Senior Recognition marks bittersweet end

By:  Katie Williams

Staff Reporter

On Sunday, May 5, 2013, Senior Recognition Day was held at Temple Baptist Church. The OGHS class of 2013 has had an extremely successful year. Ninety-one percent of all seniors took the ACT, averaging a score of 22. Forty seniors had a score of 29 or higher. Of the class of 2013, 48 percent will be attending a four-year university in the fall of 2013. Fourty-nine percent will attend a community or junior college. Two percent of the class is enlisted in the miliary, and one percent will be going into the workforce.

To date, the class of 2013 has been awarded 15.5 million dollars in scholarships, but scholarships are still being awarded.

John Addison Ford received the 2013 Harry Breland Athletic Scholarship. The recipient is decided based on athletic performance during high school. 2013 is the first year of this scholarship’s existence. Colton McMurry was the recipient of the Johnie McMurry Memorial Scholarship, which is named for McMurry’s great uncle. Representatives from all major state universities were present to present scholarships to all OGHS students attending those schools.

Ten students were National Merit Finalists. The class of 2013 valedictorian is Nicholas Stevenson, and the salutatorian is Mallory Jennings. Wisam Buti is the sole Distinguished Scholar of this graduating class, and John Baxter was this year’s Star Student.

One of the most anticipated moments of the senior recognition ceremony was the senior slide show. Every year, the yearbook staff puts together this slide show, made up of baby pictures and other pictures and videos throughout the seniors’ school years. Another special part of this year’s recognition ceremony was piano music provided by John Baxter.

Every year, the senior class provides the school with a senior gift. The Class of 2013 presented a senior gift of patio furniture to OGHS.

The vast amount of scholarship money awarded to these seniors shows their great legacy that was started in the very hallways of Oak Grove High School.