MCHS Class of '23 boasts 16 graduating with honors

Valedictorian Reid Martin is the son of Ron Martin of Metropolis and the late Kathy Martin. He has participated in numerous school activities including basketball, baseball, track and soccer, where he was named All-Conference. He is also president and class representative on the student council; president of the Massac County Drug Awareness Coalition Youth Advisory Council; Key Club member; National Honor Society member; HOSA (HOSA) member. He also participated in math team, Mu Alpha Theta, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as as leader; accounting team; and the Red, White and Blue Crew, serving as as leader. In addition he participated with the WYSE and Scholar Bowl teams. He was also named an Illinois State Scholar. Martin received numerous scholarships including: Fort Massac Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Good Citizen Award; MCDAC Scholarship; Murray State University Presidential Fellowship Scholarship Tuition and Housing; and the Dan Huffman Scholarship. He will attend Murray State University and major in biology.

Valedictorian Maley Sumnlers is the daughter of Melody and Chet Jenkins and James Sumnlers, all of Metropolis. She was a member of the cheer team, math team, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, WYSE Team and HOSA. She was also named an Illinois State Scholar. Sumnlers was a recipient of the prestigious Horatio Alger National Scholarship; University of Illinois Presidential Scholarship; Alice Ebel Scholarship; Illinois State University Scholarship; and many other scholarships. She will attend Illinois State University and major in legal and political studies.

Valedictorian Audrey Thompson is the daughter of Glen and Ashley Thompson of Metropolis. She was a member of the Scholar Bowl Team, Art Guild, math team, Mu Alpha Theta, WYSE Team, accounting team, student council, Key Club and Art Guild. She was also named an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. Among her received scholarships are the Auburn True Blue Scholarship; Auburn Endowed Scholarship; and the Olga and Roberto C. Goizueta Endowed Scholarship. Thompson will attend Auburn University and major in chemical engineering.

Valedictorian Nikki White is the daughter of Marin White and Colin White, both of Metropolis. She was a varsity cheerleader and a member of HOSA, a the WYSE Team and biology club. She was also named an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. White has received numerous scholarships including the Chancellor’s Access Grant; the Provost Scholarship; a Kiwanis/Rotary Massac County Academic Scholarship Award; and the Metropolis Elementary School Scholarship. She will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to pursue a degree in psychology.

Salutatorian Madison Acuff is the daughter of Tracy Acuff of Metropolis and the late Damon Acuff. She was a member of the culture club, drama club, National Honor Society and has been in multiple school plays and musicals. In addition, Acuff was named an Illinois State Scholar. She has received the Missouri State Inclusive Excellence Scholarship; the Inclusive Excellence Housing Scholarship; and the Missouri State In-State Tuition Scholarship. She will attend Missouri State University and major in theatre education.

Salutatorian Emma Grace Estes is the daughter of Patty and Tim Estes of Metropolis. She was a member of the biology club, varsity cheer team, HOSA, and Math Team in her time at MCHS. Emma was named an Illinois State Scholar and is a member of the National Honor Society. Among the scholarships she received are University of Louisville Academic Scholarship and Border State Scholarship and the Kiwanis/Rotary Massac County Academic Awards Scholarship. Estes will attend the University of Louisville and major in psychology.

Salutatorian Olivia Larrison is the daughter of Rob and Jennifer Larrison of Metropolis. She participated in MCHS concert and marching bands, drama club, accounting team and math team. She was also a member of Mu Alpha Theta and the National Honor Society and was named an Illinois State Scholar. Larrison received numerous scholarships including the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Scholarship; the Julie Ann Taylor Memorial Scholarship of Beta Sigma Phi-Psi Eta Sorority; the City National Bank CBAI Essay Scholarship; and the Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative Youth to Washington Trip and Scholarship. She will attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale and major in forestry.

Salutatorian Natalee Owens is the daughter of Kevin and Carolyn Owens of Brookport. She was a member of the MCHS cheer team, MCDAC Youth Advisory Council, MCHS student council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mu Alpha Theta, WYSE Team, HOSA, National Honor Society, math team, accounting team, and biology club. She was also named an Illinois State Scholar. Owens received the Rural Health, Inc., Healthcare Scholarship, the Massac Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship and the Shawnee Community College Salutatorian Tuition Scholarship. She will attend Shawnee Community College and major in Nursing.

Salutatorian Madalyn Roberts is the daughter of Julie and Gary Roberts of Metropolis. She was on the softball and volleyball teams and was a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, HOSA and Mu Alpha Theta. She was also named an Illinois State Scholar. She received the CAP Honors Scholarship and the University of Illinois President’s Scholarship. Roberts will attend the University of Illinois — Springfield and major in liberal studies.

MCHS’ other honors graduates from the Class of 2023 and their future plans are:

• Rowan Dunbar, the daughter of Jason and Amanda Dunbar of Brookport, will attend the University of Illinois Chicago and major in biomedical engineering.

• Joseph Siegelman, the son of Robert and Wendy Siegelman of Metropolis, will attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale and major in computer science.

• Joshua Kowalczik, son of Joshua Kowalczik and Jenny Medley of Metropolis, will attend Murray State University and major in Engineering Physics with emphasis in mechanical engineering.

• Joseph Coram, son of Glenn and Kim Coram of Metropolis, will attend Illinois State University and major in history education.

• Mya Porché, daughter of Donna Porché of Metropolis, will attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale and major in computer science.

• Allison Hannan, daughter of Amanda Hannan of Metropolis and the late David Hannan, will attend Shawnee Community College and major in math education.

• Gracie Hodges, daughter of Kevin and Balinda Hodges of Metropolis, will attend Campbellsville University and major in social work.

The MCHS Class of 2022 also included: Robert Donnovan Alcantara; Nicole Lince De Almeida Andrade; Timothy James Andrae; Jonathan José Ayala; Ashton Taylor Bassett; Allison Clarice Batha; McKinlee Paige Blanchard; Sophie Mae Bormann; Ashton Randy Lee Bradford; Andrew Joseph Brookshier; Austin Michael Burnett; Garin Dwain Burnham; Loralei Helena Burress-McGuire; Autumn Jade Carman; Ryan Alexander Carnes; Isabella Reneé Chambers; Brady Daniel Cissell; Ryan Allen Cohoon; Cassidie Clondel Collins; Terry Lee Collins; Michael Anthony Conner; Karen Cristina Coronado Bautista; Matthew Brannon Craddock; Celeigh Belle Culver; Jordyn Brooke Cummins; Michael Dylan Curtis; MacKenzey Lorayne Dalla; Chloe Marie Dassing; MacKenzie Cheyenne Dassing; Thomas Bryce Davenport; Graycee Makal Deckard; Payton Wayne Ditto; Sharlyne Dominguez; Rebecca Jean Drake; Blayne A. Eftink; Reese Alana Ellis; Kevin Howard Erb; Olivia Cate Farmer; Aurora Jean Fuller; Faye Marie Furlong; Jayce Morgan Gallo; John David Allan Giltner; Jack Thomas Griffith; Rudy James Grohle; Kanton Lee Harris; Monique LaKimbra Hart; Luther Julius Hawes; Brian Charles Heine II; Olivia Layne Heine; Nathan Lee Herman; Ian Michael Higgerson; Felicity Belle Hodge; Drew Parker Jacobs; Bristan Marie Kingston; Nathaniel Bryce Konemann; Karamello Valentino LaCour; Logan Wayne Lang; Joshua Russell Leach; Cale Michael Long; Callie Beth Looper; Trinity Faith Lott; Emma Grace Love; Ashlynn Brooke Martin; Irene D’Shea McCoy; Brittany Ann Nicole McGrew; Thomas Blaize McLelland; Brandon Eugene Mitchell; Matthew David Mizell; Bennett Gregory Neely; Jayce Douglas Noble; Aden Renee Paro; Zachary Robert Lee Pergande; Alexis Alexandrea May Ponce; Alexis Faith Prince; Nicholas Ryan Proctor; Joshua Izaya Proffer-Collins; Leevi Whitnel-Ray Quimby; Zeke Andrew Rader; Paige Makaine Rainbolt; Dylan James Reed; William Allen Reed; Austin Blake Riley; Tyrus Lloyd Riley; Kaleb Alain Joseph Rodriguez; Autumn Patricia Russell; DeMicha Robert Schofield; Hannah Rose Scoggin; Gunnar Gray Shanks; John Brody Smallman; Dorian Jade Sparks; Brian Benjamin Spurlin; Jase Andrew Stewart; Alexandria Brye Summers; Cheyenne Nichole Sumner; Ayriana Nikole Swafford; Victoria Kimren Mae Swafford; Jada Alyse Tolbert; MaKenly Katee-Mae Tolen; Sebastian Alejandro Unda; Logan Tyler Vickers; Josie Reese Walker; Raylan Noah Wallace; Elijah Anson Weaver; Mason Jack Westbrooks; Brooke Marie Wiley; Jadynn Marie Willard; Grace Noelle Willis; Sarah Grace Wrye; and Alexander Richard Zace-Smith.