-Information courtesy Victoria Bradsher, School Director, Oxford Preparatory School
During Awards Day on Friday, May 4, Oxford Preparatory School (OPS) announced their honor graduates, Spirit of The Griffin award, marshals, leadership and service awards and Directors’ awards. Students were also recognized for excellence in academics, fine arts and athletics. In addition to school awards, two students received honors and scholarship from local civic organizations.
At Oxford Prep students earn Latin distinctions. Summa cum laude cords of gold, purple and orange are presented to students who have a weighted GPA greater than 4.5. Mary Catherine Stallsmith will graduate with the summa cum laude distinction and will speak at graduation on May 26, 2018. Catherine will attend Elon in the fall.
Students who have a cumulative weighted GPA between 4.25 and 4.5 earn the magna cum laude distinction and will wear cords of purple and gold. This year that honor goes to Layla Alashmli, Maddie Stallsmith, Jackson Vaughan and Jacinthia Williams.
Ten students earned cum laude distinction by achieving a GPA between 4.0 and 4.24. They are Megan Ayscue, Andrew Crumpler, Whitt Daniel, Kaleb Evans, Chelsea Gatewood, Ca’rin Green, Jose Kyle Maghanoy, Emily Oswald, Bo Puckett and Nicoria Williams.
Each year the staff chooses a student graduation speaker who they feel best represents the Spirit of the Griffin. The Spirit of the Griffin is the person who has taken full advantage of the academic opportunities at OPS. It is the person who has grown and taken on active and verifiable leadership roles both within and outside of the school. The student chosen as the Spirit of the Griffin speaker demonstrates service to others as an individual, as a representative of OPS and in the larger community in which we live. To be selected as the Spirit of the Griffin speaker the student must have a commitment to attend a four-year university. The Spirit of the Griffin for 2018 is Chelsea Gatewood. At the awards ceremony, Chelsea also received the DAR service award and scholarship.
OPS Marshalls were formally presented with their sashes during the awards ceremony. At OPS marshals are those students chosen from the sophomore and junior class who have maintained a GPA greater than a 4.0. The chief marshal is selected from the junior representatives and is the student with the highest GPA. The Chief Marshal for 2017-2018 is Shawn Matthews from Oxford, NC.
The remaining marshals who will serve this year are Wes Aitken, Sala Algathi, Alex Bare, Ey’Mania Alston, Hannah Brewer, Erica Evitts, Claire Gordon, Robert Hopper, Kaylah Hunt, Emily Iannuzzi, Abbie Mann, Nathan Metcalf, Sophia Metcalf, Mira Patel and Ian Simmons.
Leadership awards are selected by the entire OPS staff and are presented to those students from any grade who demonstrate positive leadership that helps to guide others in achieving excellence in academics, sports, the arts or service. Leadership awards were presented to Mary Catherine Stallsmith, Caleb Hunt, Alex Bare, Cesar Ponciano-Quintana, Sophia Metcalf, Zenia Hart, Holly Currin, Samantha Huff and Tripp Brewer.
Zenia Hart, captain of the girls’ basketball team then presented her teammates with star awards for their continued demonstration of leadership in the school and representation of the highest levels of sportsmanship, perseverance, positivity, determination and team support. Team members are Cassidy Stokes, Kayla Whirley, Catherine Slack, Sarah Slack, Carla Rodriquez. The team has an overall average GPA greater than 3.3 (unweighted) and has received the NCHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award.
The Outstanding Senior Athlete Award is given each year to a graduating senior who best exemplifies Scholarship, Athletic Skills, Athletic Involvement, Sportsmanship, Teamwork, and Cooperation. They must have maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average (weighted) through the first semester of their senior year, possess athletic skills of superior quality and a high level of success and skill at their sport(s), and have earned a minimum of four Varsity letters. Candidates are nominated by other senior student-athletes and a single male and female are selected by varsity head coaches and the athletic director. The Female Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete of 2018 is Maddie Stallsmith and the Male Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete is Whitt Daniel.
Service to the community is a key component of the OPS mission. Being honored for excellence in service were Avieri Sievert, Katie Redman, Jaci Crute, Luis Rodriguez, Elijah Griffin, Chelsea Gatewood, Cassidy Stokes, Rick O’Neal and Ey’mania Alston.
Avery Thomas received high honors in service for his ongoing commitment and contributions to the school, to family, and to the local community. Senior Whitt Daniel was presented with the Service Award and Scholarship from the Henderson Optimist Club.
The Directors’ award for 2018 was conferred on 18 students. To be eligible for the Directors’ award, students must have a clear discipline record and an academic record that reflects excellent performance. Students who receive the Directors’ award demonstrate the principles upon which Oxford Prep was founded. The very special young people receiving the Directors’ award this year are Trey Reese, Kim Campbell, Cassidy Griffin, Adam Corbett, Nick Corren, Alex Rote, Annette Carlos-Tejada, Jane Faulkner, Mona Mohamed, Ashlyn Roberson, Isaac Watkins, Matt Wilkinson, Taylor Firtick, Sydney Sinnema, Emma Hicks, Alexis Wilson, Reese Newton and Carson Reese.
Graduation for OPS Griffins will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 1:30 pm. The ceremony will be at McGregor Hall in Henderson. Entry to the commencement exercise is by ticket only.