By Debbie Adams
William Byrd Middle School presented academic achievement awards to its eighth graders in a special assembly on May 22,.
Eighth graders Luke Richardson and Emmalee Dodson were recipients of the prestigious Levi Freeman Character Award “in recognition of outstanding character and personal values.” The Levi Freeman Award is presented annually to two students, who, in the opinion of the faculty, best embody the characteristics of kindness, compassion, honesty, tolerance, and the willingness to do the right thing even when it’s not popular.
The award is given in memory of Levi Freeman, a fellow eighth grade student whose life was cut tragically short after a diagnosis of bone cancer. His memory lives on through his family, friends, and this award.
Students who maintain a 4.0 GPA in middle school from sixth grade through the end of the third nine weeks of their eighth grade year are named as “Terrier Scholars.” Terrier Scholars this year are Alyssa Abdelhadi, Erica Barton, Christopher Boyd, Addison Collins, Heidi Dixon, Britton Jordan, Olivia Long, Olivia Lorek, Emma Milliron, Tyler Minnix, Elena Mullen, Sarah Nguyen, Carly Norton, Kendall Norton, Sebastian Perdomo, Thomas Purcell, Willow Seth, Gavin Thornton, Heidi Wienke, and Maggie Zimmerman.
Students who made the A Honor Roll in their eighth grade year through the third nine weeks were recognized. They are Alyssa Abdelhadi, Erica Barton, Christopher Boyd, Addison Collins, Heidi Dixon, Britton Jordan, Olivia Long, Olivia Lorek, Emma Milliron, Tyler Minnix, Elena Mullen, Sarah Nguyen, Carly Norton, Kendall Norton, Sebastian Perdomo, Thomas Purcell, Willow Seth, Gavin Thornton, Heidi Wienke, and Maggie Zimmerman.
The President’s Education Award recognizes student excellence and achievement. Eighth graders who received the “President’s Education Award” for maintaining a 3.5 GPA in sixth, seventh and eighth grade (through the third nine weeks) are Alyssa Abdelhadi, Elizabeth Abrams, Erica Barton, Janelle Bibby, Aubrey Blewett, Raegen Bowman, Christopher Boyd, Madelyn Brown, Lane Brunk, Nate Buck, Hudson Cain, Casey Carter, Emily Clinebell, Addison Collins, Cohen Cook, Jenna Cruz, Chase Daugherty, Alexis Davis, Fallon Davis, Colter Dean, Alyssa Dennis, Carinna Dibenedetto, Heidi Dixon, Sidney Draper, David Foster, Jaxon Fowler, Mariah Garrett, Clarissa Gill, Kaiden Harnish, Jeremiah Harper, Emmalee Harris, Aaron Hemming, Sophia Hoagland, Christopher Hurd, Lukas Johnson, Owen Johnson, Cole Johnston, Evelyn Jones, Stella Jones, Britton Jordan, Cameron King, Reagan Kirby, David Krawazyk, Arianna Krista, Austin Kroner, Scotlyn Leonard, Vincent Liu, Olivia Long, Olivia Lorek, Joseph Madonna, Bradley Martin, Mia Martin, Layla Matz, Ella McCoy, Jackson McCoy, Michael McGrath, Caden McReynolds, Emma Milliron, Tyler Minnix, Penley Moore, Elena Mullen, Sarah Nguyen, Sydney Nichols, Carly Norton, Kendall Norton, Giovanni Pandolfini, Brody Parrish, Jeremy Paul, Sebastian Perdomo, Maggie Peters, Nathan Pickeral, Eric Pierce, Myles Preston, Thomas Purcell, Michael Ramos, Luke Richardson, Makayla Ring, Bruce Robinson, Jamya Rosborough, Abigail Saritelli, Willow Seth, Colten Sheppard, Aubrey Sink, Riley Slusher, Elliott Smith, Nathaniel Smith, Noah Spradlin, Riley Spradlin, Ramsay Stephens, Zachary Stiltner, Bailey Tabor, Zane Taylor, Zane Telsch, Gavin Thornton, McKayla Tingler, Jakeen Toler, Lauren Toney, Nicholas Toney, Izabella Trumble, Sydney Tuck, Kara Watkins, Owen Webb, Colton West, Connor Whitehead, Heidi Wienke, Skye Williams, Makayla Witt, Aden Wright, and Maggie Zimmerman.
WBMS eighth graders who made the A-B Honor Roll through the third nine weeks were recognized. They are Levi Adok, Ava Betterton, Aubrey Blewett, Janelle Bibby, Raegan Bowman, Madelyn Brown, Sage Brown, Lane Brunk, Hudson Cain, Riley Carlisle, Cohen Cook, Jenna Cruz, Chase Daugherty, Colter Dean, Alyssa Dennis, Carinna Debinedetto, Colton Edwards, David Foster, Jaxon Fowler, Clarissa Gill, Kaiden Harnish, Aniyah Harper, Jeremiah Harper, Emmalee Harris, Aaron Hemming, Braedyn Henritze, Sophia Hoagland, Christopher Hurd II, Brandon Hurley, Lilly Jarels, Lukas Johnson, Owen Johnson, Cole Johnston, Evelyn Jones, Stella Jones, David Krawczyk, Arianna Krista, Scotlyn Leonard, Vincent Liu, Charley Lord, Joseph Madonna, Bradley Martin, Ella McCoy, Jackson McCoy, Caden McReynolds, Penley Moore, Sydney Nichols, Brody Parrish, Jeremy Paul, Nathan Pickeral, Eric Pierce, Mia Pippin, Myles Preston, Luke Richardson, Colin Rodgers, Jamya Rosborough, Abigail Saritelli, Jonah Schofield, Colten Sheppard, Aubrey Sink, Riley Slusher, Nathaniel Smith, Noah Spradlin, Riley Spradlin, Ramsay Stephens, Bailey Tabor, Kaitlyn Tang, Zane Taylor, Zane Telsch, McKayla Tingler, Lauren Toney, Izabella Trumble, Sydney Tuck, Makayla Twining, Owen Webb, Colton West, Connor Whitehead, Skye Williams, Makayla Witt, and Aiden Wright.
Assistant Principal John Eggleston addressed the eighth grade class, saying that he was proud of how they had grown during their middle school years. He advised them that while their middle school teachers and staff had prepared them for high school, the high school faculty and staff would “prepare them for society.” He commented that William Byrd High School is “like a family” that takes you in.
WBHS Principal Tammy Newcomb welcomed the students who will be moving across the parking lot in the fall, saying, “High school will be the beginning of adulthood for you. We are excited for you to come up and join our family. You will be able to explore different avenues of interest and classes that you select to take. Don’t just ‘get through’ high school. ‘Get all you can out of high school.’” She also talked about the newly remodeled high school building and the opportunities it will afford.
WBMS Principal Dana Stevens also expressed her pride in the Class of 2027 and their resiliency in persevering through the years of the pandemic. She urged them to always remember “The Terrier Way” of living.
