By Debbie Adams
William Byrd Middle School held its annual Eighth Grade Celebration and Awards Assembly on
May 17. This event for the Class of 2028 focused foremost on the academic achievements of the
students. Assistant Principal Katherine Hutchison led the assembly, saying “Each and every one
of you is special. You will do great things.”
WBMS Principal Evan Noell congratulated the students and thanked them for carrying on the
“Terrier Way” of being safe, respectful, and responsible—“you will have the ability to change
the world.” This year’s eighth grade class numbers almost 300 students.
Students who maintained a 4.0 GPA during middle school through the first semester of eighth
grade were named as Terrier Scholars, receiving both a medal and certificate to recognize their
accomplishments.
Those scholars include Caleigh Aremia, Tayler Austin, Jackson Booze, Greyson Bradford,
Norah Buck, Stephen Byars, Ryan Carroll, Isabella Clark, Milton Clark, Claire Cooper, Riley
Cummings, Isabella Davis, Nathan Doan, Keeli Emery, Reagan Fike, Alanna Fitzgerald, Peyton
Gates, Kyleigh Ginger, Michal Hamlar, Camryn Hicks, Ava Lorton, Olivia Marcus, Mallory
Michalski, Katelyn Mills, Kenley Minnix, Allen Nunez, Emma Olivit, Anna Perkoski, Jack
Petersen, Jenna Petersen, Kendall Ranson, Elliana Ruble, Enna Schofield, Aaron Start, Kara
Sutton, Hadyn Terrell, Emma Thierry, Mia Vest, Emma Whitcomb, Levi Whitcomb, Hendrix
Wright, and Caleb Wrye.
a GPA of 4.0 during middle school through the first semester of eighth grade were named as
Terrier Scholars at the assembly.
Two students, Elliana Ruble and Michael Akers, received the school’s highest award—the Levi
Freeman Award. Students are chosen for this prestigious award by the entire faculty and staff at
WBMS.
The Levi Freeman Award goes to “two students who, in the opinion of the faculty and staff, best
embody the characteristics of kindness, compassion, honesty, tolerance, and the willingness to do
the right thing, even when it’s not popular.”
“This award is in memory of Levi Freeman, a fellow eighth grade student whose life was cut
tragically short after a diagnosis of bone cancer. Levi loved music, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and
the Pittsburgh Steelers, and would have been a 2020 graduate of William Byrd High School. His
memory lives on through his family, friends, and this award.”
Elliana is the daughter of Richard and Hannah Ruble of Bonsack. Her parents say she has always
been an “outstanding student of great character.” They have been “extremely proud of her for her
entire life.” She has served as president of the FCA club this year and hopes to play sports in
high school—volleyball and track.
received the Levi Freeman Award at the awards assembly on May 17. Pictured left to right are
WBMS Asst. Principal Katherine Hutchison, father Richard Ruble, Elliana, brother Trevor,
mother Hannah, and WBMS Principal Evan Noell. Brother, Reid, was not able to attend. (photos by Debbie Adams)
Michael Akers is the son of Hilarie and Joey Akers. He has always been known as a “cooperative
guy, kind, respectful, quiet, and doing what is expected of him.” Michael said he felt “proud to
receive the award.”
received the prestigious Levi Freeman Award at the awards assembly on May 17. Pictured left to
right are WBMS Asst. Principal Katherine Hutchison, his mother Hilarie Akers, Michael, his
father Joey Akers, and WBMS Principal Evan Noell.
Teachers also recognized students with “Highest Achievement Awards” in core subjects.
Highest Achievement Department Award winners named in English were Kyleigh Ginger, Riley
Cummings, and Emma Olivit (Pothier’s class); Garin Adkins, Caridad Palmero, Emma
Whitcomb (Smith’s class); Preslee Hamm, Kennedy Moseley, and Ava Lorton (Mitchell’s class);
Allen Nunez, Hendrix Wright, Keeli Emery, Levi Whitcomb, and Roman Smith (Rosser’s class);
and Helen de la Cruz Cala (Downing’s class).
Highest Achievement in Math Department students were: Nimbus Althoff, Kenleigh
Hetherington, and Eric Nguyen (Whitehead’s class); Katelyn Bennett, Gabe Felty, Debbie
Gamble, and Helen de la Cruz Cala (Mitchell’s class); Riley Cummings, Isabella Clark, Kyleigh
Ginger, Norah Buck, and Mallory Michalski (Nichols’ class); Stephen Byars, Matthew Beavers,
and Aaron Start (Barnett’s class); and Bryson Wendell and Alana Niday (Lovern’s class).
Highest Achievement Awards in Science went to: Sabrina Wray, Katelyn Mills, Preslee Hamm,
Kennedy Moseley, Emma Thierry, and Kara Sutton (Hall’s class); Emma Olivit, Mason
Herschel, Zoe Sowers, Naleigh Lewis, Stephen Byars, and Caleigh Aremia (Johansen’s class);
Norah Buck (Sarver’s class); and Keeli Emery (Close’s class).
Highest Achievement Awards in Social Studies went to: Aubrey Harris, Aaron Start, Nathan
Doan, Eric Nguyen, Katelyn Mills, and Jaiden Blankenship (Chambers’ class); Jahniya Coles,
Stephen Byars, Caleigh Aremia, Jesse Underwood, Mason Herschel, and Zoe Sowers (Riddle’s
class); and Mallory Michalski and Keeli Emery (Peters’ class).
The President’s Award for Educational Excellence was also presented to eighth graders who
maintained a 3.5 GPA in middle school through the first semester of eighth grade year.
Recipients received a letter and certificate from President Joe Biden.
They include Nimbus Althoff, Bryce Angle, Caleigh Aremia, Jacob Artrip, Tayler Austin, Asia
Bannister, Kayleigh Barber, Isabella Barrette, Madelyn Barrette, Matthew Beavers, Jaiden Blankenship, Logan Blevins, Jackson Booze, Allison Bowling, Greyson Bradford, Norah Buck, Stephen Byars, Gabriel Campbell, Spencer Campbell, Ryan Carroll, Eric Chen, Isabella Clark, Milton Clark, Jazmine Clifton, Jahniya Coles, Claire Cooper, Bradley Counts, Kayden Creel, Riley Cummings, Isabella Davis, Nathan Doan, Keeli Emery, Logan Ferguson, Reagan Fike, Alanna Fitzgerald, Debra Gamble, Adrian Garcia, Benjamin Gardner, Madison Garman, Peyton
Gates, Kyleigh Ginger, Blair Godlesky, Kur Gon, Hadyn Grubb, Michal Hamlar, Preslee Hamm,
Aubrey Harris, Mason Hershel, Kenleigh Hetherington, Camryn Hicks, Jude Hinkle, Landon
Hollins, Benjamin Hoyos, Khloe Humphrey, Mya Johnson, Cooper Kageals, Naleigh Lewis, Ava
Lorton, Reese Mahanes, Olivia Marcus, Gray Matthews, Mallory Michalski, Luka Mihelcic,
Adalie Mills, Katelyn Mills, Kenley Minnix, Leah Montgomery, Kennedy Moseley, Josephine
Mullen, Mallorie Mullins, Eric Nguyen, Alana Niday, Riley Niday, Allen Nunez, Emma Olivit,
Carter Palmer, Cooper Peery, Jacob Perez, Anna Perkoski, Jack Petersen, Jenna Petersen,
Kendall Ranson, Aiden Rhodes, Amy Rickman, Nathaniel Roberts, Elliana Ruble, Haleigh
Sauceda, Vivian Schmidt, Enna Schofield, Joshua Serreno, Richard Smith, Zoe Sowers, Aaron
Start, Alyssa Steahly, Gwen Summo, Kara Sutton, Hadyn Terrell, Emma Theirry, Hope Thomas,
Isaiah Thompson, Mia Vest, Kolee Walter, Hailey Webster, Jacey Weddle, Noah Wheeler,
Aiden Whittaker, Emma Whitcomb, Levi Whitcomb, Haleigh White, Bindi Whitenack, Abriel
Wilhelm, Ryan Witcher, Sabrina Wray, Hendrix Wright, and Caleb Wrye.
Eighth graders voted to select Senior Superlatives, including the “Best All-Around” students,
Gage Wilk and Jahniya Coles.
Student Advisory Council representatives Peyton Gates and Levi Whitcomb were recognized
during the assembly along with eighth grade ambassadors: Caleigh Aremia, Norah Buck,
Stephen Byars, Milton Clark, Jahniya Coles, Michal Hamlar, A.J. Holmes, Ally Niday, Aaron
Start, and Jamari Toler.
Students were recognized who have earned a spot on the A Honor Roll for the first three quarters
of eighth grade. They include Nimbus Althoff, Caleigh Aremia, Tayler Austin, Kayleigh Barber,
Jackson Booze, Greyson Bradford, Norah Buck, Stephen Byars, Ryan Carroll, Isabella Clark,
Riley Cummings, Isabella Davis, Keeli Emery, Alanna Fitzgerald, Peyton Gates, Kyleigh
Ginger, Kur Gon, Hadyn Grubb, Michal Hamlar, Kenleigh Hetherington, Landon Hollins, Ava
Lorton, Olivia Marcus, Mallory Michalski, Katelyn Mills, Kenley Minnix, Riley Niday, Allen
Nunez, Anna Perkoski, Jack Petersen, Jenna Petersen, Elliana Ruble, Enna Schofield, Aaron
Start, Alyssa Steahly, Kara Sutton, Hadyn Terrell, Emma Theirry, Mia Vest, Emma Whitcomb,
Levi Whitcomb, Hendrix Wright, and Caleb Wrye.
Eighth graders who have maintained A/B Honor Roll status for the first three nine weeks
include: Bryce Angle, Isabella Barrette, Madelyn Barrette, Matthew Beavers, Jaiden
Blankenship, Allison Bowling, Olivia Bush, Spencer Campbell, Eric Chen, Milton Clark,
Jazmine Clifton, Jahniya Coles, Claire Cooper, Bradley Counts, Kayden Creel, Braylon Dent,
Meranda Dilcher, Morgan Dillard, Nathan Doan, Logan Ferguson, Reagan Fike, Adrian Garcia,
Benjamin Gardner, Madison Garman, Blair Godlesky, Carson Gordon, Hadyn Grubb, Ainslee
Hall, Mason Hershel, Camryn Hicks, Jude Hinkle, Olivia Holcomb, Benjamin Hoyos, Khloe
Humphrey, Mya Johnson, Cooper Kageals, William Lasecki, Naleigh Lewis, Reese Mahanes, Andrea Maldonado, Gray Matthews, Adalie Mills, Leah Montgomery, Kennedy Moseley, Josephine Mullen, Mallorie Mullins, Carmen Munoz, Eric Nguyen, Alana Niday, Emma Olivit, Cooper Peery, Jacob Perez, Collin Pero, Kendall Ranson, Amy Rickman, Nathaniel Roberts, Haleigh Sauceda, Vivian Schmidt, Luke Scott, Joshua Serreno, Richard Smith, Zoe Sowers, Aiden Stiltner, Brooklyn Strother, Gwen Summo, Hope Thomas, Cassidy Thompson, Juan
Torres Carreon, Kolee Walter, Hailey Webster, Jacey Weddle, Bryson Wendell, Keenan West,
Noah Wheeler, Haleigh White, Bindi Whitenack, Abriel Wilhelm, Ryan Witcher, and Sabrina
Wray.
Travis Anderson, who will become principal at William Byrd High School for the 24-25 school
year, stopped by the assembly to welcome the students to ninth grade and to encourage them to
get involved in activities and clubs at WBHS. “What you put into your high school years, is what
you will get out of it.”
