BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
LAKE BUTLER — On May 18, Union County High School honored its outstanding seniors with a special program recognizing their achievements.
“This morning we gather to celebrate many accomplishments earned by members of this graduating class,” said Union County High School Principal Julie Denson when opening the event. “These young men and women have worked hard and have invested many hours and today we celebrate them and this class.”
First was the presentation of the 2022 Valedictorian and Salutatorian, both of whom were said by Denson to have achieved high academically and in extensive extracurricular activities.
Maegan Beatty was named the Valedictorian. She achieved a weighted GPA of 4.5714 and participated in BETA, FBLA, volleyball, FFA, Tennis, Homecoming, dual enrollment and student government, where she currently serves as Senior Class Treasurer.
Ciara Woodall was named the class Salutatorian. She achieved a weighted GPA of 4.556 and participated in FFA, FBLA, cheer, volleyball, homecoming activities, dual enrollment, SWAT, golf and BETA.
Next, the Top Ten ranked students were recognized by West Fraser. They were: Maegan Beatty, Ciara Woodall, Laura Park, Curran Webb, Natalie Waters, Andrew Laux, Aidan Newsom, Alex Dure’, McKenzie Clemons and Gwen Parrish. All of these students were presented with a backpack and a laptop.
The students earning Outstanding Honors, High Honors and Honors were recognized and each group was presented with the cord in the color for their level of achievement (the cords are worn along with their robes at the graduation ceremony).
Also recognized were the students who received the Superintendent’s Scholar Award, presented by the Union County Superintendent of Schools Mike Ripplinger. These students were all graduating seniors with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.75 and either a SAT score of 1260 or higher or an ACT score of 26 or higher. Each has also earned at least 27 credits while at UCHS. These students are: Aidan Newsom, Laura Park, Devin Simmons and Curran Webb.
Ripplinger said of all of the award winners that “even when the world seems to be spiraling out of control it is wonderful to see good things happening today and I see that in these young people here.”
Ripplinger also presented the Esther King Scholarship. Students receiving this scholarship were: Maegan Beatty, Aidan Newsom, Laura Park, James Rogers, Natalie Waters, Curran Webb and Ciara Woodall.
Tahj Merriex was selected to receive the Principal’s Leadership Award. This award goes to a senior who exhibits strong academics and outstanding citizenship. The individual is also to have demonstrated leadership among their peers and represented Union County High School with honor and distinction.
Anthony Clarke received the Assistant Principal’s Award, given to a student who has overcome obstacles in their life and who has persevered through struggles.
The next student recognized was Hannah Warren who was granted the “Fill the Gap Award.” This award, a new addition to the slate of recognitions honoring Pat Hayden, a longtime FLVS teacher who could always be counted on to see that things got done.
Maegan Beatty was chosen to receive the Top Tiger Award, “reserved for a member of the graduating class who best exemplifies the essence and characteristics of a great student.”
Several area organizations and clubs annually give scholarships to students and there are also a number of memorial scholarships. This year’s scholarships to Florida Gateway College and the winners of them were:
Scott Woodall Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Hannah Warren, Jerry Whitehead Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Summer Bridges, Lake Butler Rotary Club Scholarship – McKenzie Clemons, Union County Quarterback Endowed Scholarship – Jackson Crook, William Streicher Memorial Union County Endowed Scholarship – Kimberly Palmer, Kyra Jordan, William Mello and Timber Thiels, Ashlyn Hollingsworth Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Reghan Dukes, Chesley Hines Robertson IV Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Breanna Melton and the Hal Y. Maines Living Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Anna Ward.
Students were also awarded scholarships by the FGC Board of Trustees. Students receiving these scholarships were: Summer Bridges, McKenzie Clemons, Josie Croft, Lily French, Andrew Laux and Anna Ward. The Take Stock in Children Scholarships were awarded to Hannah Warren and Ethan Ali.
A number of private scholarships were also presented. They were:
Clay Electric – Ciara Woodall, New Millennium Building Systems Scholarship – Eli Rogers and Will Harden, Betty Jo Howard Nursing Scholarship – Reghan Dukes, Michael Fortner Memorial Scholarship – Reghan Dukes, Cheyann Leshuk, Breanna Melton and Quinn Robertson-Raulerson, Interact/Rotary Recognition – Josie Croft and Anna Ward, One Blood Donor Recognition – Ashlyn Anderson, Logan Nixon, Ja’Liah Hatcher, Alexis Lewallen, William Mello and Anthony Clark, American Legion Post #153 – Zeb Raulerson, Violet Romero, Alauna Brown, Joseph Kirby, Hunter Sherrod, Krysta Wheeler and Will Alicea, Junior Friends of the Library Scholarship – Jessica Brooks and Jody Dubose, Lake Butler Woman’s Club Scholarship – Natalie Waters, Pay it Forward – Hannah Warren, ACI Learning Center in Jacksonville – Simeon McCleod, Marine Corps Recognition – Joseph Kirby, Lori Nicole Anderson Scholarship – Ciara Woodall, Maegan Beatty and Anna Ward, Ellington Memorial Scholarship – Aidan Newsom, Turkey Federation Scholarship – Tahj Merriex, Jackson Crook and Kyla Boney, Bradford-Union Cattle Show & Sale Scholarship – Eli Rimes, Ciara Kearns Memorial Scholarship – Tahj Merriex, Daniel Elixson Memorial Scholarship – Will Harden, Eli Hendricks and Ciara Woodall, Legacy Scholarship – Jace Bielling, Shirley Kirby Memorial Scholarship – Josie Croft, Summer Crosby Memorial – Ciara Woodall and Will Harden, Workhorse Scholarship – Will Harden, National FFA/Ford Scholarship – Eli Hendricks, Ciara Woodall and Laura Park and HOBO Tractor Scholarship – Will Harden and Laura Park.
The total of scholarship and monetary awards given at the 2022 ceremony totaled $62,095.60.
Departmental Awards were given by various departments and extracurricular activities. These were: Agriculture Program Completer Awards – certificates to all Seniors who completed their program, Academic Team Award – Avery Murphy, Art Award – Camrin Hillard, Band Award – cords to all senior band members, Science Award – Jackson Crook, BETA Club Award – Ciara Woodall, Student Government Award – Tahj Merriex, McKenzie Clemons, Sierra Garland, Josie Croft, Dezmond Edwards and Maegan Beatty, FBLA Award – Tahj Merriex, Yearbook Award – stole to all participating seniors, Celebration of Abilities Award – Camrin Hillard and Conner Williams, English Award – Reghan Dukes and Ethan Ali, Health Science Program Completer Award – Abi Andrews, Caleigh Avery, Kyla Boney, Reghan Dukes, Sierra Garland, Sabrena Howard, Akira Jonas, Gracie Kitchens, Cheyann Leshuk, Alexis Lewallen, Breanna Melton, Seleena Morris, Gwenyth Parrish, Shamira Perry, Victoria Polbos, Alisa Ridgeway, Eli Rogers, Quinn Robertson-Raulerson, Morgan Seay and Jaydn Starling, Mathematics – Maegan Beatty and Curran Webb, Performing Arts Award – Landon Klein, Social Studies – Chris Alvarez, Gavin Barfield, Reghan Dukes, Gracie Kitchens, Alaurie McClellon, Tahj Merriex, Avery Murphy, Tenli Parrish and Zeb Raulerson, Spanish – Devin Simmons.
The last group of awards were the Faculty Awards, voted upon by members of the UCHS faculty. These awards were: Achievement Award – Ja’Liah Hatcher and Caleb Crawford, Activities Award – Laura Park and Jackson Crook, School Spirit Award – Anna Ward and Dezmond Edwards, Scholar-Athlete Award – Maegan Beatty and Curran Webb and the Citizenship Award – Makayla McKenzie and Alex Dure’.
Other awards and recognitions were given during the ceremony, many involving the granting of a stole or cord in recognition of participation.
