They’ve spent countless late nights and weekends studying for four years, but they’ll have to wait a few more days before finding out who the valedictorian of Bryan County High School’s class of 2016 is.
“Final grades are due Wednesday for seniors, so it’s down to the wire,” said Inga Cashon, engineering and technology teacher, after the school’s Honors Day program Friday morning.
The top 10 in the class are: Matthew Allen, Samantha Boyd, Heather Bradish, Sarah Hughes, Allison Lamb, Kaylin Leggett, Apurv Patel, Taylor Roop, Logan Scott and Katrina Stillwell.
Zach Padilla was named “Redskin of the Year,” an award nominated and voted on by faculty for a senior who exhibits school pride.
Other award winners were:
Georgia Military Scholarship: Logan Scott
Nesmith Chevrolet Scholar Athlete: Kaylin Leggett
International Skills Diploma: Victoria Lanier, Taylor Mann
Lions Club STAR Student: Apurv Patel (STAR teacher: Pam Crawford)
Roman Czerwinski, who teaches Spanish at BCHS, said Lanier and Mann are the first two students in the county to receive the International Skills Diploma seal, which the Georgia Department of Education introduced for the first time this year. It requires at least three credits in a foreign language, four credits with an international focus, four extracurricular activities with an international focus, 20 hours of community service that involves fund raising for a global or cross-cultural project and a Capstone presentation. Students in only 62 schools statewide qualified for the seal this year, Czerwinski said.
Several JROTC award winners also were recognized.
Distinguished: Brett Kohler, Steven Boyd
Superior Cadet: Tatianna Franks, Lindsay Bowen, Patrick VonWaldner, Noah VonWaldner, Rosie Walker
Special Forces Association: Lindsay Bowen, Cody Cameron
Daughters of the American Revolution: Amy Rountree
Presidential Fitness Award: Alex Hearn
Military Order of the Purple Heart: Tatianna Franks
Military Officers Association: Logan Scott
American Veterans Association: Meghan Scott
Retired Enlisted Association: Christian Morgan
Be sure to see the special graduation section in the Bryan County News May 19.