By Debbie Adams
William Byrd High School traditionally holds a Senior Honors Banquet each spring. This year, due to the closing of schools and social distancing requirements, the banquet, usually held in May, was not held, but the Class of 2020 is still being recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments during their years at William Byrd. They will also be recognized for these honors during Graduation Online to be broadcast on May 19 at 7:30 p.m.
As of May 12 calculations (to be updated next week once final calculations are done), Valedictorians with 4.0 or above Grade Point Averages (GPAs) include: Olivia Ashworth, Logan Baker, Camryn Band, Ethan Bowser, Sydney Deitrich, Caroline Faulkner, Zachary FiGart, Madeleine Glover, Jack Halliwill, Elizabeth Hancock, Eden Harrilla, Emmy Harris, Grecia Hernandez’perez, Alec Humphries, Bryant Humphries, Jacob Johnson, Evelyn Laherty, Gregory Lane, Haley Lawson, Auria Martin, Jackson Moses, Abigail Murtaugh, Emily Nicely, Kelly O’Connor, Benjamin Onwi, Chloe Pascoe, Olivia Robertson, Zachariah Seigel, Daniel Shelton, Kaylee Shrewsbury, Leah Shrewsbury, Ethan Smith, Ethan Spradlin, Briahna Stacey, Mason Stanley, Alison Stoehr, Kaleigh Stover, Emily Tardy, Hayley Ward, Claire Webb, Erin Wienke, and Kayla Witt.
As of May 12 calculations (to be updated next week after final calculations are complete), Distinguished Honor Graduates with GPAs of 3.5 and above include Cheyenne Allison, Olivia Ashworth, Logan Baker, Camryn Band, Rachel Barker, Ethan Bowser, Piper Brown, Maegan Burnette, Kristina Calhoun, Bryce Corkery, Aliyah Creasy, William Cummings, Cameron Dalton, Liah Davis, Chloe Deal, Alexis Dean, Rachel Deatherage, Sydney Deitrich, Camden Dippel, Nicole Edmonds, Josiah Elmore, Caroline Faulkner, Robert Faust, Anna Fenimore, Zachary FiGart, Danica Fralin, Bryce France, Ashlynn Gaddy, Evan Garst, Jayden Glass, Madeleine Glover, Olivia Grisso, Jack Halliwill, Elizabeth Hancock, Eden Harrilla, Emmy Harris, Cameron Harshbarger, Naythan Hayes, Hannah Helmintoller, Grecia Hernandez’perez, Brianna Hodges, Kimberly Hoyle, Emily Huff, Alec Humphries, Bryant Humphries, RoAnna Hylton, Mason James, Jacob Johnson, Shakira Johnson, Kamryn Kilinski, Christopher Kunc, Evelyn Laherty, Gregory Lane, Haley Lawson, Savanna Lear, Zachary Leffell, Jonah Lilly, Kaitlyn Logan, Lina Lopez, Keaton Lyle, Andrew Manor, Auria Martin, Skylar Mathis, Brian McCormack, Kendall Moore, Sloane Morton, Jackson Moses, Abigail Murtaugh, Emily Nicely, Kelly O’Connor, Eric Oliver, Benjamin Onwi, Kallie Parrish, Chloe Pascoe, Gabrayal Pearce, Chelie Plaster, Alexa Powell, Kayla Rippey, Kaycie Robertson, Olivia Robertson, Carver Rothrock, Robert Saunders, Luke Seifert, Zachariah Seigel, Daniel Shelton, Kaylee Shrewsbury, Leah Shrewsbury, Anthony Smith, Ethan Smith, Cody Southers, Caleb Speck, Ethan Spradlin, Ethan Spraker, Briahna Stacey, Mason Stanley, Bradley St. Clair, Abigail Stinnett, Alison Stoehr, Cole Stohler, Kaleigh Stover, Timothy Strom, Taylor Suttenfield, Emily Tardy, Trevor Thompson, Eden Walls, Hayley Ward, Claire Webb, Erin Wienke, Kayla Witt, Ethan Wood, Graham Workman, Stephanie Zaragoza’Pena, and Deanna Zivelonghi.
Each year, each department selects one outstanding senior who maintains good academic standards in that department, displays good character, and contributes constructively to the class, department, and school. These students are recommended by teachers in the individual departments and their selection is based on a consensus vote by those teachers.
Department Award winners for 2020 are:
Burton Center for Arts and Technology: Bryant Humphries
Art: Aimee Harrison
Band: Ethan Bowser
Business: Travon Calloway
Choir: David Scott
Drama: David Scott
English: Ben Onwi
Family and Consumer Science: Hannah Helmintoller
German: Ethan Spradlin
Latin: Maddie Glover
Marketing: Lexi Dean
Math: Zach Howard
Physical Education: Bryce Corkery
Science: Zach FiGart
Social Sciences: Kayla Witt
Social Studies: Bryant Humphries
Spanish: Alison Stoehr
Technology Education: Keaton Lyle
Yearbook: Caroline Faulkner
Each year the faculty at William Byrd nominates and votes on the Best All Around Male Student and Best All Around Female Student. These coveted honors are based first on academic success, good character and investment in school and community. The students have also participated in a variety of academic and extracurricular activities. Nathan Patrick and Olivia Robertson were selected from the Class of 2020.
Olivia Robertson has already received several honors this spring. She was chosen for the 2020 Dogwood Festival Court and named DAR Good Citizen of the Year. She is a valedictorian and earning an Advanced Studies diploma.
She is a member of the varsity sideline cheerleading team at William Byrd, serving as team captain during her junior and senior years. She received the “Most Coachable” and “Golden Megaphone” awards. She is also a member of the competition cheerleading team that placed first in region and second in state in 2017 and second in region, fourth in state in 2018.
Robertson is a member of the Symphonic Band, the Prevention Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Leo Club, Help Save the Next Girl, Red Cross, and Student Voice (PBIS) organizations.
She was inducted into the Beta Club, is on the A Honor Roll, and was selected as a Junior Marshal last year. She was also selected for the Team Terrier Mentor Program working with elementary school students at W.E. Cundiff to develop future leaders.
Robertson has volunteered at the Battle at Byrd Cheer 4 a Cure fundraiser for cancer research and programs since sixth grade.
She is an active youth member of Vinton Baptist Church and the youth choir and a member of the Student Leadership Team at VBC. She recently led worship and delivered the sermon.
Robertson plans to attend Virginia Tech in the fall to study Childhood Pre-education and return home to teach elementary school in her community. Later on, she would like to become an administrator. She is the daughter of Matt and Denise Robertson.
Nathan Patrick plans to attend Virginia Western Community College and graduate with an Associates in Science and Associates in Culinary Arts. He then plans to transfer to Virginia Tech to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise and then complete a Master’s Degree in Dietetics. His dream career is to be the main Dietician for a college athletic team.
Patrick has played the position of striker for three years on the William Byrd varsity soccer team and has been the kicker for three years for the WBHS varsity football team.
He is enrolled at both WBHS and the Burton Center for Performing Arts and has performed in several productions there. He has also performed with the Roanoke Ballet Theater. He is an intern ballroom dance instructor with the Arthur Murray School of Dance.
Patrick has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes throughout high school. During his junior and senior years, he has served on the Prom Committee; he has been voted to the Homecoming Court for three years and served on the SCA and as a freshman mentor during 10th and 11th grades.
His community involvement has included local mission work with his church youth group at Straight Street, the Roanoke Rescue Mission, and Ronald McDonald House. He also volunteers with The PURE Ministry and has worked with the Night to Shine Special Needs Prom. He is a food pantry volunteer at Bonsack Baptist Church and a music-worship leader there for Vacation Bible School. His parents are Ginny and Keith Patrick.
