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McKenzie Middle School Hosts Honors Banquet

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McKENZIE (April 16) — McKenzie Middle School hosted its annual Honors Banquet Tuesday, sponsored by the McKenzie Rotary Club. Students were honored for maintaining a non-rounded 92 average in each nine-week grading period, and other awards were presented for various achievements.
Following a meal for honor students and special guests in the cafeteria, all gathered in the gymnasium for the awards ceremony. Rotary President Krista Martin welcomed everyone, noting her club’s mission of investing in the community and education.
MMS Beta Club sponsor Josh Kee then introduced the guest speaker, 2009 MHS alum Kelsey Cooper. The daughter of Eric and Mistee Cooper, Kelsey was a Rebel cheerleader for 8 years and a five-time All-American cheerleader. She was a member of the 2005 MHS squad that took first place at the TSSAA State Cheerleading Championship.
Cooper graduated from the University of Memphis in 2013 with degrees in Fashion Merchandising and Interior Design. She lives in Memphis and works for Varsity Spirit. Cooper is also the State Director of Mississippi for the Universal Cheerleaders Association.
In her remarks, Cooper shared three aspects that she says helped her reach her goals and become successful in her career.
The first was education. “Education is a key to success. It plays an important role in providing us with knowledge while opening doors to brilliant career opportunities. [It] builds confidence to make decisions, to face life and to accept successes and failures.” She went on to say, “Whatever your dreams or goals are, your education is so very important. Give it your best and get the best. Education is something that no one can take from you.”
Next, she pointed to hard work and determination. “Determination is one of the most important traits a person can bear. When you are determined, you have the drive to work through difficult times, reach your goals and push yourself to do your best. I credit a lot of my success to the hard work I put in and determination to be better than anyone else has been in this job... Dreams and goals are accomplished when you have the determination to aim for them, working your hardest to do your best. So if it is academics, sports, music or whatever your passion is, give it your all. Hard work and determination always pays off.”
Finally, she stressed the importance of a support system, including family, friends, teachers, coaches and church family. “The network of people you trust and look to for guidance is important for success... You will face both big and small challenges throughout your academic and professional career, and it’s important to have people to lean on in times of need.” In closing she advised students to value those three aspects of life and to always go the extra mile. Kee presented a gift to Cooper for her contribution to the ceremony.
Next, the Melinda Garrett Leader of the Year Award, named for an MHS graduate who died of a sudden illness in 2006, was presented by MMS teacher Beth Mathis, who graduated with Garrett in 2001.

The award is intended for a leader who excels in all academic subjects and gives a full effort, all while participating in multiple extra-curricular activities. Now in its third year, the honor was presented to eighth grader Jackson Cassidy. Kee then announced the honor students individually, and each came forward to receive a certificate.
Fifth grade honor students were: Gracie Aird, Mason Batten, Carli Beeler, Brody Berryhill, Aaron Blue, Dylan Bomar, Tobey Brooks, Coleson Cook, Liberty Dyal, Katelynn Essary, Molly French, Matthew Gaylord, Aidan Klonowski, Morgan Little, Landyn McLearen, Landon Otis, Landon Preshell, Lukas Pride, Lily Sam, Keelan Sneed, Kaelyn Stebbins, Ryan Toombs and Caden Tucker.
Sixth grade honor students were: Briley Arnold, Landon Barton, William Blue, Kortnee Brown, Landon Brown, Reese Carroll, Jayden Curtis, Nathan Dameron, Rachel Essary, Jada Flippin, Adyson Freeman, Allyson Gibson, Ethan Harwell, Guillermo Hickman, Carson Hill, Destiny Huitzache, Aubrey Jackson, Carter Kee, Nathan Lease, Hannah Lee, Emily McMullin, Colt Norden, Lydia Pate, Sophie Pate, Jacey Pinson, Aiden Pride, Taylor Rawls, Laila Scott, Emma Smith, Jacob Smith, Leslie Sullivan, Abigail Sumrok, Tate Surber, Carter Swalley, Janai Tabada, Jaylin Taylor-Megaw, Craegen Travis, Allie Walker and Addison Washburn.
Seventh grade honor students were: Bella Arnold, Matilda Arnold, Danielle Bateman, Christopher Beck, Kelsey Becker, Bethany Bell, Sarah Boackle, Kamryn Brewer, Leilana Brown, Jake Cassidy, Drew Chappell, Chandler Conrad, Aubrey Cook, Grace Cottrill, Savannah Davis, Skyelor DeLoach, Isabella Etter, Hayden Garrett, Nicole Gibson, Addison Harris, Ava Jones, Alyse Lowe, Parker Lyons, Allison Mansfield, Macey Mayo, Caidenz Nunnery, Belle O’Brien, Jackelyne Padilla, Mikaela Reynolds, Stafford Roditis, Ayanna Teague, Hannah Walters, Ava Warman and Abbie Young.
Eighth grade honor students were: Zach Aird, Briley Auvenshine, Ian Barker, Chaten Bivens, Kristin Bradberry, Kassidy Brown, Ashlyn Burnine, Austin Bush, Jesse Calderon, Jackson Cassidy, David Cheney, Brianna Dalrymple, Hannah Dillingham, Jimmie Fitzgerald, Alajah Gilbert, Amanda Harvey, Andrew Harvey, Sophie Hilliard, Allie Laser, Lauren Laser, Daniel Latimer, Leah Matheny, Rashad McCreary, Payton Ognibene, Nathan Price, Nolan Renfro, Kylie Reynolds, Dylan Richardson, Bryson Steele, Lexie Sullivan, Lilly Sumrok, Adeline Thompson and Maggie Walker.
Next, Kee recognized participants in the State Beta Convention: Skyelor DeLoach, Abbie Young, Payton Ognibene, Christopher Beck, Jackie Padilla, Lauren Laser, Danielle Bateman, Brett Toombs, Isabella Etter, Drew Harvey, Sarah Boackle, Grace Cottrill, Bella Arnold, Yajaira Vega, Alajah Gilbert, Lilly Sumrok, Maggie Walker, Ava Warman, Caidenz Nunnery, Addison Harris, Kristin Bradberry, Kylie Reynolds, Briley Auvenshine, Kassidy Brown, Zach Aird, Nathan Price, Daniel Latimer, Parker Lyons, Drew Chappell, Jake Cassidy, Nolan Renfro, Jackson Cassidy, Stafford Roditis, Hayden Garrett, Jesse Calderon, Macey Mayo, Allie Mansfield, Savannah Davis and Belle O’Brien.
Seventh grade Reading Fair winners were (Category — First, Second and Third Place): History — Jackelyne Padilla, Kyeana Sneed and Ava Jones; Mystery — Belle O’Brien, Savannah Davis and Allie Mansfield; Humor — Matilda Arnold, Alyse Lowe and Brooklyn Nunnery; Young Adult — Macey Mayo, Addison Harris and Bella Arnold; Realistic — Grace Cottrill, Andrew Marr and Lacey Bell; Biography — Braxton Sulock, Brady Brewer and Luis Tellez; Sci-Fi — Ava Warman, Skyelor DeLoach and Caidenz Nunnery; Fantasy — Chris Luci, Bethany Bell and Stafford Roditis; Diary — Gracie Goodrum, Drew Chappell and Dalton Hatley; Best in Show — Jackelyne Padilla.
Eighth grade Reading Fair winners were (Category — First, Second and Third Place): Young Adult — Briley Auvenshine, Taniyah Diggs and Angel Lawrence; Mystery/Horror — Nolan Renfro, Jimmie Fitzgerald and Brianna Dalrymple; Graphic Novel — Daniel Latimer, Drew Harvey and Zavier Webber; Realistic — Allie Laser, Lauren Laser and Kristin Bradberry; Science Fiction — Caley McCaslin, Madison Gilbert and Anna Patel; Biography — Payton Ognibene, Lilly Sumrok and Kassidy Brown; Historical — Alajah Gilbert, Rashad McCreary and Kylie Reynolds; Fantasy — Nathan Price, Amanda Harvey and Austin Bush; Best in Show — Nathan Price.
Then, the top ten students in each grade were announced in alphabetical order: Fifth Grade — Gracie Aird, Brody Berryhill, Dylan Bomar, Tobey Brooks, Coleson Cook, Katelynn Essary, Molly French, Morgan Little, Landyn McLearen and Kaelyn Stebbins; Sixth Grade — Briley Arnold, Rachel Essary, Jada Flippin, Allyson Gibson, Carter Kee, Hannah Lee, Lydia Pate, Emma Smith, Tate Surber and Jaylin Taylor-Megaw; Seventh Grade — Bella Arnold, Sarah Boackle, Jake Cassidy, Chandler Conrad, Skyelor DeLoach, Isabella Etter, Allie Mansfield, Jackelyne Padilla, Ava Warman and Abbie Young; Eighth Grade — Briley Auvenshine, Kristin Bradberry, Kassidy Brown, Austin Bush, Jackson Cassidy, Andrew Harvey, Allie Laser, Lauren Laser, Daniel Latimer and Nathan Price.
MMS Principal Dorethea Royle closed the event by thanking Kelsey Cooper, the Rotary Club, teachers and parents. To the students, she expressed her pride in their hard work and told them, “I hope you will get a vision in your head of how you can change the world.”