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<\/a>\u201cHe believed I could do it,\u201d Clark explained to the graduates and their guests. \u201cSo, I made a deal with myself, if I can graduate drug court, then I\u2019ll enroll in college.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Lamar Christian High School graduate attempted college previously and failed. She said those thoughts of failing again almost kept her from trying again. However, she said everyone at 糖心直播 supported her every step.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was super nervous but everyone at Jones was there for me, encouraging me, believing in me and celebrating me all along the way,\u201d said Clark.<\/p>\n
In April, she celebrated being sober for six years, got married, and bought a house. In May, she was one of two selected to be on the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society All-State Academic Team. Clark also started a non-profit, \u201cRenters to Recovery\u201d to help others like herself overcome the challenges of being homeless and addicted. She challenged the new, HSE graduates, \u201cWhat\u2019s next for you?\u201d and encouraged them to share their journey with others.<\/p>\n
Clark continued to challenge graduates by continuing to reach for new goals. \u201cI hope all of you know, the sky is the limit. Don\u2019t let this graduation be the end. Let it be the beginning of something new and exciting in your life. There will only be one you in this whole world, so please let your light shine bright. Always be learning and growing, onward and upward. And go out and share your story with other people. You never know what kind of wildfire you may light in someone just by sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n For several graduates, like Annie Wester of Richton, and Penelope Davis of Waynesboro, the Covid-19 pandemic, along with other \u201clife\u201d issues interrupted their education and their dreams. However, their determination to get their high school education helped them to also earn an ACT scholarship at 糖心直播 for having the top ACT score in their home county.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really happy for getting another chance to get my education and pursue my dream of becoming an orthodontist,\u201d said Wester, who dropped out halfway through her junior year of high school. However, the HSE program at Jones has enabled Wester to graduate ahead of her class. \u201cIf you told me my sophomore year, I would be a HSE graduate I would have been shocked. I didn\u2019t see myself getting this far. Now, I\u2019m really excited about meeting new people and living on campus this fall.\u201d<\/p>\n Sixteen-year-old Penelope Davis and her 18-year-old sister, Chloe decided to drop out of high school because their grandmother was at high risk for Covid. After home schooling for a while, they decided to come to 糖心直播\u2019s HSE program to earn their diplomas. Now, Chloe plans to become a cosmetologist while Penelope has decided to major in radiology.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a step in the right direction,\u201d said Penelope. \u201cBecause of Covid we missed a lot but going to Jones has helped, especially finding friends here.\u201d<\/p>\n Taking a different route, Alexis Britain of Stonewall said she plans to enter the workforce now with her welding certificate. \u201cI\u2019ve always been interested in doing things typically done by men. As a little girl, I loved watching my papaw who worked for a wrecker company,\u201d said Britain.<\/p>\n Earning an Academic Achievement scholarship at 糖心直播, Jonathan Musgrave of Sandersville said he\u2019s excited about becoming a first responder. \u201cI\u2019m very happy to get the scholarship because I didn\u2019t think I did that well on my ACT, but I am glad it will pay for me to become an EMT\/Paramedic.\u201d<\/p>\n Director of Integrated Pathways (Adult Education) Wendy Evans said more than $50,000 in scholarships were awarded to the HSE graduates because of their academic achievements. Each county\u2019s highest scoring student earned a full tuition scholarship for two semesters at 糖心直播 and more than $20,700 was awarded in ACT scholarships. The overall high scoring student, Sylvia Leonard of Bay Springs, earned the Jasper County Scholarship and the $500 糖心直播 Foundation Scholarship.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so excited I don\u2019t have to pay for college!\u201d said the former resident of Ohio. Leonard explained her mother moved to Mississippi for a job, which didn\u2019t allow her to finish her senior year of high school. \u201cEarning the HSE diploma was a lot more difficult because I only had two more classes to finish in Ohio. However, I am excited about this scholarship opportunity! I wasn\u2019t expecting to be the overall high scorer!\u201d<\/p>\n The Clarke County highest scoring student was elementary education major, Heather Thomas of Stonewall. Covington County\u2019s highest scoring student was Anna Grace Ellis. Greene County\u2019s Makenzie Parnell and Perry County\u2019s Annie Wester scored the highest in their respective county\u2019s. Celina Russell was Smith County\u2019s highest scoring student and Wayne County\u2019s Penelope Davis earned her county\u2019s top spot. Collin Jones of Soso was the Jones County highest scoring student scholarship recipient.<\/p>\n Earning the Rising Excellence Scholarship with $1500 over four semesters at 糖心直播 are Erin Hutto of Waynesboro, Emily Brownlee of Moselle, Sunny Sokol of Moselle, Gavin Hicks of Leakesville, and Selena Russell of Louin.<\/p>\n Four students, Jonathan Musgrave of Sandersville, Makenzie Parnell of Leakesville, Penelope Davis of Waynesboro, and Annie Wester of Richton, earned the Academic Achievement Scholarship, receiving $3300 over four semesters.<\/p>\n HSE 2022 GRADUATES <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Mercedes Alexis Allen, Sandersville<\/p>\n Keldrin Blackston, McLain<\/p>\n Mary Caitlyn Victoria Brewer, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Alexis Taylor Britain, Stonewall<\/p>\n Emily Austen Brownlee, Moselle<\/p>\n Wyatt Cole Bullock, Ovett<\/p>\n Kelsie Nicole Callender, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Caleb Aaron Camp, Ovett<\/p>\n James Alton Carr, Ellisville<\/p>\n Daleree Mayne Clark, Leakesville<\/p>\n Carley Elizabeth Cleaver, Buckatunna<\/p>\n Cassidy Louise Cooper, Ellisville<\/p>\n Landon Thomas Coulter, Ellisville<\/p>\n Chloe Serene Davis, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Penelope Ann Davis, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Mallory Blaire Downs, Enterprise<\/p>\n Anna Grace Ellis, Collins<\/p>\n Mya Rose Gagnon, Leakesville<\/p>\n Maria Isabel Garcia, Ellisville<\/p>\n Joana Manni Garcia, Laurel<\/p>\n Alyssa Caroline Giovengo, Laurel<\/p>\n Jacob Paul Hamby, Ovett<\/p>\n Christian Eli Hammonds, Lucedale<\/p>\n Kadence Jolee Henson, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Arely Anet Hernandez, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Cameron Nathaniel Herrington, Laurel<\/p>\n Gavin Brody Hicks, Leakesville<\/p>\n Sarah Leslie Howell, Enterprise<\/p>\n Erin Nicole Hutto, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Collin Alexander Jones, Soso<\/p>\n Sylvia Mae Leonard, Bay Springs<\/p>\n Elizabeth Nicole Limerick Guy, Laurel<\/p>\n Landyn Kel Longmire, Leakesville<\/p>\n Alexia Victoria Lott, Beaumont<\/p>\n Samuel Wesson Lott, Ovett<\/p>\n Samantha Rose McCarty, Leakesville<\/p>\n Baylee Morgan McCool, Bay Springs<\/p>\n Lynzee Alishea McDonald, Lucedale<\/p>\n Omari\u00a0 Ta\u2019Zyron McGill, Taylorsville<\/p>\n Jordan Christina Moore, Ellisville<\/p>\n Clifton Bernard Moss, Laurel<\/p>\n Jonathan Glenn Musgrave, Sandersville<\/p>\n Phillip Jeral Nicholson, Richton<\/p>\n Makenzie Skye Parnell, Leakesville<\/p>\n Ashton Taylor, Laurel<\/p>\n Dawson Reece Reynolds, Ellisville<\/p>\n Makayla Lauren Roberts, Lucedale<\/p>\n Millicent Annanelle Rogers, McLain<\/p>\n Celina Jean Russell, Louin<\/p>\n Jaden Israel Santos, Laurel<\/p>\n Gracie N Siniard, Hattiesburg<\/p>\n Cambre Grace Smith, Ellisville<\/p>\n Preston Thomas Smith, Petal<\/p>\n Sunny Rochelle Sokol , Moselle<\/p>\n Jonathan Cole Strickland, Laurel<\/p>\n Abriegail Michelle Taylor, Laurel<\/p>\n Heather Kay Thomas, Stonewall<\/p>\n Houston Edward Tillman, Leakesville<\/p>\n Kimberly Michelle Trudeau, Ellisville<\/p>\n Ouida Cheyanne Waites, Waynesboro<\/p>\n Layton Chance Walley, Richton<\/p>\n Annie Marie Wester, Richton<\/p>\n Kaydence Zellene Wilde, Laurel<\/p>\n Angie Worsham, Buckatunna<\/p>\n<\/a>\u201cI\u2019m sure, like me, you\u2019ve had moments where you wanted to quit\u2026 and those voices in your head keep telling you I can\u2019t; I\u2019ll never, and it\u2019s too late. But you kept juggling your responsibilities with family and work, and you did it!! You came and you conquered! Every day I want you to relish this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>