Hard work and the drive toward academic excellence has led a group of upcoming graduates at Thomas County Central High School to the top of its class.
The school recently announced honor graduates, salutatorian and valedictorian for the TCCHS Class of 2016. Valedictorian is Cole Donovan and salutatorian is Jane Guo. Also, 40 students have been named honor graduates.
“We are very proud of these young adults and everything they have accomplished,” TCCHS Assistant Principal James Rehberg said. “Four years ago we issued a challenge to the class of 2016, to be the best, and I think the number of honor grads shows you they were ready to meet the challenge. It's a good group, a diverse group, with tons of talent and varied interests. I wouldn't be surprised to hear about their continued achievements for years to come.”
Cole Donovan was “excited and relieved” upon hearing the announcement.
“I am proud of myself as well as Jane because I know that we were competing with some incredibly intelligent peers,” he said. “It is the capstone of my educational career thus far.”
Donovan adds being valedictorian was not something he competitively strived for, but the thought was always present and pushed him to work hard.
Jane Guo said she tried her best, worked her hardest, and just happened to get salutatorian. She says titles like valedictorian, salutatorian and honor graduate don’t define a person.
“Titles like valedictorian, salutatorian or honor graduate can never define the entirety of someone as a person,” she said. “It doesn’t accurately define anyone because it is relative only to your class. Whether you got honor grad or not, you are more than just a title. If I had worked just as hard and not gotten the title, I wouldn’t have felt any different because I am satisfied with my efforts.”
Donovan plans to attend the University of Georgia to study English/Latin education.
“I want to help others learn and grow,” he said of his career aspirations.
Guo also plans to attend UGA and will study biochemistry.
“I enjoy learning about life at the molecular levels,” she said.
The piece of advice Donovan feels important to get across to his classmates during his speech is “continue to learn, even if you don’t plan on going to college.”
Guo wants her fellow graduates to know “nothing in life is permanent.”
“Enjoy it while it’s here and let go when it’s time,” she said. “Newer and better things will come along.”
The most important lesson Donovan’s learned throughout school, so far, is “don’t take the easy way out.”
“Work hard to be the best you can be,” he said. “It continues to apply to my life and work every day.”
Guo said her most important lesson relates to friends and life outlook.
“Make lots of friends and be nice to everyone,” she said. “Don’t hold a grudge because it consumes you.”
Honor graduates must earn a 93 numeric grade point average for their high school career. These students will be recognized during the graduation ceremony with special seating and stoles.
This year’s honor grads are: Benjamin Barwick, Hailey Bryan, Carly Clark, Keri Corbin, Kenneth Croft, Miranda Dees, Jaym Densing, Cole Donovan, Katricia Fann, John Fuller, Jane Guo, Jacob Hancock, Baylee Hanright, Noah Harnevious, Jessi Hopland, Shelby Howard, Rhonda Jackson, Zackary Johnson, Drake Johnson, Olivia Jones, Kacy Jones, Mason Lawing, Joanna Lea, Guanghui Li, Hope Michaels, Faith Miller, Chelcie Nix, Sara O’Neal, Erin Pearson, Hayes Roach, Parker Roach, Johnathan Robinson, Laken Rutland, Kathryn Simmons, Natalie Smith, Kayla Smith, Eli Taylor, Brittney Teasley, Brianna Thomas and Austin Yeomans.
“I’m really excited about it,” honor grad Brianna Thomas said. “It took a lot of hard work and persistence, but I got through it.”
Being an honor graduate is a goal Thomas set, and the recognition has special significance because her mother was a high school honor graduate.
“She was so excited,” Thomas said of telling her mother the news. “She told everybody in her department at work how proud of me she was.”
Thomas plans to study to be a dietician and minor in business.
Honor grad John Fuller plans to attend University of Georgia and intends to become an orthopedic surgeon.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Fuller said of the honor. “I was preparing for my future and I worked hard every day to be an honor graduate.”
He encourages younger students to strive for their best. He says a good education is important, not only to the growth of individuals but also to the success of the entire nation.
Honor grad Rhonda Jackson, who expects to attend Valdosta State University and hopes to one day own her own business, is proud of her accomplishment.
“It’s something I’ve been working toward since I got to high school,” she said. “This summer, I knew I had a 92.7. I immediately asked what I could do to bring it up and I worked to get the highest grades I could.”
Jackson says she is the first member of her family to be an honor graduate and she hopes to inspire her younger siblings and relatives, as well as other youths in her hometown of Barwick, to believe in their dreams.
“I want to help put Barwick on the map,” she said. “I want the youths there to see that if I can do it, they can, too.”