Forty-five students graduated on May 18 from Grambling State University Laboratory High School. As the Grambling High School Band began to play the graduates anxiously marched out to an awaiting crowd of parents, guardians, teachers and friends.
Out of the 45 graduating seniors, 15 graduated with honors. Six of those people graduated with a GPA above 3.5. The valedictorian title went to Georgio Douglas and the salutatorian was Brittany Young.
As for the Lincoln Academic Awards, Lachristie Brown, Jessica Johnson, Brittany Young, Jeffery Middleton and Isaac Wilson received the award for the first time. Akayla Andrews and Jaikeva Rogers were the second-year recipients. Georgio Douglas was the only graduate to receive the third-year award.
As the valedictorian and queen of GHS, Douglas gave a farewell speech. Her speech was warming and included the student body more than it did just herself.
With quotes such as “Our dreams are in our hands” and “Life is a series of exitways,” she was telling her peers that they have made it through the last 12 years of school and now it’s time to take life into their own hands and choose their destiny’s.
“Once one door closes another opens and you must move forward,” said Douglas.
Some of the other students who received scholarships were Karrington Traylor who received $100 from the National Association of University Women Book Stipend.
Lachristie Brown, Georgio Douglas, Jessica Johnson, Annesha Osborne and Kelvon Pruitt were awarded $250 from the Rogers C. Jackson Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Zion Traveler Baptist Church gave $500 to Trikendalyn Walker and Travis McCluskey.
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church gave $100 to Rogers and $250 from an American Legion Scholarship and $250 from Ruston Newbin Consistory.
Kelvon Pruitt was awarded $100 from Mt. Calvary Baptist Church as well as $500 from the Epsilon Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Craton Roberson received $100 from Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and $400 from the LOSFA Scholarship.
Elisha Collinsworth received two $500 scholarships, one from the NAACP and another from D.M Brown.
Ludley McCall Williams got a scholarship from American Legion for $150 and a GSU Concert Marching Band Service Award amounting $800.
Randall Jackson was given $600 from the CMAST Program of GSU and a $600 Stipend Book Award.
Two other people were awarded scholarships for the GSU Concert Marching Band: Ariel Davis, $1000, and Arteaus Burks, $1400.
Lastly, the two highest scholarships were awarded to Galen Roberts to either attend Xavier University at $10,000 or ULM at $15,000.
After the announcement of awards, the young men and women gladly paraded across the stage as their parents ran up to capture their children receiving their diplomas.
One of the mothers commented, “This is a momentous occasion that I have awaited for 18 years. Brittany is my only child and I wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors. God bless and I love you.”
During the singing of the alma mater the graduates threw up their hats and exchanged hugs then walked off to meet their awaiting parents, family and friends.
After the ceremony I asked one of the girls that was graduating how she felt now that high school is out of the way, she replied, “It feels great to finally be an alumni of GHS. I want to wish each of my classmates good luck in the future.”
Registration for the next school year will be conducted in the GSU Intramural Center 2 p.m.-7 p.m. July 15-17. Registration occurring after this date will incur a late fee of $25.