Both Charleston High School and West Tallahatchie High School are scheduled to conduct graduation ceremonies this week.
CHS commencement exercises will get underway at 6 p.m. Friday, May 24, in the Morgan Freeman Auditorium on the Charleston campus.
WTHS commencement exercises are designated to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 25, in the school’s auditorium in Webb.
Capturing the top academic honor to serve as valedictorian of Charleston’s Class of 2024 is Diekyra Bradford, the daughter of Deshundra Price and Donelle Bradford of Tippo.
Second in rank at CHS is salutatorian Ta’Moria Shannon, the daughter of TaWanda Smith-Shannon and Demoria S. Shannon Sr. of Charleston.
West Tally’s top graduate is valedictorian Myiesha Wright, the daughter of Patricia Triplett and Jerry Wright Sr., both of Sumner.
The WTHS salutatorian is Donovan McCord, the son of Dr. Eddie and Mr. Gregory McCord of Batesville.
Charleston has announced 61 candidates for graduation.
Processional music will play as cap-and-gown-clad seniors file into the auditorium at the beginning of the ceremony.
Ira Jackson III, an honor graduate, will offer the invocation to open the program.
Shaniya Moore, also an honor graduate and the assistant secretary of the senior class, will extend the official welcome.
Honor graduate Meaghan Smith will introduce the members of the East Tallahatchie School District Board of Trustees.
Class Secretary Ta’Moria Shannon will deliver the salutatory address.
Class President Diekyra Bradford will deliver the valedictory address.
Presentation of seniors and diplomas will be by school counselor Kogrecha Banks, East Tallahatchie School Superintendent Raymond Russell and Principal Eric Rice.
The benediction will be offered by then newly credentialed CHS honor graduate and class vice president Tre’Quarius Pickens, with the recessional to follow.
In addition to those already named, also graduating with honors are Kristy Bradford, Cierra Broadway, Sandeon Edwards, John Hamilton Jr., Jordan Hodges, Quintavious Holmes, Aaliyah Kennedy, Ka’mina Mason, DeOndre Riley, Dershauria Robinson, A’meeyah Ross, Cameron Taylor, Janiya Taylor, Takiyah Wilson, Markevus Wrenn and Amia Wright.
The flowers of the CHS graduating class are yellow and white roses. Class colors are yellow and gold.
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West Tallahatchie has announced 31 candidates for graduation on Saturday.
Saturday’s festivities will begin with the processional featuring the familiar strains of the graduation march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” after which opening prayer will be offered by the Rev. Anthony Hawkins.
Honor graduate Kaliyah Mayes will extend the official welcome.
Valedictorian Myiesha Wright will offer class reflections.
Salutatorian Donovan McCord will introduce the guest speaker, Dr. Constance Barnes-Woods.
2005 West Tallahatchie graduate Dr. Constance Barnes-Woods, now a pediatrician, will be guest speaker for Saturday's commencement in Webb. (Photo special to The Sun-Sentinel)
Barnes-Woods, a 2005 graduate of West Tallahatchie High School, is a board-certified pediatrician and co-owner of Beanstalk Pediatrics in Ridgeland. She has previously served as chief resident and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and as a pediatrician at other leading medical centers in central Mississippi. She is co-founder and chairwoman of the board of the Antwon and Constance Woods Family Foundation, which supports the lives of children through education, health and wellness.
Presentation of the graduating class will be conducted by WTHS Interim Principal Kathern Barber, and acceptance of the class will be by West Tallahatchie School District Superintendent Dr. Sherry Ellington.
One of the senior sponsors, John Fredericks, will begin the roll call of the names of those who are candidates for graduation.
Candidates will come forward, receive diplomas and be congratulated by Barber, Ellington and WTSD Board of Trustees President Marvin George.
Rev. Hawkins will close the program by offering the benediction, after which newly-credentialed graduates will file out of the auditorium during the recessional, again to the melody of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
WTHS has 13 honor graduates. In addition to Mayes, Wright and McCord, others include, in order of their grade-point average, Samiya Banks, Aaliyah Hudson, Shaquille Hudson, Nicholas Williams, Joseph McDaniel, Tydarius Grayer, Jamarria Bailey, Christian Lee, Marquarius Davis and Aldonjarel Harris.
The senior class motto is a statement by World War II-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Class colors are red and gray, the class flower is a rose and the class song is “I’m Blessed,” by Charlie Wilson.
