NMCC Class of 2022 earns $209,700 in scholarships

NEW MADRID, Mo. - The New Madrid County Central High School Class of 2022 has taken the motto written on the wall of the school’s commons to heart: Soar Like an Eagle.

As this year’s Senior Awards Ceremony opened, Central High School Principal Justin Poley pointed out the class had received $209,700 in scholarships and awards to continue their education.

Poley would go on to call the NMCC Class of 2022 “a special class. They definitely will be successful in life. They work too hard. They do too much. They care too much.”

Presented with the Missouri A+ Scholarship at the New Madrid County Central High School's senior awards banquet on May 16 were, from left: Adam Nevel, Olivia Nelson, Eliza McSpadden, Samantha McElroy, Jalcia Johnson, Hailey Elder, Isis Ducker, Charity Carnell, Latavia Brooks, Ja'Mian Golden and Marcellous Phillips. Also earning the scholarship were Matt Riley and Landon Boggs.Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Presented with the Missouri A+ Scholarship at the New Madrid County Central High School's senior awards banquet on May 16 were, from left: Adam Nevel, Olivia Nelson, Eliza McSpadden, Samantha McElroy, Jalcia Johnson, Hailey Elder, Isis Ducker, Charity Carnell, Latavia Brooks, Ja'Mian Golden and Marcellous Phillips. Also earning the scholarship were Matt Riley and Landon Boggs.Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

This year’s scholarship winners announced at the May 16 ceremony were:

Bootheel Regional Women’s Show Scholarship - Mary Craver

SEMO Electric Cooperative Scholarship valued at $800 each - Latavia Brooks, Delaney Cooksey, Hailey Elder, Avery Fowler, Ja’Mian Golden, Samantha McElroy, Ethan Moore

Marcelous Phillips, left, was one of three recipients of the Detrae Hicks Memorial Scholarship at New Madrid County Central High School's senior awards ceremony. Presenting the scholarships were Yolanda Hicks and Arianna Hicks. Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Marcelous Phillips, left, was one of three recipients of the Detrae Hicks Memorial Scholarship at New Madrid County Central High School's senior awards ceremony. Presenting the scholarships were Yolanda Hicks and Arianna Hicks. Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Delta Waterfowl Scholarship - Delaney Cooksey, Matt Riley

AECI Power Plant Scholarship - Martavius Hopkins

National Archery in Schools Program Scholarship - Rachael Ross

Madison Lane, left, gets a hug from Jessie Harris after receiving the Jim Harris Scholarship at the New Madrid County Central High School Senior Awards Banquet on May 16. Lane, who plans to study welding, also received the Gary Cook Rentals Scholarship.Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Madison Lane, left, gets a hug from Jessie Harris after receiving the Jim Harris Scholarship at the New Madrid County Central High School Senior Awards Banquet on May 16. Lane, who plans to study welding, also received the Gary Cook Rentals Scholarship.Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Hope Exchange Scholarship - Riley Polk, Delaney Cooksey

Veterans of Foreign Wars - Daesean Sanders, Kaela Clark, Delaney Cooksey, Shia Fountain, Avery Fowler, Joycelynne Jackson, Maggie Langley, Samantha McElroy, Ethan Moore, Olivia Nelson, Matt Riley, Hannah Spears, Riley Young

American Legion Post 595 - Joycelynne Jackson, Ethan Moore, Olivia Nelson, Riley Polk, Jakob Wilcox

Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom accepts the Betty Joyce and Jim Dambach Scholarship from Harvey Graham on behalf of the Methodist Men's Association. Caldwell-Newsom, a member of the New Madrid County Central High School's Class of 2022, received several other academic scholarships and awards during the school's senior awards banquet. Also she was recognized for her athletic abilities and was named the Female Athlete of the Year.Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom accepts the Betty Joyce and Jim Dambach Scholarship from Harvey Graham on behalf of the Methodist Men's Association. Caldwell-Newsom, a member of the New Madrid County Central High School's Class of 2022, received several other academic scholarships and awards during the school's senior awards banquet. Also she was recognized for her athletic abilities and was named the Female Athlete of the Year.Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

Big Prairie Jaycees - Delaney Cooksey, Hailey Elder, Maggie Langley, Samantha McElroy, Ethan Moore

Gavin Long Memorial Scholarship - Martavius Hopkins, Ethan Moore

Jim Harris Scholarship - Madison Lane

CTA Scholarship - Austin Eddy, Avery Fowler

Datrae Hicks Memorial Scholarship valued at $1,200 - Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom, Martavius Hopkins, Marcelous Phillips

Eagles - Maggie Langley

Class of 1965 - Samantha McElroy

Dr. Pattaropong Scholarship - Cherikee Morgan

Travis B. Howard Four-Year Scholarship - Olivia Nelson

New Madrid Police Department Scholarship - Delaney Cooksey

Beth Cross Memorial Scholarship - Austin Eddy

William Vest Riley Scholarship - Marcelous Phillips

Johnny Davis Memorial Scholarship - Matt Riley

Hawks Alumni Scholarship - Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom

NMCC Alumni Reunion - Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom

George Bud Hartwell Scholarship - Ethan Moore

Dambach Scholarship - Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom

Harryette J. Campbell - Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom, Shia Fountain, Marcelous Phillips, Shamar Williamson

Bank of New Madrid Scholarship - Olivia Nelson

Francis and Emma Baird Scholarship - Angel Mendez

Ralph Barnwell Education Scholarship - Hailey Elder

Jane Annemarie Brown Scholarship - Riley Young

G. Cook Rentals - Madison Lane

John H. Edwards Masonic Memorial - Maggie Langley

Masonic Lodge Scholarship - Avery Fowler

Fern and Robert Riley Scholarship - Ja’Mian Golden

Kathy and Ralph Barnwell Memorial Scholarship - Avery Fowler, Kristiona Dean

SkillsUSA Red Cross - Alexia Green

MFA Foundation - Austin Eddy, Matt Riley

Mavis Bellon Scholarship - Adam Nevel

The evening was also an opportunity to recognize students for a variety of achievements.

Staff Sgt. Todd Roth with the Missouri National Guard presented a special hood to Daesean Sanders, who has joined the National Guard.

Thirteen of this year’s graduates will receive A+ Scholarships, qualifying them for free tuition for two years at a Missouri junior college. The recipients were Landon Boggs, Latavia Brooks, Charity Carnell, Isis Ducker, Hailey Elder, Ja’Mian Golden, Jalicia Johnson, Samantha McElroy, Eliza McSpadden, Olivia Nelson, Adam Nevel, Marcelous Phillips and Joseph (Matt) Riley.

Describing them as outstanding members in an outstanding class, Poley introduced the salutatorian and valedictorian for the Class of 2022.

This year’s valedictorian, Cherikee Morgan, is the daughter of Kevin Morgan and Jennifer Morgan. She graduated with a grade point average of 4.33 and plans to attend University of Missouri to study bio-medical engineering.

The daughter of Akera and Yolanda Nelson, Olivia Nelson is the class salutatorian. Nelson completed high school with a grade point average of 4.267 and plans to attend the University of Missouri’s pre-med program.

The George Washington Carver Certificate recognizes the top 10 percent of the graduating class. Earning the honor were Cherikee Morgan, Olivia Nelson, Mara Murphy, Austin Eddy, Avery Fowler, Riley Polk, Joycelynne Jackson, Martavius Hopkins and Eliza McSpadden.

Those nine were also among the honor graduates, who earned grade point averages of 3.5 or higher during their high school career. Other honor graduates included Abby Basinger, Landon Boggs, Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom, Charity Carnell, Kaela Clark, Tiara Collier, Delaney Cooksey, Mary Carver, Shia Fountain, Alexia Green, Alejandro Iglesias, Gabrielle Johnson, Madison Lane, Maggie Langley, Samantha McElroy, Angel Mendez, Ethan Moore, Joeli Noble, Ryan Rhodes, Daesean Sanders, Hannah Spears, Jakob Wilcox and Riley Young.

Receiving their Beta Club cords were: Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom, Charity Carnell, Delaney Cooksey, Austin Eddy, Avery Fowler, Joycelynne Jackson, Maggie Langley, Samantha McElroy, Eliza McSpadden, Ethan Moore, Mara Murphy, Olivia Nelson, Joeli Noble, Matt Riley, Daesean Sanders and Riley Young.

The following classroom awards were presented:

Mara Murphy, AP Geography Award and Holocaust Studies Award; Jamia Wallace, Female Athletic Training Class Award; Ja’Mian Golden, Male Fitness Student of the Year; Olivia Nelson, Spanish III Class Award; Charity Carnell, Daesean Sanders, Joeli Noble and Landon Boggs, English IV Award; College Level English Award for the fall semester, Eliza McSpadden; and College Level English Award for the spring semester, Cherikee Morgan.

Scholars athletes are those who play two sports while maintaining a grade point average of 3.25 or above. Earning the recognition in the Class of 2022 were Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom, Delaney Cooksey, Shia Fountain, Joycelynne Jackson, Kenyon King, Ethan Moore, Marcelous Phillips, Matt Riley and Jakob Wilcox.

The school’s Ruth Cole Award given for sportsmanship went to Ethan Moore. The Brad Colbert Award was presented to Joycelynne Jackson, who was also honored as the Female Scholar Athlete. Jakob Wilcox was named the Male Scholar Athlete.

The final honors of the evening went to Jimmya Caldwell-Newsom who was the Female Athlete of the Year and to Shamar Williamson, the Male Athlete of the Year.