Lincoln seniors announce future plans

LINCOLN — Many Lincoln High seniors had their chance to be recognized during the school’s fourth annual Decision Day Celebration on May 1.

One by one, 51 seniors stepped up to a podium to give their name, their plans after graduation, lots of shoutouts to family, friends and teachers and then some pieces of advice to other students sitting in the school’s basketball arena.

Kaleb Roy, president of the Class of 2024, said he likes the new tradition and wanted to participate in the celebration.

“I felt like it would be a good way to support what our school is doing,” Roy said.

Roy plans to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and hopes to have 27 college credit hours on his first day at the campus. He has taken Advanced Placement courses and concurrent classes to earn high school and college credit during his high school career.

“Lincoln provides a good pathway to prepare for college,” Roy said.

His next step is to major in kinesiology, eventually earn his doctorate in physical therapy and open his own clinic one day so that he can help others.

Roy was one of many who said they plan to attend college after high school, whether it is a fouryear or two-year school. These seniors are interested in a variety of majors, including music, art and physical education, food science, animal science, communications, poultry science, criminology, social work, biology, environmental science, theological studies and marketing.

One student plans to attend Brightwater Culinary Institute at Northwest Arkansas Community College and others will go on to become firefighters or work in a trade, such as welding.

Debbie Rich, high school media specialist, started Decision Day because she wanted other students to be honored.

“We have celebrations for kids going to college for athletic scholarships but didn’t recognize others going onto college as well,” Rich said. “It’s one of my favorite days of the year.”

Decision Day was expanded to all students who had made a decision on their next step after high school and taken action toward that plan.

“All these seniors have made solid decisions,” Rich said.

Decision Day is voluntary and has grown each year. Last year, 35 seniors participated in the celebration.

Prior to the Decision Day Celebration, many local organizations, school groups and businesses announced scholarships for seniors.

About 50 students received more than $100,000 in local scholarships during the program from organizations that included Arvest Bank, Legacy Bank, Bank of Fayetteville, Lincoln Athletic Booster Club, Grace Place, EMS in Dutch Mills, Central United Methodist Church in Lincoln, the Mary Hoffman Memorial Scholarship, Historic Cane Hill Festival, Arkansas Apple Festival, Ozarks Electric, PG Telco and Zing Broadband, Rustic Relics, Eli Martin scholarships, American Legion, Wolfpack Foundation and the high school’s Emergency Services Professional Academy.

Lynn Kutter/Enterprise-Leader Jasmine Lewis, a senior at Lincoln High School, who has already earned her credentials to be a certified nursing assistant, announces her decision to attend the University of Arkansas with the goal to become a cardiologist. Her advice to students behind her at the school: “If you have a dream, chase it.”