Buz Grimsley (left) presented the Billy Grimsley Memorial Scholarship Award to John McGowan. The annual honors and awards program to honor the outstanding achievements of students was held Thursday night, May 27, 2010, at the Miller County High School Gymnasium.

Macey Richardson, president of the Senior Beta Club, gave the welcome, followed by the invocation. Jennifer Rathel, president of the FBLA Club, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Each year Miller County High School is proud to recognize outstanding student achievement in academic and vocational categories. In order to receive an academic or vocational award at honor’s night, a student must have taken at least four classes in a specific academic and vocational subject in grades nine - 12. The student also must have made an “A” in every class taken in the subject. Students received plaques for outstanding excellence. To receive a plaque, a student must have maintained a grade of 95 or above in each class taken during each and every grading period for the four years of attendance. Mrs. Jan Calhoun awarded plaques for having A’s in all four academic subjects for four years to Shakell Grant, Shanice Grimsley, LeAndra Kelley, Will Martin, Edward Sells, Alan Mickael Sherburn, and Bret Snow. Others receiving academic excellence awards were Dei’dra Beard, Ericka Benton, Chelsea Freeman, Kelsea Grimes, Taylor Henry, Mallory Jarvis, Sarah Jones, Hajiangelo Malinao, Jordan Parker, Macey Richardson, Frank Sisson, Jasmine Williams, LaTonya Williams, and Nicholas Young.

Receiving the first Ronnie McNease Memorial Scholarship was Zenario Shuler. The award was presented by McNease’s children, (from left) Jill McNease Addison, Jim McNease and Beth McNease Jarrett. Receiving vocational awards were Dei’dra Beard, Ericka Benton, Shakell Grant, Mallory Jarvis, Jordan Parker, Macey Richardson, Nicholas Young, Josh Broxton, Kasey Carter, Hunter Cleveland, Whitney Cobb, Caitlin Coker, Semeria Curry, Sukena Diamond, Jordan Foster, John McGowan, Trey Perryman, Jennifer Rathel, Dylan Spurlock, Justin Whitaker, and Zachary Whitaker.

Kelsea Grimes receives the STAR Student Award from Tracy Pickle, representing Ameris Bank. Shown with Kelsea is her STAR Teacher, Mrs. Georgia Ann Israel Mrs. Jan Calhoun also presented medallions to the students who have maintained the principal’s list. In order to receive a medallion, a student must have maintained a grade of 95 or above in each class taken during any grading period. Those receiving medallions were Seth Deane and Kaleb Whitaker.

To be a junior marshal, a student must be one of the top eight students in the junior class. These students lead the graduates at the graduation ceremony and provide assistance with graduation preparation. This year’s junior marshal awards were presented by Mrs. Leigh Ann Walton to Candice Adams, Elizabeth Bailey, Breanna Bush, Victoria Newberry, Jenna Phillips, Madison Posey, Mary Katherine Spooner, Kaitlyn Worsley and Salina Diamond.

Honor graduates are( front row, L-R) LaTonya Williams, Jasmine Williams, Ericka Benton, Frank Sisson, Jordan Parker, Chelsea Freeman, Dei’dra Beard, Kelsea Grimes, LeAndra Kelley, Nicholas Young; (back row) Shanice Grimsley, Will Martin, Shakell Grant, Alan Mickael Sherburn, Haji Malinao, Eddie Sells, Taylor Henry, Bret Snow. Next the honor graduates of the class of 2010 were recognized. In order to be an honor graduate from Miller County High School, a student must complete the college preparatory curriculum with distinction which includes a minimum of four years of English, four years of social studies, four years of lab science, four years of math, and two years of the same foreign language. The student must also have attained a cumulative grade point average for the four years in those core areas of at least 90. The final grades must be calculated before honor graduates are known for sure, but at the time of the program, the following students had met the requirements: Dea’dra Beard, Ericka Benton, Whitney Cobb, Jordan Foster, Chelsea Freeman, Shakell Grant, Kelsea Grimes, Shanice Grimsley, Taylor Henry, LeAndra Kelley, Haji Malinao, Will Martin, Jordan Parker, Eddie Sells, Alan Mickael Sherburn, Frank Sisson, Bret Snow, Jasmine Williams, Latonya Williams, and Nicholas Young.

Receiving awards from the Community Development Corportion are(L-R) Elaine Chaffin, representing the CDC, Zenario Shuler, Azeb Richardson, Chamondia Moten, Sarah Jones, and Debra Atkinson, representing the CDC. Next on the program, Mrs. Christy Whitaker and Mrs.Leigh Ann Walton presented Beta stoles. To receive a Beta stole to be worn at graduation, the student must be a senior member who has been in good standing for three consecutive years. To receive a Beta tassel to be worn at graduation, the student must be a member of the Beta Club in good standing. This includes maintaining an overall grade point average of 90 or above as well as satisfactory conduct within each class. These students must also participate in community and school projects while showing exemplary character and leadership towards their fellow classmates, teachers, school, and community. The following students were awarded with a Beta stole and/or tassel to be worn at graduation: Dei’dra Beard, Ericka Benton, Jordan Foster, Chelsea Freeman, Kelsea Grimes, Shanice Grimsley, Sarah Jones, LeAndra Kelley, Will Martin, Jordan Parker, Macey Richardson, Frank Sisson and Bret Snow. Those receiving a Beta tassel to be worn at graduation were Kaleb Whitaker, Hunter Cleveland, Janelle Grant, Mallory Jarvis, Josh Broxton, Taylor Henry, Alan Mickael Sherburn, LaTonya Williams, and Eddie Sells.

Principal Robert McIntosh presented the Lion’s Club Award to Frank Sisson and Dei’dra Beard. The top two students are LeAndra Kelley and Will Martin. Macey Richardson, president of the Beta Club, Jordan Parker, vice president, Shanice Grimsley, secretary, Kaleb Whitaker, treasurer, Hunter Cleveland, reporter, and Dei’dra Beard, parliamentarian, were awarded plaques for serving as the class officers of the Class of 2010.

The Colquitt Lions Club awards a $250 scholarship to one senior boy and one senior girl who will be attending college, vocational school, or other training equivalent to vocational school. Principal Robert McIntosh, representing the Lions Club, presented this year’s scholarships to recipients, Dei’dra Beard and Frank Sisson.

The Jerry Widner Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Janell Grant and Frank Sisson. Shown with the recipients are Widner’s wife, Grace, his mother, Louvenia, along with his grandchildren. Each year a top academic senior is named the STAR Student and is sponsored by Ameris Bank and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators Foundation. To obtain the STAR nomination, students must have the highest score in one sitting on the Scholastic Assessment Test taken through the November test date of the senior year and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students in their class. Ameris Bank awards the STAR Student with a scholarship of $300 to be presented after the student enrolls in the college of his or her choice. Tracy Pickle presented this year’s award to Kelsea Grimes. Kelsea chose Georgia Ann Israel as her STAR Teacher.

Junior marshals receiving awards were (L-R) Breanna Bush, Kaitlyn Worsley, Victoria Newberry, Madison Posey, and Elizabeth Bailey. Each year when final grades are calculated, the two students with the highest academic core grade point average in the senior class are recognized as valedictorian and salutatorian. LeAndra Kelley and Will Martin are the top two graduates.

To be eligible for salutatorian, a senior must have completed the college preparatory with distinction program of study. He or she must have achieved the second highest academic core grade point average in this program. The core courses include four English, four mathematics, four social studies, four science, and two foreign language. First State Bank, represented by Livvy Smith, recognized this achievement by awarding the student with a $300.00 scholarship.

LeAndra Kelley received the Justin Calhoun Memorial Scholarship from Jan Calhoun (left) and the Wheatley Acdemic Scholarship from David Jenkins. To be eligible for valedictorian, a senior must have completed the college preparatory with distinction program of study. He or she must have achieved the highest academic core grade point average in this program. The core courses include four English, four mathematics, four social studies, four science, and two foreign language. PeoplesSouth Bank, represented by Sandra Womble, recognized this achievement by awarding the student with a $300.00 scholarship.

When final grades are calculated, one of these students will be named valedictorian and the other salutatorian.

Bainbridge College presented this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian, Will Martin and LeAndra Kelley each with a $1000.00 scholarship.

The Sons of Colquitt Scholarship was awarded to Will Martin.

Troy State University, represented by Amy Farber presented Eddie Sells a full scholarship to Troy University.

Kelsea Grimes received a $3000 scholarship to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Presenting the award from ABAC was Keith Barber. Kelsea has enrolled at ABAC and will start in the fall.

The Jerry Widner Scholarship was awarded to Janell Grant and Frank Sisson.

The first Ronnie McNease Memorial Scholarship was given to the student who possessed the qualities that Coach McNease would have wanted. His children, Jim, Beth and Jill, presented the first Ronnie McNease memorial award to Zenario Shuler.

The Billy Grimsley Scholarship, given by Buz Grimsley, in memory of his late father, was presented to John McGowan. Mr. Billy was an ag teacher at Miller County High School before his death.

Eddie Sells received a full four-year scholarship to Troy University from Amy Farber, representing Troy. Mrs. Jan Calhoun, representing the family of the late Justin Calhoun, presented the Justin Calhoun Memorial Scholarship to LeAndra Kelley. Justin was a graduate of Miller County High School and was attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at the time of his death.

The Yale Book Award is designed to recognize outstanding juniors in secondary schools around the country. The award is presented by the Yale Club of Southwest Georgia to a junior at Miller County High School selected by the faculty as a person who exhibits outstanding personal character and intellectual promise. Representing Yale, Greg Fullerton presented this year’s award to Breanna Bush.

David Jenkins presented the Wheatley Academic Scholarship award to Le- Andra Kelley.

Debra Atkinson and Elaine Chaffin, representing the Community Development Corporation, awarded a $5000.00 scholarship and a lap top computer to Azeb Richardson, Chamondia Moten, Sarah Jones, and Zenario Shuler.

Breanna Bush received the Yale Book Award from Greg Fullerton For the first year, Brad Bell, owner of Sub Way in Colquitt, presented an award to one deserving senior. This year’s recipient was Jennifer Rathel. Brad is a big supporter of the schools in Miller County as well as his involvement in the community.

Katrina Crankfield received a full two year scholarship to Andulusia College in Andulusia, AL.

Georgia Certificates of Merit were awarded by Mandy Long to Kaitlyn Worsley, Victoria Newberry and Kaycee Varnum.

The Trojan Opportunity Scholarship at Troy University in the amount of $1800 was awarded to Dei’dra Beard. She also received a $500 color guard scholarship from Troy University in Troy, AL.

Jennifer Rathel (left) received a scholarship from Subway, represented by Shirley Wolfe. Zenario Shuler received a full, four-year football scholarship to Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Will Martin received a two year basketball full scholarship to Atlanta Metropolitan Community College.

The Pepsi Cola Bottling Company in Bainbridge has presented Miller County High School with a $600 scholarship for deserving high school seniors. Our school has chosen to present two $300 scholarships to two seniors who will be enrolling in a post-secondary school, have a strong academic record, have been involved in extra-curricular activities at school and in the community, and have written an essay explaining how they will use this money to further their educational goals. Mandy Long presented these two awards to Jennifer Rathel and Alan Mickael Sherburn.

Miller County High School Principal Robert McIntosh gave the closing remarks, followed by the benediction by LeAndra Kelley.

Refreshments were served to the seniors and their parents after the awards ceremony.

Congratulations are extended to all the ones who received awards. Hard work does pay off!