Starkville HS holds commencement at The Hump
The 263 members of Starkville High School's Class of 2017 took their last steps as high school students Friday night at Humphrey Coliseum on the Mississippi State campus.
The class received $5.2 million in total scholarship funds and 68 students graduated with honors. The class also included 57 Mississippi Scholars.
"Think about who enabled you to finally get your diploma,” said valedictorian Nancy “CiCi” Zhang. “I could never stand here today without my family, teachers, mentors and friends.”
Zhang specifically thanked several SHS teachers, her parents and salutatorian Shanika Musser. Zhang will attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to study biomedical engineering.
“I hope tonight is a night to remember, because it marks the start of something new,” Musser said. “After tonight, we've got to go our own ways, because high school wasn't meant to last forever. Right here, right now it's time to break free from dress code and standardized tests.”
Both Zhang and Musser also acknowledged deceased SHS Junior English teacher Sheree Ferguson.
Principal Sean McDonnall thanked parents, teachers and students, as well as thanking the seniors specifically for following his directions to them at the beginning of the semester to show him a college acceptance letter, submitted job application or letter of acceptance into any of the U.S. Armed Forces by the end of the year.
“Class of 2017, thank you for making it her tonight,” McDonnall said. “Thank you for gracing our hallways for the past 13 years. Thank you for al-
lowing us to watch you grow and become wonderful young adults. Thank you for applying yourselves, getting involved, making a difference and getting college or career ready.”
Graduate Shanna Thrasher, who plans to study cosmetology at East Mississippi Community College, said graduating felt “amazing,” and that she would miss her SHS friends the most.
Graduate Sam Snell said he planned to attend EMCC and transfer to MSU to study business with a focus on real estate. He said he would miss being a part of his after-school activities, including tennis, student government association and National Honor Society.
“I've worked very hard for this and I'm very happy to finally made it,” Snell said. SHS CLASS OF 2017 Nancy Xinyu Zhang, Valedictorian
Shanika Rae Musser, Salutatorian
Kayla Lanette Acoff Darrious Darren Agnew Shane Austin Aguayo Jaquez Devon Akins David Wesley Albritton Shahad Alotaibi
Iyad Hesham Alsaud Michela Nicole Anderson Toni Aniyah Deavion Armstead
Tatyana Shonte Austin Ethan Nicholas Baca Janey McKay Baggett DdAllen Vincent Bailey Alexandra Evelyn Baldwin Chloe Lauren Bardon
Gia Anitira Bean Madison Marie Bean
Jada Danielle Beckum Antwanique Ayunna Bell Cameron Michael Bell Christina Lashun Bell Markedric Keyaivis Bell Tymesha Charnea Bell Brianna Quna Bevill Aaron Christian Bird Savannah Grace Blackwell Carla Marie Bohna Justin Brock Boone Joshua Paul Bramlett Theodore Vincent Brocato Charlena Antwannette Brown
Makell Donta Brown Mari Hunter Brown Quianna Shaneece Brown Michael Seth Brumley Tyerria Tanvzon Bryant Jontay Alexis Monic Bunton Tatiana Lafaye Burgess Bradley Austin Burns Gustin Tyler Bush
Anna Linda Byrd Christopher Alexander Calder
Olivia Daniella Calmes Randolph Gerrod Calmes Zion Deshun Cannon Matteo Cappello Drakieria Mye’unique Myrickle Carpenter Tanya Jenee Cato
Iviana Lasha Cattledge Christian Deonte’ Chandler Haley Morgan Church Daisha Disha Clark Jerome Clark Jr. Keasheeka Trevell Clark Tavian Tyrese Clark Taylor Salena Clark Joseph Kelly Claybrook Olen Keith Coatney Jessica Jamaya Cobb Rymesha Untaija Coggins Aziza Nymiah Coleman Kaylee Nicole Coleman Malik Jovohn Collins Chandler Mackenzie Conner Israel Silhouette Corbett Bradley Scott Curtis Malcolm Jamad Dailey Ansley Morgan Dale Kelsey Marie Damms Tiesha Shane’ Daniels Ericka Ashlynn Davis Jasmine Nicole Davis William Luke Davis Camryn Grace Dawkins Ariel Sade Dean Lynnzie Shawniece Dean Vance Coleman Dewberry Jamilla Kayla Disu Brendan Powell Dobbs T’angela Janae Doss Jazmyn Charlis Demaz’ Zykia Douglas Shanequa Ashanti Marie Duck
Lawson Joy Dumas
Sara Grace Duncan Marika Angela Dunne Jaquerric Laquante Edmonds
Marionte Dytez Edwards Nathan Jermaine Edwards Tony Ikencoda Elliott Jr. James Earl Ellis II William Paul Ellis Cameron Rashad Evans Ikela Roesha Evans Lamaija Janae Evans Shunderika Shaniqua’ Fason Genny Leigh Fischer Sarah Besse Fischer Braylon Alonzo Fisher Ra’gan Ambria Fisher Zachary Dontavious Fountain
Kensley Page French Jakima Racquel Fulton Edward Terrell Furr Malik Cordarius Gaines Shalonna Michelle Gardner Stavohn Laryll Gardner Willie Earl Gay Jr. Jaquantis Javon Gibson Mary Shanell Gibson Yezenia Tatyana Gibson Toni Lakayla Gillespie Alexis Sharnee Glass Tristen Allen
Shane Grantham Chyna Shuntierra Gray Ronnieshya Charde’ Grayer Tyler Laron Grayer Jamia Tyasia Kyana Guido Tycurio Fantazse Guy Richard Lee Halfacre Jr. Darren Darius Hall Jr. Adonis Vashon Harris Christopher Lashawn Harris Jr. Lamarquez Tredonte Harris William Henry Harris IV Alliecia Robin Marneese Hart £
Rylee Madison Hathaway Robert Doss Haynes Justin Allen Helms Cornealius Martez Hendrix Damarcus Dashun Hendrix Kory Deonta Hill Antoinette Zankezzia Desi Hinton
Charlie Howard Hornburger III
Teuna Keondra Houston Presley Lane Howard Breuna Jamia Hubbard William Brady Hunt
Jill Caroline Jackson Leah Nicole Jackson Kayla Da’Shon Jefferson Savannah Sabree Jefferson Zandin Mark’ese Jenkins Markejah Breunna Johnson Gyasi Omari Jones Jakoby Ty’Mal Jones Kashayla Krishon Jones Kelsey Monae Jones Zyshonda Khimeyu Jones Nelson Jordan II Nydaisha Shameri’a Jordan Carlos Lamar Kemp Jr. Hannah Jennifry King John Thomas King Natalie Lauren King Kennis Marie Kingery Michael Aaron Kunkle Jr. Andy Yuan-Zhe Li Hailey Anne Linley Jesse Hamilton Little A’Daedreya Ke’Onna Mallet Hudson Grant Matheny Katherine Grace Mattox James David May Kristopher Rodriquez McCarter
Makayla Ciarra McCarter Marlentray Rontrell McDowell Jr.
Christy Rashay McGee Erica Nicole McGee Tahj Devoia McKey Sierra Louise McKinley Ashley Clea Anita McLemore
Steven Lamar McMorris Shaliyah Leshan Miles Chelsie Blake Miller Heidi Lynne Miller Andy Devier Moore Gabriella Ayanna Moore Rylan James Moore Austin Jermaine Morris Jamie Duran Morris Jr. Madilyn Hope Morris Malek Salameh Mrayyan Krystian Akeyuanna Neely Craig Marquise Nichols Kalyn Mary-Alyce Nichols Alecea Michea Niven Brikerrian Jaquante Nurse Decorda Deon Owens Jaime Yvett Pearson Thomas Gabriel Perez Yasenia May Pinkney Alexis Trinee’ Poe Marshala Marnique Poe Shontavious Marshon Poe Earnest Lavell Price Jr. Larkin Sage Pritchard Jessi Claire Pryor Phillip Quinn III
Isley Jaymond Randle Connor Wilson Reinike Ethan Caliel Reynolds Deion Marte’ Rice Kiana Lashay Rice Jeffery Lashawn Riley Jr. Lashundra Taishanna Riley Johnathan Tyler Roach Thomas Cole Roberts Audrey Margaret Robertson Tyler Fitzgerald RobinsonStovall
Jackson Thomas Rosinski Alejandro Hamilton Roskelley
Garcia
Craig Evan Ruff
Maria Camila Salazar Deanna Lynette Sanders Casey Owen Sexton Javian Lamont Sherman Skylar Travarious Shields Joshua James Simmons Angelica Mercedes Sinclair Aaliyah Ja’nay Smith Barzinia Keion Smith Latazia Nike’ Smith Samuel Wade Snell Chi’tia Tamera Spencer Joshua Malik Spencer Ladarius Kemar Spencer Austin Lake Spradling Shykel Andres Spruell Courtney Quierra Stallings Quontavious Damon Staples
Jalan Malika Junior Starks Malesa Leslie Stiles Calista Breanne Stineman Amelia Charlotte Story Georgiana Katherine Swan Cedrianna Lasha Tate Shanquessie Ambriel Tate Anna Hayden Taylor Deveani La’quia Thomas Niquasia Keontae Thompson
Shanna Michelle Thrasher Alejandra Estefania Torres Lashondra Keshay Townsel James Wesley Travis Yachimma Quonnett Latrece Tucker Cleaborn Micajah Turner Marquajah Tyja Turnipseed Tatayana Antwanette Turnipseed
Jatoya Nicole Tutton Hannah Marie Vanderberg Mia Alexandria Vaughn Christal A’Shanti Quierra Walker
Laverious Rovon Warren Alexis Joanna White Allexie Rose Williams Amber Shaynee-Danyel Williams
Bruce Lareco Williams Dearius Hakeem Williams Faith Williams
Isiah Lavon Williams Jared Nandel Williams Keilei Alexandria Williams Koran Malik Williams Christopher Lamar Williamson
Brandon Terrell Wilson Broderick La-Dale Wilson Tybra Naomi Windsor Megan Rose Wingate Damaya Letasseya Winters Shaquilla Tanisha Wordlaw Dontavious Quandarius-Co Yarbrough
Waverly Hunter Yeatman Keyona Taquilla Young Lakyra Marvea’Young Marshell Young