William Byrd High School graduating senior Richard Qiu was the recipient of many awards at the PTSA Senior Awards Ceremony at the high school on May 22. He was named as a candidate for valedictorian, recognized for being accepted to Harvard University and as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, received the United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, the Science Fair Award, the Blue Ridge District All Academic/Athletic Award, and the Rensselear Medal.

The William Byrd High School PTSA held its annual Senior Awards Ceremony on May 22. Principal Tammy Newcomb announced that the Class of 2018 has earned and accepted $3,113,177 in scholarships and commended the students for their hard work and their accomplishments.

She introduced the candidates for valedictorian of the graduating class— students who have earned a 4.0 grade point average and above. They are Jasmine Allinson, Zachary Aylor, Tabitha Beecher, Brooke Blankenship, Elena Boitnott, Kayland Bond, Ana Boush, Andrew Brooks, Emily Brooks, Bailey Browning, Julia Burek, Ryan Buxton, Tanner Claybrook, Haley Cook, Jasmine Crawford, Austin Dickson, Caleb Divers, Brenna Donahue, Everett Fletchall, Kathleen Fuchs, Tabitha Gills, Sophie Griffin, Macey Grisso, Reilly Hatfield, Joshua Hilliard, Jackson Honaker, Analee Huber, Luis Jerez, Luke Johnston, Marissa Kopera, Autumn Martin, Lexis Mason, Courtney Palmer, Evamarie Pascoe, Claire Pennington, Richard Qiu, Seth Robertson, Jeanette Sako, Laura Schneider, Justin Seymore, Hannah Shelton, Hannah Sowers, Abby Spotswood, Mara Strum, Aalysa Stuckey, Payton Taylor, Whitney Tickle, Sarah Tyus, Alexis West, Kathryn Woodson, and Tessa Yarbrough.

SCA Awards were presented to Autumn Martin, Julia Burek, Sophie Griffin, Tommy Curro, Carly Graybill, Courtney Palmer, Emily Brooks, Hannah Sowers, Jeanette Sako, Kathryn Woodson, Luis Jerez, Madison Horacek, Savannah Gheen, Whitney Tickle, Ana Boush, Haley Cook, Reilly Hatfield, Marissa Kopera, Kayland Bond, Analee Huber, Abby Spotswood, Caleb Divers, Brooke Blankenship, Elena Boitnott, and Clare Pennington.

The Senior Awards Assembly includes the presentation of many scholarships established in memory of former students by their families or of past educators or community leaders. Many scholarships are presented by organizations as well. The following awards were presented:

Dr. Charlie J. “Jay” Lovelace III Memorial Scholarship: Marissa Kopera and Justin Seymore

Chance Crawford Association Scholarship: Elena Boitnott and Payton Taylor

Stovall-Page Scholarship: Lindsey Galliher

Vinton Woman’s Club Scholarship: Julia Burek

Arnold R. Burton Scholarships: Kathryn Woodson and Austin Dickson

Erica Thomas Memorial Scholarships: Hannah Sowers and Payton Taylor

Wallace Cundiff Memorial Scholarships: Kathryn Woodson, Elena Boitnott, Lindsey Galliher, Abby Spotswood

Reindeer Club Scholarships: Sophie Griffin, Mara Strum, Savannah Gheen, Everett Fletchall, Julia Burek

Mt. Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship: Elizabeth Kelley

Roanoke County Professional Firefighters Association: Ellasen Spangler

Vinton Host Lions Club Leo Scholarship: Haley Cook

Bonsack/Blue Ridge Ruritan Club: Whitney Tickle

Adam Wickham Scholarship: Tabitha Gills

Salem-Roanoke County Chamber Scholarship: Taylor Guilliams and Austin Dickson

United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award: Joshua Hilliard and Kayland Bond

United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence: Richard Qiu

United States Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence: Rebecca Geisler

United States Marine Corps: Hunter Board

United States Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award: Luke Johnston and Payton Taylor

United States Army Band: Courtney Cherry

United States Army: Mathew Tench

United States Army: Casey Robinson

Virginia Tech Pamplin Leadership Award: Payton Taylor

Jefferson College of Health Sciences Awards: Katie Corrao, Yarsi Corsi Carmona, Taylor Guilliams, Andrew Kelley, Brittney Mathis, and Kaylee Tuck

WBHS senior Payton Taylor received many honors at the PTSA Senior Awards Ceremony on May 22, including the Erica Thomas Memorial Scholarship, the United States Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete award, the Roanoke County Education Foundation Scholarship from the General Foundation GCA services, the Blue Ridge District All Academic/Athletic Award, and the prestigious Virginia Tech Pamplin Leadership Award. in addition to being named as a candidate for valedictorian.

Virginia Western CCAP Scholarships: Alexander Altice, Jeremy Barlow, Dane Blackwood, Tristan Brady, Madison Byrd, Caleb Carawan, Jonathan Dalton, Dallas Dickerson, Allison Faulkner, Charisma Gaylor, Abigail Gordon, Macey Grisso, Chandler Henderson, William Henderson, Asia Holland, Wahshee Htoo, Heide Kalinke, Molly Letchford, Hannah McInturff, Carrington Morris, Baylee Morton, Justin Powers, Callie St. Clair, Jesse White, and Natalie Yates

Virginia Western Community College Associates Degree: Austin Dickson

Roanoke College Scholarships: Bryson Byrd, Brenna Donahue, Natalie Ferguson, Savannah Gheen, Carla Graybill, Brandon Hannabass, Kavya Iyer, Katherine Grace Large, Abbie Lewis, Tina Nguyen, Ellasen Spangler, and Christopher Spano

Harvard University: Richard Qiu

Dixie Youth Scholarship: Ryan Buxton

RVLSA Scholarship: Elena Boitnott

VALS Scholarship: Elena Boitnott

Bedford County Farm Bureau Membership Scholarship: Lyndlee Renick

WBHS PTSA Scholarship: Autumn Martin and Austin Dickson

Hollins Univeristy Merit Award: Tabitha Gills

Bethany College Merit Award: Kathleen Fuchs

Daughters of the American Revolution: Abby Spotswood

Roanoke County Education Foundation Scholarships: Evamarie Pascoe (Bayes E. Wilson Award), Mara Strum (John David Wingate Memorial), Haley Cook (Ruth Wade Scholarship), Carla Graybill (Thad Thomas Memorial), Kavya Iyer (Pancham Patolia Scholarship), Analee Huber (Carilion Clinic Research Scholarship), Julia Burek (Carilion Clinic Pre-med Scholarship), Madison Horacek (Carilion Cline Nursing Scholarship) Sarah Tyus (Quincy Development Company, Inc. Scholarship), Keenan McNamara (Hildegarde and Cecil G. Smith Memorial), Ana Boush (Vinton McDonald’s Scholarship), Sophie Griffin (Robert A. Patterson Scholarship), Courtney Palmer (Tina Cooks Woods Memorial), Tabitha Gills (Adam Wickham Memorial), Abby Spotswood (Wendy Basham Memorial), Elena Boitnott (General Foundation—GCA Services), Emily Brooks (General Foundation-Kroger), Ryan Buxton (General Foundation-Lifetouch), Payton Taylor (General Foundation—McNeil Roofing), Danielle Witcher (General Foundation-Rockydale Quarries), Bailey Erin Browning (General Foundation), Amaya Wilhelm (General Foundation)

Foundation for Roanoke Valley Scholarship: Haley Cook (Melva P. Jones Scholarship Fund), Carla Graybill (Clarissa Edwards Noland Memorial Scholarship Fund), Ryan Buxton (Member One Federal Credit Union Richard L. Williams Memorial Scholarship), Evamarie Pascoe (E. Price Ripley Memorial Foundation Fund), Brenna Donahue (John W. Wilks Excellence in Science Scholarship Fund)

Roanoke County Education Association: Carla Graybill

Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship: Haley Cook

Virginia Blood Services Scholarship: Brenna Donahue

Roanoke Valley Community Credit Union Scholarships: Ana Boush, Austin Dickson, Adam Creasy

Imagine America Foundation: Dylan Miles

Insurance Professionals of Roanoke: Luis Jerez

Virginia State Golf Association Scholarship: Hannah Sowers

Lunch Pail Defense Scholarship: Madison Horacek

American Association of University Women: Jasmine Allinson and Julia Burek

Roanoke Elks Lodge Scholarship: Lexis Mason

Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity: Alexis West

Dogwood Festival Queen: Abby Spotswood

Top Terrier: Abby Spotswood

Science Fair Award: Richard Qiu

B’nai B’rith Achievement Awards: Khalil Fonder and Hannah Sowers

Wendy’s High School Heisman School Winners: Khalil Fonder and Kayland Bond

Blue Ridge District All Academic/Athletic Awards: Julia Burek, Luke Johnston, Richard Qiu, Payton Taylor, and Abby Spotswood

Athletic Scholarships: Khalil Fonder (Arizona State University combination Academic and Athletic–swimming), and Tabitha Beecher (Southern Wesleyan University combination Academic and Athletic—lacrosse)

WBHS senior Austin Dickson received numerous awards at the Senior Awards Ceremony on May 22 including the Arnold R. Burton Scholarship, the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber Scholarship, the WBHS PTSA Scholarship, the Roanoke Valley Community Credit Union Scholarship, and the Virginia Tech All USA Academic Team scholarship. He was also recognized for graduating with his Associates Degree from Virginia Western Community College before his high school graduation through the dual enrollment program. He is a candidate for valedictorian.

Students who will be participating in athletic programs in addition to athletic scholarships: Ashton Ashley (VMI track and field), Zachary Aylor (Randolph College soccer), Kayland Bond (Radford University track and field), Katie Fuchs (Bethany College softball), Savannah Gheen (Roanoke College track and field), Julia Kelly (Mary Baldwin tennis), Jacy Marvin (Ferrum College basketball), Loyd Terrell Smith (Randolph College basketball), Ellasen Spangler (Roanoke College softball), Mara Strum (Virginia Tech softball), Amaya Wilhelm (Salem College soccer), Briona Hurt (Ferrum College basketball)

Rensselear Medal Award: Richard Qui

William and Mary Leadership Award: Abby Spotswood

National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students: Ryan Buxton and Tessa Yarbrough

National Merit Scholarship Program Finalist: Richard Qiu

Uri D. and Blanche A. Smith Scholarship: Reilly Hatfield

Burton Center for Arts and Technology Recognitions: Dallas Dickerson (CTE certificate in Building Trades), Austin Dickson (CTE certificate in Computer Information Technology), Brandon Hannabass (CTE certificate in Computer Information Technology and Training Certificate in Cybersecurity), Lexis Mason (CTE certificate in Early Childhood Development)

Academic Scholarships: Hannah Abshire (Radford University), Jasmine Allinson (West Virginia University Air Force ROTC Scholarship and Mountaineers Scholarship), Ashton Ashley (VMI), Zachary Aylor (Randolph College), Maggie Bennett (High Point University), Kayland Bond (Radford University Red and White Academic Scholarship), Ana Boush (University of Virginia), Bailey Browning (Virginia Commonwealth University), Tanner Claybrook (Colorado State University), Austin Dickson (Virginia Tech All USA Academic Team), Chloe Doss (University of Mary Washington), Sara Graham (Lynchburg College), Joshua Hilliard (Old Dominion University), Madison Horacek (Old Dominion University), Sarah Howard (University of Nebraska), Luis Jerez (University of Virginia), Brittney Keaton (Ferrum College), Julia Kelley (Mary Baldwin), Cullen Livingstone (George Mason), Dylan Miles (Nascar Technical Institute Top Tech Challenge Academic Scholarship), Evamarie Pascoe (Virginia Commonwealth University), Marykate Price (Liberty University), Lyndlee Renick (Old Dominion University), Jeanette Sako (UNC Chapel Hill Jabberwock Academic Scholarship), Justin Seymore (Virginia Tech Pamplin Freshman Merit Scholarship), Grace Smith (Radford University), Loyd Terrell Smith (Randolph College), Hannah Sowers (High Point University), Abby Spotswood (Virginia Tech), Mara Strum (Virginia Tech Beyond Boundaries Academic Scholarship), Whitney Tickle (Virginia Tech), Alexis West (James Madison University Academic Scholarship, Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship, Lark-Poindexter Scholarship), Kyle Westland (West Virginia Institute of Technology), Danielle Witcher (Virginia Commonwealth University), Kathryn Woodson (Virginia Tech), and Tessa Yarbrough (University of Richmond).

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