CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF 2018!!!
CONGRATULATIONS
CLASS OF 2017!!!
Dantez Ray has received some great advice from a lot of his teachers over the years but his favorite piece of advice came from his teacher, Mr. Blake Wilson, who told him to "Treat every opportunity like the last opportunity." Dantez played basketball and ran track while attending P.D. Jackson Olin High School. He will be attending Jefferson State Community College with plans to pursue a career inAuto Mechanics and/Computer Engineering. He works on cars with granddaddy a lot and wants to have his own business. He also is interested in law and looking to shadow an attorney in the future. He wants to learn all his rights and be able to fight for the rights he knows we all have. The legacy he wants to leave behind is Educated Hustler and his advice to future graduates is to "Stay to yourself. Obey the teachers. Go ahead and get it out the way."
One of Caleb Jones' fondest memory while in school was his first choir concert singing for the school. It was very fun and he realized he could "Be yourself." Having been involved in Choir, Key Club, Spanish Honor Society, Beta Club, playing Football for 2 years and Wrestling for 1 year, Caleb graduated with a 3.3 GPA. The small town feel of the campus and the environment of the University of Montevallo drew Caleb to attending in the Fall to major in Mass Communications. He wants to cover truth and tell people about the truth by becoming an Investigative Journalist. He also wants to encourage future graduates to "Be yourself. It's not that important to fit in."
Kevin Morris was told "Never let anyone get you out of your character" He played basketball and is now a graduate of Bessemer Academy. In the fall, he will be attending Lawson State Community before transferring to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to seek a career Accounting. Just like his mom he is good at math and numbers. His advice to future graduates is Take the ACT as many times possible and get your score as high as possible.
"Keep at it. Don't get too close to the finish line and then slip." Tyler Savage did keep at it and graduated from Paul W. Bryant High School with a 3.0 GPA. While he was in school, he played football and went to the playoffs. He was also on the wrestling team and in the French Club. In the Fall, Tyler will be attending the University of West Georgia to play football and major in Physical Education. He wants to play football and become a Physical Trainer. He want future graduates to know "If you have a dream. Keep working hard at it."
A member of the Honor Council, National Honor Society, National Beta Club, Foreign Language Club, Interact, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Tuscaloosa Forerunners, and a Drummer for his church, Frankie Malveo still managed to graduate from Hillcrest High School with a 3.7 GPA. In the Fall, he will be attending the University of West Alabama to major in Accounting. His inspiration comes from the movie "Catch Me If You Can" in which he saw Tom Hanks as a Forensic Accountant who traced the criminal schemes of the bad guys through their financial accounts. And he is also following his mother's footsteps. She's an accountant too. She is also the one who gave him the best advice throughout his high school career- "Begin with the end in mind." and uses this to encourage future graduates to "Be your own motivator."
For 4 years, you would see a basketball in Lorenza Freeman's hand while he was a student at Tuscaloosa County High School. Tuesday and Friday nights you could see him on the basketball court. Now as a graduate, you can catch him playing basketball at Shelton State as he pursues a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His father is an electrician and he has learned a lot from him and wants to learn more about the mechanical field and engineering and wants to and combine the two. The best advice he was given growing up was to "Take books and academics just as serious as being an athlete" and he has. With that advice he advises future graduates to "study hard and don't wait until the last minute."
After being featured in Friday Night Football magazine, having 19 offers to play football at various schools from across the nation, and being told to study often, Jai Smith has now graduated with a 3.0 GPA from Hillcrest High School and will be staying closer to home by attending Jacksonville State University and majoring in Forensic Science. His fondest memory while in high school has been the pep rallies. The same advice he was given is the same advice he has for future graduates... STUDY.
As a drum major of the Marching Band and a member of JROTC, Johntavious Austin graduated from A.H. Parker High School being told "No matter how hard things get, don't ever quit." He is seeking higher education in the Fall by attending Alabama State University and will be majoring in Music Education and Music Performance. He wants to teach music education just like his band teacher, Mr. Edell Brewer, who he saw as a mentor and wants to be like him. Johntavious's advice to future graduates is to "Enjoy high school. Take it slow. Its ok to not know exactly what you want to do."
"Keep your head up straight" is what Darrell Waller was told as he played football and baseball at Greensboro High School. For 2 years, Darrell was a member of Alpha Esquire, was involved in Robotics and he was a member of the Technology Student Association. His fondest memory was playing football against Moundville when he was in the 11th grade. The schools in Akron and Sunshine were closed and had to be combined which made the game packed and full of energy. After high school, Darrell will be moving to Tennessee, attending Lincoln Tech in pursuit of becoming an auto mechanic. His family is into drag racing and he is a hands-on type person with soft skills and the ability to carry himself and speak up for himself. His advice for future graduates is "Let ur past be your motivation for your future."
A hard working mom, raising four kids, once told Kalex Ray to "Stay focused and when all else fails keep moving forward" and he has now graduated from Hillcrest High School with a 3.5 GPA. He played basketball in high school and will be playing basketball for Shelton State Community College in the Fall but Kalex likes to cook and will be pursuing a career in culinary arts. His favorite thing to cook is chicken and he is looking to start a restaurant in the future. His mom has motivated him to be better and the legacy he wants to leave is people knowing that he was willing to do whatever it takes to make it. And he did.
Chris Rollins was told "Don't put things to the side. Go ahead and get it done." He did that and graduated from Hale County High School with a 3.3 GPA. He loves sports and played basketball and baseball. His love for basketball is carrying him Wallace State Community College in the Fall to play and seek a career as Trainer. He plans to study Kinesiology. He wants future graduate to "Don't ever settle for anyone being ahead of you."
"Choose a career you like and have a plan." That's what Antonio Flowers was told as a student at Minor High School. As a member of Sigma Beta Club for 6 years, he also played the saxophone in the marching band for a few years and in the fall he will be on the hill attending the historic Alabama A&M University to major in business management. With a high interest in the arts and production, Antonio seeks to have a career in which he can own his own business. After considering attending the Art Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, Antonio speaks the same advice to future graduates "Always have a backup plan. Do things because you want to do it."
This young man has been playing the drums and marching in the band since his freshmen year at the A.H. Parker High School. Alexander Amison was also a member of Sigma Beta Club of Birmingham for 6 years serving in various leadership roles. As a graduate of A.H. Parker High School, he will attend the Alabama State University to play in the Mighty Marching Hornets band in the fall. The best advice he has received was to always be himself and to always remain humble. His advice to the upcoming graduates is to never procrastinate, if something seems difficult always remember anything is possible through God. And lastly start off strong and end off strong.
As a student playing the saxophone in the marching band, and being part of the wrestling team, Technical Honor Society and Finance Academy, D'Wonte Cockrell has graduated from Minor High School with a 3.55 GPA and will be attending Lawson State College before transferring to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to pursue a career as a firefighter before entering the military. The best advice he was given while in school was "Don't settle. Always strive for more" and his advice to future graduates is "Life is a test but you can always have a future in every situation."
A family legacy. Scholarship. A rich history in civil rights. All these things brought Clarence Sutton III to Alabama State University where he majored in Business Management and graduated with a 3.68 GPA. While he was at Alabama State, Clarence was very involved on campus as Student Government Association Senator, chapter President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., NAACP, Financial Management Association, Society for Advancement in Management, and he was the Director for Circle of Champions through Alabama. Now that he has graduated, Clarence will attending Louisiana State University to pursue his Masters in Public Administration. He wants to start an education consulting firm and pursue a career in politics, government affairs and public relations. His advice for high school graduates is "Don't be afraid to be the best."
With failure as a fear and his family as a great motivating factor, Timothy Jeremiah McMiller "T.J" has seen his family work so hard and be supportive of all his endeavors and he doesn't want to let them down. "T.J" graduated from Tuscaloosa County High School with a 3.7 GPA. He played football and was part of Key Club, National Beta Club, and Northport Kappa League. He was the Senior Class President, SGA Vice President, Junior Class Secretary and Senator, Future Business Leaders of America President, and Key Club Vice- President. "TJ" has also completed over 125 community service hours, placed 3rd in Impromptu speaking, and was a State Finalist for Public Speaking. In the Fall, Timothy will be attending Faulkner University to play football and major in Legal Studies in aspiration of going to law school to become a lawyer. He also wants to get a degree in business so he can run several law firms across the state like Alexander Shunnarah. He is actually looking to intern over the summer with Alexander Shunnarah. He has always wanted to help ppl and is very argumentative and inquisitive wanting to understand a lot of things. The best advice he received was to "Be yourself and go after what you want to go after." He wants to stick to his goals and expect nothing less of his goals and he wants future graduates to "Be yourself. Don't follow the crowd. It can get you in trouble mentally and it can all be avoided if you just be yourself." He believes you have to have faith that your hard work will carry you where you want to go.
And the award for "Best Smile" goes to...
That's the fondest memory Chris Cain has after graduating from Central High School. Chris was voted "Best Smile" in his class and was part of several organizations and programs including the Ready to Work program, Future Business Leaders of America and TV Productions. He has a career goal of being a chief police officer and will be entering the Navy and pursuing a degree in law. He wants to retire as a police officer. While in high school, Chris was told to "Stay true to yourself" and with that piece of advice he wants to advise future graduates to "Work hard while you are young so you can relax when u get old."
That's the fondest memory Chris Cain has after graduating from Central High School. Chris was voted "Best Smile" in his class and was part of several organizations and programs including the Ready to Work program, Future Business Leaders of America and TV Productions. He has a career goal of being a chief police officer and will be entering the Navy and pursuing a degree in law. He wants to retire as a police officer. While in high school, Chris was told to "Stay true to yourself" and with that piece of advice he wants to advise future graduates to "Work hard while you are young so you can relax when u get old."
"Never give up." And he didnt. After playing the tuba in the marching band, playing soccer and maintaining a 3.1 GPA, Terry Wright Jr. is now a graduate of Sipsey Valley High School and will be attending Shelton State Community College in the Fall to pursue a career in Computer Engineering. He wants to design and develop new technology and wants future graduates to know that "You may fall but always get up and keep moving."
Many memories can be made while in high school and as the years flew by, James Sherman's commitment ceremony was the fondest of those memories. Having been involved in FBLA, DECA, Art Club, Football and Cross Country, James graduated from Paul W. Bryant High School with a 3.1 GPA. He was accepted to the University of Alabama and University of South Alabama and will be attending the University of South Alabama in the Fall to major in Criminal Justice. He plans to follow in his father's path in Law Enforcement with a longterm goal of being part of the FBI. The best advice he was given was "Don't get too lazy. It becomes a habit." and his advice to future graduates is to "Focus on what is ahead of you first for the future."
Name- Mr. Eugene Mauldin Jr.
School- Shades Valley High School
GPA- 3.12
What activities were you involved in?
"Marching Band"
What are your plans now that you have graduated?
"Joining the U.S Army"
What is the best advice you received while in school?
"Put your mind to it and you can do anything"
What advice do you have for future graduates?
"Make your last year your best"
School- Shades Valley High School
GPA- 3.12
What activities were you involved in?
"Marching Band"
What are your plans now that you have graduated?
"Joining the U.S Army"
What is the best advice you received while in school?
"Put your mind to it and you can do anything"
What advice do you have for future graduates?
"Make your last year your best"
After being accepted to 6 colleges, Devante' Dawson saw the culture and euphoric atmosphere of an institution of higher education which led him to choose to attend the historic Tuskegee University in which he graduated with a 3.1 GPA in Pre-Med and Marine Biology. While he attended Tuskegee University, he was involved in several organizations including Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Pi Sigma Alpha, and the Pre- Alumni Chapter. After graduation, he will be returning to Tuskegee to pursue his Masters of Science degree in Biology. The best advice he was given throughout his years was the fact that it is ok to drop classes. His advice to future graduate is to take time out and have fun for yourself, it's all about the experience