ROCKINGHAM – Richmond Senior High School hosted their annual awards banquet on Thursday, May 17th, in the cafeteria. After the welcoming commentary by Principal Jim Butler and the invocation by Board of Education Chairman Wiley Mabe, the accolades, kudos, and awards began to flow.
One hundred and fifty individual awards representing twenty categories were noted, with numerous students receiving multiple types of kudos. Particularly significant designations included:
Top SAT Scores: Melvin Sergio Orichi Socana (Senior); Mason R. Bailey (Junior); and Joshua Loftus Bruce (Sophomore).
Top ACT Test Scores: Melvin Sergio Orichi Socana (Senior); Mason R. Bailey and Alexander Wade Anderson (Juniors).
Outstanding Students: John Carter Roberson (English and Social Studies); Daryn Emmanuel Mason (Math); and Zane Gregory Ritter (Science).
Beta Club Awards: John Carter Roberson and Mary Elizabeth Davis.
Wendy’s Corporation Heisman Award: Shelby Marie Matheson.
North Carolina Governor’s School: Kylie Nicole McDonald, Emily Rene Parsons, and Gabriella Taylor Pione.
Class Valedictorian: Alexandra Mackenzie Webb
Class Salutatorian: Shelby Marie Matheson
All-Around Senior Award: Altman Elizabeth Griffin and Dante Davon Miller
Principal’s Award: Megan Brianna Bayusek and Daryn Emmanuel Mason
Distinguished Service Award: James McKenzie Cooley and Shelby Marie Matheson
Chief Junior Marshal: Kylie Nicole McDonald
No less than 125 private scholarships were awarded by 68 separate organizations, groups and/or individual sponsors. Of these scholarship recipients, the following students received six or more offers of possible financial assistance: Latasha Baker (9); Shelby Marie Matheson (8); Daryn Emmanuel Mason (7); and Megan Brianna Baysek (6).
Special recognition was given to the 22 students who received a total of 37 offers of direct scholarships from 22 colleges and/or universities:
Elizabeth Owen Bowers; Rahjanyi Saleemah Brown; Destiny Jennifer Buie; Donald Eugene Caulder; Britney Marie Chambers; Michael Chase Coulthard (4); Haylie Grace Edmunds; Caela Brooke Goins (2); Brandon Kendall Jackson; Jonathan Taylor Lee; Zaria Bronte’ Little-Young (5); Victor Daniel Lucero; Shelby Marie Matheson; Cameron Alexander McDonald (3); Dante Devon Miller; Shakeba Iyona Monroe; Tyme Ramsey Glynn Nunn (3); Bethany Lauren Pattan (3); Amia Letrice Pemberton; Cierra Lataisha Peterkin; Melvin Sergio Orichi Socana; and Emma Katelynn Williams (2).
NOTE: Parentheticals represent the number of scholarship offers/awards/recognitions received by that particular student within the designated category.
Principal Butler’s denoted message to the honored students and their families was as follows:
“The Academic Awards Banquet is one of the highlights in the life of a Raider. It is the culmination of long hours and extra effort throughout the school year. At the end of this long road, we honor those students that have diligently worked to achieve these recognitions. During this year, there have been successes and failures. In each instance, there has been something valuable learned. It is my hope that each one of you will take these lessons and create something special. Richmond Senior High hopes that each of our graduates will have the necessary skills to be successful in the next chapter of their lives.
Congratulations to our high achieving Raiders and their families. Please know how proud we are of each of you. You will always be Raiders. We look forward to seeing you achieve your dreams.
Congratulations on this night of very special Raider Magic!”
It should be noted that generous financial assistance and support for the banquet was provided by patrons Hudson Paving, Inc. and Peking Wok, as well as donors Alpha Pi Chi Sorority, HCI Fire and Water Restoration, and the Woman’s Club of Hamlet.
