Second Dist. 300 honors banquet keys on scholastics, attendance--even art
The second annual Du Quoin Middle School Academic Banquet was held at 6 p.m. on April 23, 2014, in the Du Quoin Middle School Commons. Certificates were awarded to students fifth through eighth grades for honor roll, perfect attendance, most improved, and artist of the year. Guest speaker at the banquet was Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan.
Duncan congratulated over 200 5th-8th graders for their achievements in school. He recognized that much of that achievement was because the students had worked hard and studied, often when they would rather have been doing something else. He encouraged them to work as hard to improve the quality of life in Du Quoin and perhaps, at some point in the future, to consider service on the city council.
He then showed them a picture of Earth from 3.7 billion miles away that was taken by Voyager 1 in 1990. The picture, which the late astronomer Carl Sagan dubbed the Pale Blue Dot, showed that people have to work together and get along with one another, and to learn as much as they can about their world and beyond. He said the image of Earth also shows the need to keep our community and our planet clean. He told the students that by learning to take care of their homes, schools, and neighborhoods today they will be better able in the years ahead to be good citizens of a larger community of Earth. Duncan encouraged the students to take the time to enjoy their ride on the only Earth we'll ever know.
Fifth grade students recognized for honor roll were: Hunter Atteberry, Aubrey Barwick, Lane Bauman, Alexis Blaylock, Shakyrah Bledsoe-Gash, Garrick Blevins, Emily Boyett, Owen Bradley, Leia Bryant, Hunter Burris, Addison Carver, Dafney Cavins, Olivia Chapman, Ali Chavis, Jacqueline Crain, Styles Crane, Gage Dautel, Sophie Davis, Jessica Davis, Elizabeth Davis, Delaynie Dearmond, Yesenia Estrada, Elijah File, Hailee Gaines, Samuel Geary, Lindsey Gossman, Kendra Gregory, Konner Harris, Carli Harris, Jacob Harsy, Matthew Hill, Isabella Hirsch, Traelee Horn, Mark Horner, Grace Imhoff, Guy Indorante, Katie Indorante, Theodore Jones, Garrett Juhl, Camilla Knapp, Kandace Lee, Erica Lomelino, Elizabeth Loyd, Haylie McIntosh, Summer Miller, Trinity Morgan, Bailey Nehring, Bailey Overturf, Austin Rice, Wade Roberson, Madeline Robison, Reese Rodely, Maya Russell, Xander Russell, Kirtley Scarber, Mystri Short, Quinn Smith, Raven Taylor, Kiersten Tilley, Reese Tilley, Riley Vancil, Tyler Van Zandt, Miguel Vicente, Alyiah Waters, Reagan Whitley, Payton Wood, Summer Woodside, Trinity Wright and Amirah Zeidat.
Fifth graders honored for perfect attendance were: Garrick Blevins, Jacqueline Crain, Styles Crane, Gage Dautel, Yesenia Estrada, Isabella Hirsch, Austin Rice and Mystri Short.
The 'Most Improved' Award for fifth grade students was presented to Raven Taylor and Matthew Rudolph.
Sixth grade students recognized for honor roll were: Chloe Bailey, Elizabeth Bird, Alec Caldwell, Bethany Carter, Anna Carter, Jenna Clark, Madeleine Cornett, Emelyn Darnell, Nick Depyatic, Ben Eisenhauer, Tara Ellison, Ellie Fikuart, Shelby L. Harris, Kloey Harsy, Chloe Hess, Alexis Kremer, Cibyl Mercier, Lily Metten, Emily Morefield, Timmy Pirtle, A.J Rice, Nathan Riley, Vianey Sanchez, Ethan Shepard, Katilyn Simmons, Jaxson Smith, Caitlin Stanley, Dylan Thornton, Dakota Waldron, Avery Waller, Braylee Watson, Nate Wiehn, Ethan Zettler and Alex Zimmerman.
Sixth grade students honored for perfect attendance were: Alec Caldwell, Nicholas Depyatic, Braden Eaton, Shelby L. Harris, Cibyl Mercier, Lily Metten, Will Rea, Nathan Riley, Victor Riley, Jaxson Smith and Alex Zimmerman.
The 'Most Improved' Award for sixth grade students was presented to Hunter Carter and Blake Ferguson.
Seventh grade students recognized for honor roll were: Arrah Barwick, Jared Brown, Morgan Bullar, Layton Caraker, Curstyn Clark, Jordan Coffel, Nickolas Cole, Maci Collins, Alejandro Cruz, Megan Dale, Ryan Davis, Zach Davis, Molly Dearmond, Grace Dollus, Maddison Dorsey, Nolan Eubanks, Dalen Foster, Charles Genesio, Courtney Gossman, Bobbiann Hamlin, Olivia Hargis, Joshua Heape, Chloe Hill, Ashlynn Jackson, Jordan Kaufman, Zachary Lilly, Alyssa Loyd, Kaylee McIntosh, Maci McKinnies, Christopher Meyer, Nathaniel Miller, Brittney Reese, Elijah Ruff, Mackenzie Sizemore, Katherine Smith, Emily Tennant, Sadi Walters, Logan Watts, Bailey Webb, Olivia Whitley, Haley Williams, Caitlyn Williams, Quinton Wood and Madison Worthington.
Seventh grade students honored for perfect attendance were Maddison Dorsey, Westly Milam and Mackenzie Sizemore.
The 'Most Improved' Award for seventh grade students was presented to Curstyn Clark and Riley Quagliata.
Eighth grade students recognized for honor roll were: Abigel Alvarado, Josie Bailey, McLain Baker, Baylor Barnard, Howard Clark, Olivia Cravens, Mackenzie Delisle, Isabella Dollus, Klayton Donoghue, Delainey File, Madelyn Haggard, Madeline Halstead, Emily Hamburger, Grace Haney, Matilyn Harsy, Paxton Higgerson, Dawson James, Aaron Korbar, Andrea Lopez, Nathan Manning, Dawson McRoberts, Allie Melvin, Jackson Melvin, Charley Mercier, Ryan Myers, Tiana Myers, Caitlyn Patalas, Gabrielle Porter, Desirae Rice, Kyle Robinson, Ashton Smith, Brogan Smith, Hank Stewart, Hope Stewart, Tyler Swiney, Joseph Taylor, Daniel Braun Thompson, Reagan Tilley, Summer Tucker, Emily Varner, Brooke Ward, Madison Whitley, Colin Williams and William Woodside.
Eighth grade students honored for perfect attendance were: Mackenzie Delisle, Camlin Logan, Brandon Melvin, Brogan Smith, Lauren Tilley and Logan Whitley.
The 'Most Improved' Award for eighth grade students was presented to Mackenzie Delisle and Daniel Braun Thompson.
Eighth grader, Madeline Halstead, was recognized as 'Artist of the Year.'