McKenzie Middle School Hosts Honors Banquet

McKENZIE — McKenzie Middle School Beta Club and McKenzie Rotary Club hosted the annual Honors Banquet on Monday, April 15 at the school.

McKenzie Rotary Club hosted the banquet for the honor students prior to the ceremony in the school’s cafeteria.

The ceremony started with Jason Martin, president of McKenzie Rotary Club welcoming students and parents to the event.

Matt Merrick, an alumnus of McKenzie High School, was the featured speaker. Merrick encouraged the students to have a good attitude and apply the needed effort in their endeavors.

He spoke of his grandfather, Bill Boothe, who grew up on a farm in the early 1900s. Booth’s dad died and then his brother. Booth dropped out of school to work to support the family. He then served in WWII and had a great career working with the U.S. Postal Service. He had perseverance.

Merrick also spoke about President Abraham Lincoln, who had many disappointments and failures in his life. He lost elections and finally won the presidency and served during the country’s most turbulent time. Lincoln failed often, said Merrick, but in the end, he achieved his goal.

The annual Melinda Garrett Leader of the Year award was presented to Kynadie Brown by teacher Beth Mathis. The award is presented each year to an eighth grade student who leads by example, chooses to do what is right, presents exemplary character, has outstanding work ethic, and is a friend to everyone.

To attend this evening’s banquet, the student had to have all A’s and B’s for the first, second and third nine weeks, and also have a cumulative GPA of 92.

Here is a list of the honorees. An asterisk is beside those in the top 10 of their class.

Fifth Grade honorees: Ruthie Adkins*, Layla Arnold, Deacon Barden*, Aiden Blackwell*, Ashton Blackwell, Annabelle Bobb, Macy Brooks, Payton Cox*, Cooper Cunningham*, Zander Cunningham, Eli Davis, Micah Dickinson*, Julee Eubanks, Malcolm Evans, Sonny Fuller, Alice Gallimore*, Reed Gaskins, Emma Lifsey, Brantzen Melton, Xander Morgan, Mallorie Pierce, Sophie Price*, Kiya Priddy, Gavin Scott, Graham Seavers”, Callie Sevick, Rena Weaver, and Claire Wilkins*.

Sixth Grade honorees: Andrew Arnold*, Jackson Barden*, Bella Batton, Kaylee Berryhill, Lane Brown, Abby Carroll*, Charlie Cassidy*, Dakoda Cowan, Finnian Evans, Miles Fontana*, Dierks Ghyers*, Jake Ghyers, Andres Hernandez, Nevaeh Herris*, Noah Johnsonius, Cooper Jones, Steven Long, Aiden Long, Sami Mathis, Ed Maynard, Cason Mayo, McCoy Merrick, Madilyn Milam, Will Newman*, Kallie O’Rouke, Ulises Ramirez*, Charles Scott, Seth Stafford, Case Wall*, Reid Warman, Margaret Webb, Lucas Wilson.

Seventh Grade honorees: Kynlee Barden*, Alleigh Britt, Lillian Brown, Kaleigh Champion, Brylie Chester, Grayson Cook, Meghan Cowan, MaKayla Dabbs*, Sophie Dameron*, Ryan Davis*, Alan Dixon, Ellie Doede, Clay Fowler*, Brycen Galicia, Hudson Garrett, Chloe Giddens, Ridley Holt, Reed Little, Liam Moore*, Mary Ryan Morris, Brin Murray*, Helena Phipps, Tucker Redmond, Dawson Reeder*, Bentlee Shands, Hadley Smith, Lola Sumrok, Colby Swalley, Marlee Toombs, Zariyah Townes, Frannie Trout”, Kinsley Wilson, and Routon Wilson.

Eighth Grade honorees: Braylin Auvenshine*, Ethan Bradberry, Bridget Brandon, Kynadie Brown, Sophie Cole*, Aden Cook*, Cooper Davidson, Molly Drewry*, Maggie Hall, Ethan High*, Alex Hughes*, Addyson Lee, Addison Milam, Ava Newman, Rakelle Oliver*, Cayden Ownby, Stephanie Padilla*, Landon Rader, Joseph Rogers, Bryson Smith, Jaycee Stafford*, Sophie Taylor*.