May 14, 2021

Golden Triangle Early College High School seniors from both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were honored the night of Thursday, May 13, during Senior Night in the Lyceum Auditorium on East Mississippi Community College’s Golden Triangle campus.

The students were recognized for their academic achievements and outstanding attributes and contributions to the high school, receiving certificates and cords and stoles that the Class of 2020-21 will wear during the GTECHS May 15 graduation ceremony on EMCC’s Golden Triangle campus.

The novel coronavirus prevented GTECHS from hosting an Awards Day. Seniors who received awards for the 2019-20 school year were recognized in the event this year. Their awards were presented first.

CLASS OF 2019-20 AWARDS

Algebra II – Samya Prater

English II – Hannah Shinault

Science Fair

Second Place, Earth and Environmental Science – Tomyah Smith

Third Place,  Inorganic Chemistry – Brandi McDonald

High Five Awards

The High Five Awards are presented to students who have embraced the school’s high-five qualities: Be kind. Be safe. Be punctual. Be responsible. Be respectful. The 2019-20 winner are:

Kelsey Bolden

Antonio Phillips

ROAR Award

Sara Grace Strickland

Wildcat Award

Ismenia Juarez

Spirit of GTECHS Award

 Ayden Richardson

Perfect Attendance

Sixteen seniors had a perfect attendance record before students had to shift to remote learning because of the pandemic. Those students are: Lily Adam, Kelsey Bolden, Tylan Hinton, Kaleb Kellum, Domonique Key, Makayah Lee, Brandi McDonald, Madison McGrew, Christian Oswalt, Mary Redman, Acrissa Reese, Ayden Richardson, Kody Rickert, Hannah Shinault, Tomyah Smith, Sherquesha Stewart.

 

CLASS OF 2021-21 AWARDS

STAR Student

This is awarded to the student with the highest ACT score, who was:

Katelyn Smith

Mayor’s Youth Council

Mayor Robert Smith and the City of Columbus recognize the following students for their service in the Columbus Mayor’s Youth Council. They are:

Kelsey Bolden

Natyia Brooks

Kaely Fenton

Beta Club

Beta Club is a nationally recognized academic, leadership, and service organization. Our Senior Beta members were presented with a black and gold cord. Those students are: Nicole Smith, Ayden Richardson, Kaleb Kellum, Jalyn Lofton, Tomyah Smith, Mary Driskill, Brandi McDonald, Marissa Gilmore, Mollie Lyons, Tylan Hinton, Dominique Key, Micaiah Latham, Christian Oswalt, Makyah Lee, Madison McGrew, Quentin Jamison, Sherquesha Stewart, Anna Dora, Brianna Vickery, Xavier Eacholes, Antonio Phillips, Kaely Fenton

National Honor Society

National Honor Society honors high achievement in scholarship, service, leadership, and character of high school juniors and seniors across the country. Students who received a gold cord for one-year membership are Mary Driskill, Marissa Gilmore and Bre Desmidt.

Seniors who received a white collar for two- year membership are Ayden Richardson, Kaleb Kellum, Tomyah Smith, Brandi McDonald, Dominique Key, Tylan Hinton and Sherquesha Stewart.

Mu Alpha Theta

This is a national high school and two-year college mathematics honor society. Seniors who met the rigorous requirements of Mu Alpha Theta received a sky blue and gold cord to wear at graduation. They are: Tomyah Smith, Madalynn Pettit, Mary Driskill, Kaleb Kellum, Christian Oswalt, Brooke Vickery, Ayden Richardson, Tylan Hinton, Hannah Shinault, Dominique Key, Samya Prater, Johne' Brandy, Kristina DeSmidt, Brandi McDonald, Jarius Hudgins, Mollie Lyons, Acrissa Reese, Ismenia Juarez, Sherquesha Stewart, Madison McGrew, De'Ana Neal, Micaiah Latham, Jalyn Lofton, Raven Black, Tera Dora, Destiny Wells, Quentin Jamison, Abbigail Poteet, AnTonio Phillips, Marissa Gilmore, Katelyn Smith, Tristan Williams, Josh Ashford, Ciara Thomas, Kaely Fenton, Peyton Price, Makyah Lee

EMCC graduates

While at GTECHS, students have the opportunity to earn college credits up to a full Associates degree. Forty-five students participated in EMCC’s May 7 graduation ceremonies on the Golden Triangle campus. Those students received a black and red cord to wear during graduation. Those students are: Lily Adam, Joshua Ashford, Raven Black, Kelsey Bolden, Johne Brandy, Natyia Brooks, Ajah Clemons, Danny Crawford, Kristina Desmidt, Kawn Dixon, Tera Anna Dora, Mary Driskill, Xavier Eacholes, Kaely Fenton, Marissa Gilmore, Tylan Hinton, Jarius Hudgins, Quentin Jamison, Kaleb Kellum, Dominque Key, Micaiah Latham, Makyah Lee, Mollie Lyons, Brandi McDonald, Madison McGrew, Jordan Mize, De’Ana Neal, Christian Oswalt, Madalyn Pettit, Antonio Phillips, Makela Quinn, Acrissa Reese, Ayden Richardson, Katelyn Smith, Jeremiah Stanfield, Sherquesha Stewart, Sara Grace Strickland, Ciara Thomas, Zavanna Turnipseed, Brooke Vickery, Kami Warren, Destiny Wells, Tristan Williams

Honor Graduates

At this time I would like to recognize the GTECHS Honor Graduates by presenting them with a white honor stole. The following students earned an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher for all high school and EMCC dual credit classes and received a white honor stole to wear during graduation. They are:  Joshua Ashford, Kelsey Bolden, Johne Brandy, Natyia Brooks, Kristina Desmidt, Tera Anna Dora, Mary Driskill, Xavier Eacholes, Kaely Fenton, Marissa Gilmore, Tylan Hinton, Jarius Hudgins, Quention Jamison, Ismenia Juarez, Kaleb Kellum, Dominique Key, Micaiah Latham, Makyah Lee, Jalyn Lofton, Mollie Lyons, Brandi McDonald, Madison McGrew, De’Ana Neal, Christian Oswalt, Madalynn Pettit, AnTonio Phillips, Makela Quinn, Acrissa Reese, Ayden Richardson, Katelyn Smith, Tomyah Smith, Sherquesha Stewart, Ciara Thomas, Brianna Vickery, Kami Warren, Destiny Thomas, Tristan Williams

Legacy Awards

These students encompass the mission, vision, and values of GTECHS and made a significant impact on the school and student body. The Class of 2021 GTECHS Legacy Award winners are Kelsey Bolden, Mary Driskill, Ismenia Juarez, Quentin Jamison, Kaleb Kellum and Ayden Richardson.

Scholarships

Collectively, the students were awarded about $400,000 in scholarships. Officials from the Mississippi University for Women and Mississippi State University were on hand to announce the scholarship recipients from their respective institutions.