Graduating Thomas County Central High School seniors were recently treated to a special ceremony honoring their years of hard work and effort in numerous pursuits.
The annual Honors Night was held Thursday, May 17 in the school’s gym. The event awards various scholarships as well as presents to graduating seniors their stoles, cords, medals and tassels for academic, dual enrollment, extracurricular and elective achievements.
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"The class of 2018 is a really impressive group of academically competitive students," assistant principal James Rehberg said. "With 50 honor graduates and 31 students recognized as MERIT scholars, they have a lot to be proud of, and tonight we celebrate all of their accomplishments. I can't tell you how much we appreciate the private donors, community groups, and civic organizations who donate so generously to our graduates."
Amanda Dunlap received an honor graduate stole, a Career Technical Agricultural Education, or CTAE, cord, a bronze community service medal, and a National Honor Society tassel. She was also awarded two scholarships: the Ben Jackson Memorial Scholarship and the Georgia Mining Scholarship.
“The Ben Jackson Memorial Scholarship was the one that stood out the most to me, because there were so many people that applied and only 12 people received [it],” Dunlap said. “I just did not think that I would be one of the few to get this scholarship.”
Ansley Thornton received a bronze community service medal, an honor graduate stole, NHS tassel, SRTC cord, CTAE cord, a medal for Spanish II and an Archbold Hospital Auxiliary scholarship.
“Honor graduate and the scholarship award stood out the most to me because it shows that I have worked really hard throughout high school,” Thornton said. “I was really happy to get the scholarship because I will put it to good use.”
Thornton is very happy and relieved to have received these awards.
“I felt really proud of myself for studying and working hard,” she said.
Dunlap says events like Honors Night are important to students and schools should hold them to recognize seniors for their achievements and effort.
“Honors Night is important to graduating students because it is the time where you get awarded for everything you have worked toward throughout your high school career,” she said.
Thornton agrees events like this one make students feel like their efforts had a purpose.
“They matter to graduating students because it shows the hard work over a long period of time,” she said. “And you know that you are almost done and the hard work has paid off.”