williams, and Jayden Wynn were recognized for committing to Central Georgia Technical College where they will play basketball.

Jerrod Steward was recognized for signing a letter of intent to play football for Georgia Military College. TJ Curry was recognized for signing a letter of intent to play football at the MidAmerica Nazarene University. LaMarqus Webb was recognized for signing a letter of intent to play football at LaGrange College. Schuyler Coney was recognized for signing a letter of intent to play football at St. Andrews University. Lenox Lively was recognized for signing a letter of intent to play baseball for the Queens University.

Allie Hendrix was the recipient of two East Georgia College Foundation Scholarships, the Livingston Family Scholarship and the Sallie Canady Scholarship.

Jocie Hendrix was awarded the Ricky Gilmer Memorial Scholarship. Jocie also received the Parks Family Softball Scholarship.

Savannah Hooks was awarded the Hank Aldridge Softball Scholarship.

Brandon Chapman received the #21 Cody Parks and Coaches Scholarship. Caden Daley received the Hank Aldridge Baseball Scholarship.

Sarah Beasley was awarded the Matthew Anders Memorial Scholarship, which is given in memory of Anders, a student at SHS who was killed in a car accident in 2005, to a student who plans to attend Southeastern Technical College.

Jayden Wynn was awarded the Bobby Andrews Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to a member of the Tiger Basketball program.

McKayla Hall received the Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship, which is given to females who serve their community.

Tisey Powell received the Jeremy Love Scholarship, which was established by the Swainsboro Band Boosters in memory of former Band of Gold member, Jeremy Love. The purpose of the scholarship is to help fund the post-secondary education of a deserving senior who has participated fully and with quality in the SHS Band.

Tisey was also awarded the Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship that is used to help promote community banking and the Robins Financial Credit Union Scholarship.

Magaly Enriquez-Jacinto, Elizabeth Hebert, and Taniya Simmons were awarded REACH Scholarships to be used at any HOPE-eligible post-secondary institution in Georgia. They went through an interview process in eighth grade to be a REACH Scholar. They also received cords to wear at graduation.

Emily Chen was named the recipient of the Nina Herrington Memorial Scholarship that honors Herrington, one of seven Georgia Business Education teachers who started a cooperative work experience program in her high school over 50 years ago. This award is presented to an outstanding Business Education student at SHS each year.

The valedictorian and salutatorian of the senior class automatically qualify for 100% of tuition paid by the Zell Miller Scholarship fund. Students may also receive this scholarship if they have at least a 3.7 GPA and 1200 in critical reading and math in one sitting of the SAT or a 26 composite on the ACT in one sitting. The following students received this funding: McKayla Hall (valedictorian), Elaina Hutcheson (salutatorian), Ricardo Jose-Lara and Sadie Boulineau.

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Distinctions:

Membership into the ACT/SAT Achievers Club is to recognize students who achieve at least a 480 on the reading and writing portion of the SAT and at least a 530 on the math portion of the SAT or score at least a 22 composite or higher on the ACT. Students with this distinction are Jayden Beneteau, Sadie Boulineau, Ella Canady, Zoe Carter, Emily Chen, Claire English, Ricardo Jose-Lara, Lenox Lively, Caleb Long, and Maggie Palmer.

National Art Honor Society recognizes students who have shown an outstanding ability in art. They have maintained an A average for two or more years in art and have volunteered their services to both SHS and the community. The following students received cords for this distinction: Zoe Carter, Grace Coleman, Elaina Hutcheson, Greenlee Johnson, Ricardo Jose-Lara, Zaylee Morris, Maggie Palmer, Tisey Powell, Kaleigh Scarboro, Jawaun Thompson, and Jordan Wadley-Gardner.

Beta Club members are required to participate in service projects and club activities each school year in addition to maintaining an A average in their academics. These seniors graduate with an awareness of the importance of giving back to their community and serving others. The following students received Beta stoles for this distinction: Jayden Beneteau, Sadie Boulineau, Zoe Carter, Claire English, Magaly Enriquez-Jacinto, McKayla Hall, Savannah Hooks, Akyra Howard, Elaina Hutcheson, Caleb Long, Kirah Middleton, Kiara Moses, Maggie Palmer, Tisey Powell, FaithAnn Rogers, Ayla Thompson, Brianna Whitaker, and Quintus Williams.

Student Council members are elected each year by their peers and are given the opportunity to develop leadership skills by organizing and carrying out school activities and service projects. Members in good standing who received cords are Savannah Hooks, Akyra Howard, Kirah Middleton, Tisey Powell, and Quintus Williams.

William Burke, Hunter Hadden, Thomas Hancock, and Amin Payne received cords for exceptional leadership and participation in the Technology Student Association.

Jacob Fagler, Greenlee Johnson, and FaithAnn Rogers received 4-H cords.

Students who have been active in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and participated in multiple FFA competitions received cords for this distinction. They are Cryslie Crapps, Jaxson Lee, Caleb Long, Tisey Powell, Railyn Sumner, and Trent Thigpen.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students who have completed at least two of the four levels of the Business Achievement Awards Program are recognized for their dedication, community service, chapter involvement, and leadership. The following students received a cord: Nevaeh Hendrix, Caleb Long, Kirah Middleton, Tisey Powell, and Jordan Wadley-Gardner. In addition, if a student completed all four levels of the Business Achievement Awards Program, they are awarded a stole. Quintus Williams was the only senior to receive this distinction.

FBLA partners with Shepheard Community Blood Center each year and hosts several blood drives at SHS. Students who donate three units of blood and/or encourage others to donate on their behalf earn the red cord to be worn at graduation. The following seniors are Red Cord Heroes: Sarah Beasley, Jayden Beneteau, Sha’mya Benjamin, William Burke, Alexa Camarero, Kaylin Cartwright, Brandon Chapman, Daron Coleman, Grace Coleman, George Collins, Kaylyn Deloach, Hunter Hadden, Allie Hendrix, Jocie Hendrix, Nevaeh Hendrix, Abbigayle Hopkins, Elaina Hutcheson, Issac Johnson, De’Zaria Jordan, Nicholas McLeod, Kirah Middleton, Renvy Murdock, Maggie Palmer, FaithAnn Rogers, Caleb Smith, Jacob Smith, Ivy Stavely, Ayla Thompson, Tanyia Williams, and Jermarion Wright.

The Citizens Bank Student Advisory Board is made up of students from all three high schools. These students get the opportunity to receive leadership training and take part in several community service activities. The following students received cords for their membership on this board: Sarah Beasley, Claire English, McKayla Hall, Allie Hendrix, Jocie Hendrix, Savannah Hooks, Lenox Lively, Caleb Long, Analise Newsome, Kason Palmer, Maggie Palmer, FaithAnn Rogers, Ayla Thompson, Quintus Williams, and Jayden Wynn.

The following students in the Career & Technical Instruction (CTI) program received cords: Andrew Dillard, Hunter Durham, Jacob Fields, Thomas Hancock, Ja’Marious Gibson, Danielle Johnson, Andrew Manns, Alexa Nava, Branasha Nwakudu, Sha’Niya Smith, Deross Whigham, and Fantasia Williams.

JROTC students who have been enrolled in the program for a minimum of three semesters and have at least a 3.0 GPA received honor cords. These students are Danielle Johnson, A’Kayla Tillman, Abraham Rodriguez Teran, Makaylia Adams, Melvin Ruiz-Cruz, Kiara Reeves, and LaMarqus Webb. The Army National Guard Stole was awarded to Kiara Moses for her enlistment.

Students who were enrolled in band at least one semester per year earned a cord for membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society. These students are McKaylia Adams, Sadie Boulineau, Alexa Camarero, Zoe Carter, Yaretzi Castro, Cryslie Crapps, Hunter Hadden, McKayla Hall, Abbiegail Hopkins, Elaina Hutcheson, Alex Martinez, Jacob Martinez, Kirah Middleton, Maya Phillips, Kayla Powell, Tisey Powell, Abraham Rodriguez-Teran, FaithAnn Rogers, Taniya Simmons, Gracin Smith, Laila Strowbridge, and Railyn Sumner.

Students earned Spanish cords by completing Spanish I and II satisfactorily, joined the Spanish Club, and continue learning the language while improving their knowledge through different activities. These students received cords: Jayden Beneteau, Sadie Boulineau, Alexa Camarero, Akyra Howard, Maya Phillips, Quintus Williams, and Tanyia Williams.

All SHS students are strongly encouraged to complete a Career Technology Agriculture Education (CTAE) Pathway in either Business, Family & Consumer Sciences, Agriculture, or Engineering. These students have passed real-world industry recognized exams such as Microsoft Office Certification and ServSafe to earn this distinction.

Students receiving a pathway cord for Engineering are Sadie Boulineau, William Burke, Ashton Coleman, Nathan Estes, Hunter Hadden, Thomas Hancock, Issac Johnson, Kailey McNure, Shivam Patel, Amin Payne, Gustavo Perez, Jacob Smith, and Jaydon Worthen. Students receiving a pathway cord for Culinary Arts are Jayden Beneteau, Yaretzi Castro, Emily Chen, Magaly Enriquez-Jacinto, A’Shondra Jackson, Makayla Martinez, Madison McCarty, FaithAnn Rogers, Ivy Stavely, Anna Thurman, and Jayden Wynn. Students receiving a pathway cord for Business & Technology are Destiny Allen, Sarah Beasley, Sha’mya Benjamin, William Burke, A’Nyia Butler, Alex Carlyle, Elizabeth Chastain, Emily Chen, Ashton Coleman, George Collins, Ava Cook, Hunter Durham, Claire English, Ethan Frank, Kai’Yanna Henderson, Allie Hendrix, Jocie Hendrix, Nevaeh Hendrix, Savannah Hooks, Issac Johnson, Ricardo Jose-Lara, Alex Martinez, Makayla Martinez, Mauricio Martinez-Matias, Malaysia McKelton, Kailey McNure, Kirah Middleton, Kaelyn Miller, Renvy Murdock, Maggie Palmer, Marcus Paul, Amin Payne, Maya Phillips, Sha’Niya Smith, Jerrod Steward, Brianna Stuckey, Megan Terry, Ayla Thompson, Jordan Wadley-Gardner, Tanyia Williams, and Tim’Yielah Worthen. Student receiving a pathway cord for Agriculture are Ella Canady, Zoe Carter, Ashton Coleman, Grace Coleman, Gauge Coxwell, Cryslie Crapps, Devin Eady, Nathan Estes, Caden Daley, Jacob Fagler, Trista Frank, Jaxon Green, Elizabeth Hebert, Abbigayle Hopkins, Zora Johnson, Ja’Navia Lattimore, Makayla Martinez, Kiara Moses, Analise Newsome, Kason Palmer, Marcus Paul, Callie Powell, Kayla Powell, Caleb Smith, Jacob Smith, Ivy Stavely, Railyn Sumner, Trenton Thigpen, and Deross Whigham.

The Dual Enrollment Program allows high school students to receive credit for both high school and college level courses. To be eligible, these students must have a minimum combined score of 970 on the SAT and a 3.0 GPA. The following students participated in this program at East Georgia State College: Sarah Beasley, Ella Canady, Elizabeth Chastain, Emily Chen, Claire English, McKayla Hall, Allie Hendrix, Jocie Hendrix, Abbigayle Hopkins, Lenox Lively, Tisey Powell, and Megan Terry.

Students in the Dual Enrollment Program at Southeastern Technical College received dual credit for high school courses and college certificate, diploma, or degree level courses. Those recognized were Kaylin Cartwright, Cheyenne Fennell, Savannah Hooks, Greenlee Johnson, Kailey McNure, Kirah Middleton, Renvy Murdock, Shivam Patel, Kiara Reeves, FaithAnn Rogers, Taniya Simmons, Caden Tapley, Ayla Thompson, Jawaun Thompson, Brianna Whitaker, and Quintus Williams.

In addition, any senior who has completed a technical certificate of credit with a C or higher this year or during their four years of high school received a Southeastern Technical College Dual Enrollment Medallion. These students are Kaylin Cartwright, Cheyenne Fennell, Greenlee Johnson, Kailey McNure, Kirah Middleton, Renvy Murdock, Shivam Patel, Taniya Simmons, Caden Tapley, Ayla Thompson, and Quintus Williams. Cheyenne Fennell also received a dual enrollment cord for completing 30 or more credit hours.

Dual Enrollment at East Georgia State College requires students to have a minimum 3.0 GPA. The following students were recognized: Sarah Beasley, Ella Canady, Elizabeth Chastain, Emily Chen, Claire English, McKayla Hall, Allie Hendrix, Jocie Hendrix, Abbigayle Hopkins, Lenox Lively, Tisey Powell, and Megan Terry

Core Subject Awards:

The following students earned highest average honors in English/Language Arts: Ava Cook for British Literature, Zoe Carter for Honors British Literature, and Ricardo Jose-Lara for 4-Year Highest Average in English.

The following students earned highest average honors in Mathematics: Ava Cook for College Readiness Math, Marcus Paul for Pre-Calculus, Railyn Sumner for Honors Pre-Calculus, and Ricardo Jose-Lara for 4-Year Highest Average in Mathematics.

The following students earned highest average honors in Science: Abbiegayle F. Hopkins for Anatomy, McKayla Hall for Honors Anatomy and 4-Year Highest Average in Science.

The following students earned highest average honors in Social Studies: McKayla Hall for Personal Finance and Ricardo Jose-Lara for 4-Year Highest Average in Social Studies.

JROTC/Fine Art/Pe Subject Awards:

A’Kayla Tillman earned highest average honors in JROTC 3A and Tyrese Wadley earned the highest average in JROTC 4B. A’Kayla Tillman was recognized as Cadet of the Year.

The following students earned highest average honors in Visual Arts: Elaina Hutcheson for Visual Arts III and Jordan Wadley-Gardner for Visual Arts IV. Maggie Palmer and Tisey Powell both earned 4-year highest average in Visual Arts.

Savannah Hooks earned the highest average in Lifetime Sports. LaMarqus Webb earned the highest average in Team Sports.

CTAE Subject Awards:

Railyn Sumner earned the highest average in General Horticulture. Kason Palmer earned the highest average in Ag Mechanics III. Zoe Carter earned the highest average in Nursery & Landscape. Emily Chen earned the highest average in Business Communications. Jayden Beneteau earned the highest average in Culinary Arts II. Sadie Boulineau earned the highest average in Engineering Apps.

Honor Graduates:

In order to reach the status of honor graduate, students must maintain an overall academic average of 90 or above throughout high school. They received a gold honor cord to wear at graduation. These 55 students are Sarah Beasley, Jayden Beneteau, Sha’mya Benjamin, Sadie Boulineau, Zoe Carter, Ella Canady, Yaretzi Castro, Brandon Chapman, Elizabeth Chastain, Emily Chen, Grace Coleman, Ava Cook, Cryslie Crapps, Caden Daley, Claire English, Magaly Enriquez-Jacinto, Jacob Fagler, Cheyenne Fennell, Hunter Hadden, McKayla Hall (Valedictorian), Thomas Hancock, Elizabeth Hebert, Allie Hendrix, Jocie Hendrix, Savannah Hooks, Akyra Howard, Elaina Hutcheson (Salutatorian), Greenlee Johnson, Ricardo Jose-Lara, Lenox Lively, Caleb Long, Alexander Martinez, Jacob Martinez, Makayla Martinez, Mauricio Martinez-Matias, Kailey McNure, Kirah Middleton, Analise Newsome, Kason Palmer, Maggie Palmer, Gustavo Perez, Kayla Powell, Tisey Powell, Kiara Reeves, Abraham Rodriguez-Teran, FaithAnn Rogers, Ivy Stavely, Railyn Sumner, Megan Terry, Ayla Thompson, Jordan Wadley-Gardner, Quintus Williams, Tanyia Williams, Jaydon Worthen, and Jayden Wynn.