Lab schools say goodbye to 2011 graduates

Commencement exercises were held for the 5th grade class of Alma J. Brown elementary school Friday May 20th at 1 p.m. in the Conrad Hutchinson Performing Arts Center on Grambling State University's campus. The auditorium filled quickly and could not hold all who hoped to be in attendance. In turn AJB teachers walked students back to their classes to make room for family and friends of graduates.

Of the 25 graduates 16 have attended AJB since kindergarten. Jaylen Garrison excelled as highest honor graduate, highest GPA and Student of the Year. Tamia Watson also topped her class with the achievement of second highest GPA along with many other academic awards.

As each graduate walked across the stage to receive their certificates they were presented with awards that were earned during that academic year. A letter from President Barack Obama was also presented to all honor students congratulating them for their achievements. The program ended as the graduating class passed the torch to the next fifth grade class challenging them to do their best and at all times to be a success.

"I am very excited and proud of him." Anthony Garrison, father of highest honor graduate Jaylen Garrison expressed as he congratulates his son. "It feels good as a parent to know that I teach her the right stuff and she's learning, I'm proud of her very proud," exclaimed Tamara Watson, mother of second highest graduate Tamia Watson.

Grambling Middle Magnet School held their commencement exercises on Monday May 23 at 10 am in the Nursing Building on Grambling State University's campus.

This year's graduating class theme was "To dream the impossible, to achieve the improbable."

The speaker, Margo Dawson, spoke to the graduating class with a special agent theme while two Middle Magnet students stood by her with dark shades as she delivered her speech.

Dawson spoke about the importance of tackling weaknesses by mapping a plan for success, and encouraged parents to raise the bar, "leaders may be born but they have to be molded," she exclaimed.

Afterwards, each graduate walked across the stage to receive awards and their graduating certificate. Graduate Monsanto Nelson's name was frequently called to receive awards such as most improved in Reading, English, and Algebra.

Jalen Ferguson also received many awards as top academic student in English, Algebra, Science, La History, and Computer literacy.

Trace Payne ultimately stood out as the Student of the year and the top academic student with the highest cumulative average of his 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes.

The ceremony also ended as the 8th grade class moving on to high school handed off the torch to the next 8th grade class.