County's top scholars get set for graduation
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 8, 2011 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL BETTS
Top students from area public high schools have been named and will be speaking at upcoming commencement ceremonies that start Friday evening. Front row, from left, are Eastern Wayne High School valedictorian Amber Miller and salutatorian Morgan Jeffreys; Rosewood High salutatorian Dakota Hersey and valedictorian Kelly Best; and Charles B. Aycock High salutatorian Harlie Howard and valedictorian Cameron Howell. Back row, Goldsboro High valedictorian Habekah Cannon and salutatorian Robert Wynn; Spring Creek High co-salutatorian Kent Jernigan, valedictorian James Beavers and co-salutatorian Ryan Viverette; and Southern Wayne High salutatorian Mindy Godwin and valedictorian Jessica Best.
By next week, Wayne County Public Schools will have graduated 1,206 seniors from the Class of 2011 -- 1,113 from the six traditional schools and 93 from the newest, non-traditional high schools.
Thirty-seven students already participated in commencement ceremonies as part of the fourth graduating class at Wayne Early/Middle College High School last month. Of those, 19 also earned two-year associate degrees from Wayne Community College and two earned associate in arts diplomas.
Wayne School of Engineering held its first graduation on May 28, with 56 students receiving diplomas.
Six ceremonies remain, with the first to be held Friday evening, four on Saturday morning and the last Tuesday night. Admission is by ticket only.
Rosewood High School has 114 graduates. Ceremonies will be held Friday at 7 p.m. on Branch Pope football field.
Valedictorian is Kelly Best, who plans to attend Campbell University and study English and communications.
Salutatorian Dakota Hersey will be attending UNC-Wilmington and majoring in marketing and advertising.Eastern Wayne High will hold ceremonies on Saturday at 9 a.m. on Warrior football field. The school has 240 graduates.
Valedictorian is Amber Miller, who plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill and study biomedical engineering. Salutatorian Morgan Jeffreys will also be going to UNC-Chapel Hill, to study biology.
Goldsboro High ceremonies will also begin at 9 a.m. in Cougar Stadium, with 140 candidates for diplomas.
Valedictorian Habekah Cannon will be attending Hampton University and majoring in English.
Salutatorian Robert Wynn has been accepted at A&T University, where he will study mechanical engineering.
Charles B. Aycock High is celebrating its 50th graduating class with 291 students receiving diplomas. The school's namesake was also the state's 50th governor, pointed out Dr. Earl Moore, CBA principal. Several special features will mark the ceremony, he said, including having students wear white graduation gowns and inviting the first graduating class to attend.
Graduation will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. on Hardy Talton athletic field.
Valedictorian Cameron Howell said she plans to study biology at N.C. State University, while salutatorian Harlie Howard will study earth science at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Spring Creek High will hold exercises for its 109 graduates in Kornegay Arena at Mount Olive College on Saturday morning at 10.
Valedictorian is James Beavers, who will study computer science at N.C. State.
The school has two salutatorians this year. Kent Jernigan will study business administration at N.C. State, while Ryan Viverette will major in biomedical science at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Southern Wayne High graduation will also be held in Kornegay Arena at MOC, on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. The school has 219 graduates this year.
Jessica Best is valedictorian. She will be attending UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall, majoring in business and marketing.
Salutatorian Mindy Godwin said she plans to attend UNC-Wilmington to pursue a degree in middle grades education.
While most seniors have already completed exams, the official last day of classes for the remainder of students is Thursday, when schools operate on an abbreviated schedule.