Du Quoin's brightest minds get down with "Eggs & Ham"
The Volunteer Foundation did two great things Monday night.
They honored the top 10 percent of Du Quoin's students with a great banquet, certificates and trophies as well as nearly $350 in prize gift certificates donated by Du Quoin businesses and individuals.
And, at the same time, they spent over two hours just letting these academic success stories -- the best of the best -- just be kids. Keenan Rice led them in song. They squared off in the ruthless "Eggs & Ham" singing competition and even went one-on-one with school administrators and board members in a game of trivia.
Do you how many World Series titles the St. Louis Cardinals own (11)? Or, how many stomachs does a cow have (four)? Teams that tied went to the front of the American Legion banquet center for a "dance-off." By nightfall, it all came down to a very caring night sponsored by the foundation and its president Andrew Darnell.
Cathy Chaney catered the banquet. Members of the foundation sat alongside honorees to congratulate them for their years of hard work. Students in the fourth through eighth grades are eligible to earn these foundation honors and to earn them all five years is amazing. There are six of them: eighth graders Maddison Dorsey, Morgan Hanks, Chloe Hill, Ashlynn Jackson, Alyssa Loyd and Madison Worthington.
The Night's Honorees
Fourth Grade--Jacob Boyett, James Cravens IV, Ella Davis, Adrian Foutch, Delainey Griffin, Jackson Halstead, Brock Hamburger, Thomas Hanks, Derek Hawkins, D'Andre Jones, Cameron Lemons, Elaina Romani, Malayna Russell and Triston Weis.
Fifth Grade--Lexandra Cobin, Madison Decker, Aubrey Harris, Lauren Heape, Ethan Hill, Avrey McClanahan, Sophie Miller, Gage Morgenstern, Lilly Nevill, Jake Rogers, Nathan Smith, Landen Swiney and Samuel Webb.
Sixth Grade--Emily Boyett, Leia Bryant, Raylee Carroll, Olivia Chapman, Sophie Davis, Hailee Gaines, Lindsey Gossman, Cody Harmon, Isabella Hirsch, Samuel Indorante, Sara Indorante, Elizabeth Loyd and Maya Russell.
Seventh Grade--Alec Caldwell, Emelyn Darnell, Ellie Fikuart, Shelby Harris, Lily Metten, Emily Morefield, Timothy Pirtle, Jaxon Smith, Caitlin Stanley, Nathaniel Wiehn and Alexander Zimmerman.
Eighth Grade--Maddison Dorsey, Bobbiann Hamlin, Morgan Hanks, Chloe Hill, Ashlynn Jackson, Alyssa Loyd, Maci McKinnies, Katherine Smith, Caitlyn Williams and Madison Worthington.