‘Full Circle’ — DCHS Class of 2023 returns to roots in annual Senior Walk

May 11, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Who says you can’t go home again?

Members of the DeKalb County High School Class of 2023 returned Thursday morning to the places where for most of them their educational journey began 13 years ago.

Cheering kids and smiling teachers and administrators at Smithville Elementary and DeKalb West Schools greeted the high school students upon their arrival for the Annual “Senior Walk”

The seniors arrived by school bus first at Smithville Elementary School and later at DeKalb West School where they received a hero’s welcome before strolling single file down the halls with cheering students lined against the walls on each side. Some of the elementary students greeted the seniors with “welcome” signs while others reached out for an embrace or a high five from the graduates as they passed by. A few seniors also got hugs from proud parents and former teachers.

The Senior Walk is an opportunity for high school students to return to the elementary campuses where they once attended school to stroll through the hallways in their caps and gowns. “While we hope this will inspire our future graduates, we are excited about our seniors being able to see their elementary school teachers one last time before they graduate,” said DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis.

May 10, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A college degree and a high school diploma!

Five seniors at DeKalb County High School, Setson Agee, Chandler Johnson, Emma Johnson, Ryder Miller, and Layla Walker are now college graduates. They have each earned an associate degree from Motlow State Community College, and they walked the line Monday evening, May 8 in a Motlow ceremony at MTSU in Murfreesboro, four days before their graduation at DCHS Friday night, May 12.

Through Motlow College’s dual enrollment program, high school students can earn college credits through on-line courses while still enrolled in high school.

Students who have completed their sophomore year and have met all requirements for taking the desired college courses may apply. Public, private and home-schooled students are all welcome to apply. The program gives students the chance to seamlessly transition from high school to college. The core curriculum credits transfer easily to Tennessee’s public colleges and universities while allowing students who are working on a four-year degree to save money on tuition.

In an interview with WJLE this week, each of the five seniors at DCHS talked about the thrill of earning a college degree, even before finishing high school, and their future plans.

“It was definitely a challenge, but I am glad I did it,” said Chandler Johnson, son of Dustin and Kristie Johnson. “I plan to go on to Tennessee Tech to major in biology with a health science concentration and then after that to med school because I want to become a physician,” he said.

Emma Johnson, daughter of Kelly Davis and Jeff Johnson, said two years of college will get her closer to a career in nursing. “It has been really exciting although it was a lot of hard work. It was good for me to get that head start in college. It was a good thing to do. I will be going into the nursing program at Tennessee Tech,” said Johnson.

Walker, daughter of Edward and Penny Walker, said she is excited about having earned both a college degree and high school diploma in that order. “I took a lot of classes throughout my high school career to get to this point and while the classes were very hard and long, it was a good thing for me. I plan to go to Tennessee Tech and further my education in business management,” said Walker.

Agee, son of Michael and Kelly Agee, said this has been a special week for him. “It is very exciting. It took a lot of hard work because a majority of my classes from my junior and senior years were Motlow classes. I was very nervous at the beginning but now that I have my degree I can celebrate. I am really happy about it. I will be going to MTSU to major in agriculture science,” said Agee.

Miller, son of Jason and Kacy Miller, said he had started thinking about one day taking the dual enrollment path as early as his middle school years.

“I owe this experience all to God and my Lord Jesus Christ,” said Miller. “It was something I have been wanting to do for a very long time and now I am glad I have a little bit of a head start. I just made sure I stayed on top of my assignments and didn’t procrastinate and because of that it has all come together for me. I will now be working toward my bachelor’s degree in exercise science at Tennessee Tech University and after achieving that I plan to go to Life College in Georgia, a chiropractic school and one day become a licensed chiropractor,” added Miller.

May 10, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Dozens of seniors at DCHS were rewarded for years of academic and athletic achievements during Tuesday evening’s senior awards night program held in the high school gym.

https://wjle.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/dchsseniorawardsnight.mp3

Click on the link below to view the senior formals.

Photo Gallery

The commencement for the Class of 2023 will be Friday night, May 12 at 7 p.m. on the DCHS football field.

The following are the scholarship and award winners listed alphabetically by last name:

Stetson Agee: DeKalb County Cattlemen’s Association -$500; Officer Joe Bowen Memorial-$500; DeKalb County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers-$500; DeKalb County Soil Conservation District-$350; MTSU True Blue-$14,000; and Motlow State Community College Associates Degree

Amelia Atnip: Salutatorian; MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000 and Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000.

Cameron Bailey: Tennessee Tech University Joe and Anne Eaton Engineering Endowed Scholarship-$5,200

Colby Barnes: Coach Jerry Foster Memorial Scholarship-$500; Officer Joe Bowen Memorial-$500; Clyde Thomas Family Trust-$5,000; Brenda Hooper Memorial presented by DCHS Class of 1975-$300; Jo Ellen Huffman & Ron Rogers Memorial 4-H Scholarship-$500

Alexandrea Beneke: Tennessee Tech University Athletic Scholarship

Cooper Brown: Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000

Isaac Brown: Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$20,000

Serenity Burgess: Cumberland University Band Scholarship-$20,000; Louis Armstrong Award

Jadin Burke: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 2nd place winner-$100

Shan-Chih Chen: Joe Hearn Memorial Career and Technical Education Scholarship presented by the Alexandria Lions Club-$1,000; Talmadge Young Automotive Memorial-$300

Fernando Clavel: DeKalb County Soil Conservation District-$350; Lynn Leland Johnson Memorial FFA Agricultural Scholarship-$250

Gavin Conger: John Phillip Sousa Award

Zoe Cripps: Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial $1,000; Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250; UT-Chattanooga Provost Scholarship-$16,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000;

Luke Driver: Gene Haas Scholarship-$2,000; Joe Hearn Memorial Career and Technical Education Scholarship presented by the Alexandria Lions Club-$1,000

Rebecca Eastes: Tennessee College of Applied Technology McMinnville

Noah Evans: MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Aniston Farler: Tennessee Tech University Golden Opportunity-$6,000

Katherine Gassaway: 3.21 Run for Down Syndrome Awareness Scholarship-$250; Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250; Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; DCHS Class of 1966-$500; MTSU True Blue-$14,000; UT-Knoxville Orange and White Scholarship-$6,000.

Allison Gay: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; Liberty State Bank-$1,000

Malcolm Gora: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 1st place winner-$1,000, Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest Regional Winner-$100; Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest State 2nd place winner-$2,000; Woodmen Life US History Award-$50; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Aaron Gottlied: Milligan University/ Academic/Athletic Scholarship-$110,000

Nolan Gottlied: Cumberland University/Academic/Athletic Scholarship-$130,000

Alyzandra Griffith: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000; Upper Cumberland Association of Realtors- $250; UT-Knoxville Orange and White Scholarship-$6,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Emma Hancock: UT-Martin Dean Scholarship-$8,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Christian Hendrixson: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000

Chandler Johnson: HOSA Blood Assurance Scholarship-$250; Tennessee EMS Education Association Scholarship-$500; DeKalb County Emergency Services Association Scholarship-$500; Motlow State Community College Associates Degree; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Emma Johnson: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; DeKalb Fishing Team Scholarship-$500; Motlow State Community College Associates Degree; DeKalb County Board of Education Members Scholarship-$700

Ean Jones: Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Scholarship-$500; Lindsey Wilson College Athletic Scholarship-$72,000

Jacklyn Kleparek: Officer Joe Bowen Memorial Scholarship-$500; DeKalb County Retired Teachers Scholarship-$300; Southern Landscape Supply/Diamond 9 Sports Student Athlete Scholarship-$250; DCHS FCCLA Culinary Scholarship-$250; Jo Ellen Huffman & Ron Rogers Memorial 4-H Scholarship-$500; US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award; Tennessee Tech University Golden Opportunity-$6,000; Tennessee Tech University W. Doyle and Melford Smith Scholarship-$3,000

Hannah Lohorn: Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250

Sadreanna Magallanes: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 3rd place winner-$75

Emma Martin: American Legion Auxiliary Girls State

Kiley Martin: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 4th place winner-$50

Devin Maxwell: US Marine Corps Enlistment

Aleaha Miller: Eddie Crips Memorial Scholarship-$1,000; DeKalb County Retired Teachers-$300; DeKalb County Board of Education Members Scholarship-$700

Cameron Miller: Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial-$1,000; Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital-$400; Auburn University All Orange Scholarship-$12,000; Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250; Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000

Ryder Miller: MTSU True Blue-$14,000; Tyler Vanhoose Memorial-$2,000; Motlow State Community College Associates Degree; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000

Breanna Millsap: MTSU True Blue-$14,000

Samantha Murphy: DeKalb County Cattlemen’s Association-$500; DeKalb County Soil Conservation District-$350

Matthew Nokes: Cumberland University Presidential Award Scholarship; MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Sheridan O’Conner: Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250; University of Tennessee Volunteer Scholarship-$12,000; US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award

Jonathan Garcia Ortega: US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award and US Marine Corps Enlistment

Conner Paladino: MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000

Katie Patterson: Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250; Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; Tennessee Tech University Cracker Barrel Endowed Scholarship-$1,500

Alyssa Pugh: Smithville Business & Professional Women’s Club-$500; MTSU Blue Raider Scholarship-$1,000; MTSU Future Alumni Scholarship-$6,000

Elishah Ramos: Bethel University Athletic Scholarship-$36,000

Darrah Ramsey: Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250; Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; MTSU True Blue-$14,000; UT-Knoxville Orange and White Scholarship-$6,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000

McKenzie Sanders: Lucille Stewart Educational Award-$2,000; DCHS FCCLA TAP Scholarship-$250; DeKalb County Board of Education Members Scholarship-$700

Brayden Shehane: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; UT-Chattanooga Mocs Scholarship-$12,000

Logan Starkey: DeKalb County Junior Pro Basketball-$500; FirstBank-$1,000; Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award & Distinction- MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000; Scottish Rite-$1,000; UT-Knoxville Orange and White Scholarship-$6,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Hannah Swoape: US Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence

Kenlee Taylor: Officer Joe Bowen Memorial Scholarship-$500

Sharon Bernardo Trejo – Tennessee College of Applied Technology McMinnville

Connor Vance: Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000

Elizabeth Vaughn: MTSU True Blue Scholarship-$14,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000

Brett Walker: 3.21 Run for Down Syndrome Awareness Scholarship-$250; MTSU Blue Raider Scholarship-$1,000; MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Layla Walker: Motlow State Community College Associates Degree; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000

Morgan Walker: Ascension St. Thomas DeKalb Hospital-$400; Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000

Liam Wallace: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; DTC Communications Audio/Visual Scholarship for Excellence-$1,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Carlee West: DeKalb County Junior Pro Basketball-$500

Robert Wheeler: Valedictorian; Alan Hooper Memorial-$500; Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000; University of Mississippi ACT Merit Scholarship-$98,880; University of Mississippi Valedictorian Scholarship-$6,000

Kaleb Wildes: Motlow State Community College Scholarship-$2,000

Jenna Wright: Love-Cantrell Funeral Home-$250; HOSA Blood Assurance Scholarship-$250; Tennessee EMS Education Association Scholarship-$500; Motlow State Community College Scholarship-$3,000; Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000

Kelbi Young: Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000; Southern Landscape Supply/Diamond 9 Sports Student Athlete Scholarship-$250; MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000

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