TCHS “Dawgs” Earn Over $500,000 in Scholarships

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The Toombs County High School Bulldogs have announced the “Top Dawgs” of the school’s Class of 2023, several of which received scholarships. A total of $171,292 in scholarship funds – with a four-year total of $637,468 — was given away during the Senior Honors Night on Monday, May 15.

Will Watts had the largest scholarship, as he received an athletic scholarship for football from Erskine College. The scholarship has a four-year total value of $144,000. Neal Braddy received a University of Montevallo Bass Fishing Scholarship worth $32,000 per year, with a maximum four-year yield of $128,000.

Jamar Jones and Allison Walker also received scholarships with four-year totals of over $100,000 from Mercer University. Jones received the University’s Dean’s Scholarship, Partner’s Scholarship, and University Merit Scholarship, which totaled $29,742, providing a total commitment of $118,968 over the next four years. Waller received the University Adiel Sherwood Scholarship and University Merit Scholarship, providing her $25,000 per year for the next 4 years.

Anyadi Colmenares received $13,000 per year, totaling a $52,000 fouryear commitment, from her Point University Athletic and Academic Scholarship. She will use the scholarship to continue her education and soccer career.

Asia Mobley and Damian Vanauken were awarded REACH Scholarships as a result of their fulfillment to the contract that they signed in 8th grade. In this contract, the students promised to keep good attendance, grades, and behavior in exchange for a $10,000 scholarship for four years of their college education.

Rylie Lumley and Emily Howell were both recognized for their Brewton- Parker College Athletic Scholarships. Lumley received a softball scholarship worth $9,500 per year, with a four-year total commitment of $38,000, while Howell gained a wrestling scholarship valued at $5,000 per year, with a four-year maximum scholarship of $20,000.

Ethan Corbitt received a $2,000 Chick-Fil-A Scholarship as a result of his employment at the local franchise.

Several $1,000 scholarships were presented to the graduates. These recipients included: Gracie Tankersley – Scott Meehan Scholarship; Allison Waller – Thomas P. Hutcheson Scholarship, Meadows Youth Advisory Board Medical Staff Scholarship; Drake Kennedy – TSA E.J. Stovall Scholarship; Alexis Hart, Jeremy Kramer, and Ryleigh Phillips – Toombs County Young Farmers Scholarship in memory of Johnny Jones; Funtain Tank Morris – Barney Bonfield Memorial Scholarship.

Lilly Bullard and Allison Waller received $625 in scholarship funding from the Community Men in Action/Robin Matthews Scholarship.

Students also were awarded several scholarships valued at $500. Those awardees were Gracie Tankersley – Kiwanis Club of Vidalia Cliff A. Poe Scholarship; Adam Copeland – Toombs County 4-H Project S.A.F.E. Scholarship; Owen Anken – Quint Shrine Scholarship; Ethan Corbitt – Lyons Industrial High School Alumni Association T.R. Maxwell Scholarship; Alexa Ledford – Toombs County Retired Educators Association Nan Price Memorial Scholarship, Billy Robertson Scholarship; Corina Duque – American Red Cross Scholarship; Jazlyn Denmark – College Board Opportunity Scholarship; Funtain Tank Morris – Billy Robertson Scholarship. Military Enlistments

Students choosing to enter the military after graduation were honored for their decision to serve the country.

Trenton Corbitt has enlisted in the National Guard, which will cover his college tuition in exchange for his service one weekend per month and two weeks per year throughout his college experience. Corbitt is also eligible for additional scholarships through this enlistment.

Cameron Versluis will join the U.S. Navy after graduation, while Dalton Warf will serve in the U.S. Army. Krista Caldwell, Gustavo Delgado, Victor Lara, and Brooklyn Waters will all become U.S. Marines.

These military enlistments add a total of $574,000 of funding for the students in addition to the $637,468 four-year scholarship total previously mentioned.

Valedictorian & Salutatorian To be valedictorian or salutatorian at Toombs County High School, a student must have maintained a 90 or above cumulative GPA and completed at least 15 courses designated as Accelerated, AP, and/or Dual Enrollment courses. Allison Walker has been named valedictorian, while Joseph Ramos has been named the class’s salutatorian.

Honor Grads

The class’s honor graduates with distinction, who have maintained a 90 or above cumulative GPA and have completed at least 11 courses that are designated as Accelerated, AP, and/ or Dual Enrollment courses, were: Daniel Adorno Pagan, Owen Anken, Kaleila Badie, Emma Beasley, Kaliegh Braddock, Carson Braddy, Neal Braddy, Jeremy Brantley, Lily Bullard, Temeria Cobb, Adam Copeland, Ethan Corbitt, Trenton Corbitt, Jazmin Dasher, Jazlyn Denmark, Jameson Dykes, Valerie Edwards, Kara Frost, Jamison Gates, Carli Hackle, Mitchell Hall, Alexis Hart, Brayden Helms, Emily Hower, Taylor Hutcheson, Tyler James, Jamar Jones, Mary Jones, Alexa Ledford, Julia Lopez-Rojas, Carla Martinez-Luna, Funtain Morris, Vanessa Oliver, Rebecca Parra, Kaley Pitts, Joseph Ramos, Jairo Reyes-Avila, Marle Riner, Ronnie Robinson, Ali Roman, Lance Saleh, Brantley Grace Smith, Christian Tankersley, Angeles Tinoco, Allison Waller, Brooklyn Waters, Emma Williams, Drayton Willis, and Giovanni Yescas.

The class’s honor graduates were: Miciah Anthony, Taylor Bazemore, Renasha Cook, Gustavo Delgado, Corina Duque, Cameron Faison, D'Anna Griffin, Cristobal Hernandez, Davidson Jarriel, Drake Kennedy, Jeremy Kramer, Victor Lara, Diego Lopez, Rylie Lumley, Carlos Martinez, Jaden McCloud, Sarah Morris, Lucas O'Conner, David O'Connor, Kevin Rios-Hernandez, Viviana Rodriguez, Kaitlyn Story, Cameron Versluis, Dalton Warf, and Keyone Williams.

The Top 10 Juniors (Class of 2024) in the school served as the ushers for the ceremony, which was held on Saturday, May 20. Those students were: Charles Aiden Barton, Caley Anna Braddock, Kassidy Brantley, Gabriel Davis, Madison Truc Ho, Grace Holt, Dawson McLendon, Carlie Richter, Ashlyn Welch, and Jonathan Levi Worth.

Dual Enrollment

Southeastern Technical College (STC) Vice President of Student Affairs Barry Dotson presented the graduates with graduation regalia based on the amount of success which each found in dual enrollment classes.

Students that were recognized for maintaining a “C” average in one or more dual enrollment course at Southeastern Technical College were Kaleila Badie, Carson Braddy, Mason Braddy, Lily Bullard, Temeria Cobb, Anyadi Colmenares, Ethan Corbitt, Trenton Corbitt, Lydia Crawley, Harmony Dorsey, Sarah Doughtie-Morris, Valerie Edwards, Cameron Faison, Lillian Featherston, Mitchell Gavin Hall, Alexis Hart, Lauren Hattaway, Brayden Helms, Jamar Jones, Drake Kennedy, Zoie Lawson, Olga Leon-Bautista, Jaden McCloud, Funtain Tank Morris, Vanessa Oliver, Rebecca Parra, Walker Robinson, Viviana Rodriguez, Ali Roman, Lance Saleh, Jackson Seagraves, Emma Williams, Clayton Williamson, and Gibson Wood.

Several graduates were recognized for completing 12 or more college credit hours at STC during their high school experience. They were Daniel Adorno-Pagan, Brian Almazan, Owen Anken, Emma Beasley, Kaliegh Braddock, Neal Braddy, Jeremy Dawson Brantley, Krista Cantwell, Adam Copeland, Jayda Creamer, Rodrigo Cruz, Jazlyn Denmark, Jameson Drew Dykes, Kara Frost, Jamison Gates, Carli Hackle, Rodney Hunter Hitchcock, Emily Hower, Taylor Hutcheson, Alyssa Hutchinson, Tyler James, Mary Ellen Jones, Alexa Ledford, Julia Lopez-Rojas, Carla Martinez-Luna, David Bralynn O'Connor, Kaley Pitts, Joseph Ramos, Jairo Reyes, Marle Riner, Gracie Tankersley, Angeles Tinoco, Brooklyn Waters, Drayton Willis, and Giovanni Yescas.

Brantley Grace Smith and Allison Waller were also awarded medals and honor cords for completing over 30 college credit hours during high school.

Awards

Highest Average

Graduates with the highest average in a variety of subjects were recognized for this academic achievement. They were: Economics – Keyone Williams; AP Calculus – Tyler James; Advanced Mathematical Decision Making – Daniel Adorno Pagan; Human Anatomy and Physiology – Allison Waller; AP Environmental Science – Giovanni Yescas; British Literature – Keyone Williams; AP English Literature and Composition – Vanessa Oliver. Excellence in Education Award One student per congressional district is selected from system nominations each year to receive the Georgia Department of Education Award of Excellence. Jasmine Kight was recently recognized by State School Superintendent Dr. Richard Woods for achieving academic excellence and excelling in both academics and athletics.

STAR Student

Allison Waller was announced as the 2022-2023 Toombs County High School STAR Student. Waller earned this honor by scoring the highest on the SAT/ACT out of the Top 10 students in the grade. DAR Good Citizen Award

Funtain Tank Morris was recognized by his school as the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen Award recipient for the school. He was selected for this award by his teachers for having demonstrated the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism.

Young Georgia Authors Competition

Joseph Ramos was recognized for his victory for the 12th Grade RESA First District Division of the writing competition, and his Honorable Mention finish at the area level of competition.

Citizenship Award

Alexis Hart and Funtain Tank Morris were awarded the Vincent J. Dooley Citizenship Award, which recognizes distinguished individual character, outstanding teamwork, and citizenship. According to Athletic Director Buddy Martin, the purpose of the award is to call attention to the high esteem in which the values of hard work, sportsmanship, and community service are held, so that they may become a stronger part of the ethos of participation in Georgia high school sports.

Multi-Sport Award Graduates Will Watts and Funtain Tank Morris were given a trophy as an acknowledgement of the multiple sports in which they lettered during their high school career. To earn this award, the students had to letter in three or more sports, which Watts did in football, wrestling, and baseball, while Morris participated in football, wrestling, and track & field.

Band Awards

Giovanni Yescas was presented the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, while Jamison Gates and Jeremy Kramer were honored for their participation in the District 1 Honor Band.

Greater Vidalia Youth Leadership Several students were recognized for their participation in the Greater Vidalia Youth Leadership program. They were Emma Beasley, Funtain Tank Morris, Daniel Adorno- Pagan, Allison Waller, Emma Williams, and Keyone Williams.

Peoples Bank Youth Advisory Board Neal Braddy, Ethan Corbitt, Jamison Gates, and Lucas O’Connor were given an award for their work on the Peoples Bank Youth Advisory Board. Meadows Regional Medical Center Staff Youth Advisory BoardO wen Anken and Allison Waller were also recognized for their involvement with the Meadows Regional Medical Center Staff Youth Advisory Board. Lead4Change Leadership Program Miciah Anthony, Jeimi Benitez-Leonides, Jasmine Kight, Zoie Lawson, Julia Lopez-Rojas, Tau'Mauria Mincey, and Kaley Pitts were all acknowledged for their work with the Lead-4Change Leadership Program.

Red Cord Recipients

Numerous students received a red cord to wear at graduation; this cord signified the students’ fulfillment of their civil duty by donating blood at least three times during their senior year. These recipients were Kaleigh Braddock, Lydia Crawley, Jayda Creamer, Rodrigo Cruz, Corina Duque, Ella Esco, Jose Eddie Gonzalez, Olga Leon, Carla Martinez-Luna, Jarvis Monereau, Yailyn Moran, Kaley Pitts, Ali Roman, Brooklyn Waters, Keyone Williams, and Drayton Willis.

FFA Awards

Chapter Degrees

Students receiving FFA Chapter degrees for their time devoted to their Supervised Agricultural Experience and involvement in the organization were given a gold cord to wear at graduation. These students may continue to work towards their FFA State Degree for one year after graduating. FFA Chapter Degrees were presented to Camryn Bigley, Noah Boyett, Jayda Creamer, Rodrigo Cruz-Quintino, Kamari Curtis, Javontay Daniels, Gustavo Delgado, Ella Esco, Christian Ford, Melvin Galarza Ramos, Jose Eddy Gonzalez, Cristian Gutierrez, Darrius Harris, Celeste Hernandez, Rodney Hunter Hitchcock, Caleb Jackson, Trevor Dalton Lane, Trevor Miller, Funtain Tank Morris, Jaquavius Peeples, Donald Perez-Quiroga, Clayton Porras, Marle Riner, Davontae Smith, Raychel Stanley, Natalia Wentworth, Landon Williams, Clayton Williamson, and Jonathan Yanez.

State Degrees

FFA State Degree recipients were presented a blue and gold cord to signify their achievement of the highest honor in Georgia FFA. These students were Neal Braddy, Alexis Hart, Britten Herndon, Jeremy Kramer, and Ryleigh Phillips. Leadership Recognition

Alexis Hart and Ryleigh Phillips were awarded medals to thank them for their leadership in the Toombs County High School FFA chapter. Hart served as the 20222023 Toombs County High School FFA President, while Phillips held the Reporter office for the chapter in 2020-2021 and the Historian office for the chapter in 2021-2022. Club and Community Service Participation Students were awarded different cords for their participation in a variety of clubs, through which they completed community service activities. Georgia Technology Student Association Adam Copeland Trenton Corbitt Tyler James Drake Kennedy Diego Lopez Ramon Martinez- Mata

Future Business Leaders of America

Owen Anken Kaleigh Braddock Rodrigo Cruz Jamison Gates Keyone Williams Ethan Corbitt 4-H Adam Copeland Jazlyn Denmark Britten Herndon Caleb Jackson Yailin Moran-Aguilar Brantley Grace Smith Clayton Williamson Beta Club

Daniel Adorno-Pagan Brian Almanza Owen Anken Kaleila Badie Emma Beasley Neal Braddy Dawson Brantley Krista Cantwell Trenton Corbitt Ethan Corbitt Lydia Crawley Rodrigo Cruz Jazlyn Denmark Harmony Dorsey Valerie Edwards Kara Frost Jamison Gates Gavin Hall Alexis Hart Emily Hower Victor Lara Alexa Ledford Julia Lopez-Rojas Carla Martinez-Luna Funtain Tank Morris Rebecca Parra Kaley Pitts Joseph Ramos Jairo Reyes Marle Riner Walker Robinson Ali Roman Lance Saleh Gracie Tankersley Allison Waller Brooklyn Waters Emma Williams Keyone Williams Drayton Willis Gibson Wood Giovanni Yescas