DCHS Class of 2023 Commencement Tonight (Friday) (View Videos, Audio, and Senior Pics Here)

May 12, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Commencement for the Class of 2023 will take place on the football field of DeKalb County High School tonight (Friday) starting at 7 p.m.

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

Click on the link below to view the senior formals.

Photo Gallery

The DCHS band will perform the traditional pomp and circumstance as the 165 members of the class file onto the field to take their seats.

The program will open with an invocation by FCA member Isaac Brown, a performance by the DCHS Choir, remarks by Class President William (Liam) Wallace and Valedictorian Robert Wheeler, recognition of students who have earned honors and service awards, including Distinction and Top Rank, presentation of the prestigious White Rose and Citizenship awards. Diplomas will then be presented to the graduates by Principal Bruce Curtis, Assistant Principal Jenny Norris, and Director of Schools Patrick Cripps followed by the benediction by FCA member Kiley Martin to close out the commencement.

Senior Composite Video:

(Video created by DCHS AV Production Class)

The following students have met requirements to be considered for top Rank. To be considered for top Rank, students must take at least 10 honors, dual enrollment, and AP courses and students must have a 21 or higher ACT composite score or 1060 SAT total score.

The DCHS Class of 2023 Top Rank students are as follows:

Robert S. Wheeler, Amelia R. Atnip, Sheridan M. O’Conner, Isaac H. Brown, Layla L. Walker, Morgan R. Walker, Zoe P. Cripps, Alyzandra C. Griffith, Katherine D. Gassaway, Brett A. Walker, Noah A. Evans, Chandler J. Johnson, Aniston J. Farler, Ryder C. Miller, Cameron D. Miller, Stetson L. Agee, Halayna J. Newby, Jacklyn R. Kleparek, Kelbi D. Young, Emma G. Martin, Connor H. Vance, Emma G. Johnson, Darrah E. Ramsey, Madison E. Martin, Christian T. Hendrixson, Aaron D. Gottlied, Teshia J. Goff, Alyssa G. Pugh, Matthew N. Nokes, Colby D. Barnes, Nolan W. Gottlied, Elizabeth G. Vaughn, Emma C. Hancock, Bryan C. Cook, Logan L. Starkey, Jenna E. Wright, Connor J. Paladino, William A. Wallace, Brayden S. Shehane, Cooper D. Brown, Malcolm A. Gora, Lane E. Goss, Kaleb C. Wildes, and William H. Cantrell

The following students are being recognized for “Distinction” as having met the requirement for Tennessee State Distinction by having a B average and meeting at least one of the following: Earned a nationally recognized industry certification, Participated in at least one of the Governor’s Schools, Participated in one of the state’s All State Musical Organizations, Been selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist, Attained a composite score of 31 or higher on the ACT or a total SAT score of 1420 or higher, Attained a score of 3 or higher on at least two Advanced Placement (AP) exams, Earned 12 or more semester hours of postsecondary (dual enrollment credit):

Stetson Agee, Samuel Allen, Andrea Arellano, Amelia Atnip, Cameron Bailey, Colby Barnes, Zackary Birmingham, Cooper Brown, Isaac Brown, Serenity Burgess, William Hunter Cantrell, Shan-Chih Chen, Tiana Clark, Fernando Clavel, Alexis Clay, Gavin Conger, Bryan Carter Cook, Zoe Cripps, Luke Driver, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Mersadies Fountain, Elizabeth Gaines, Katherine Gassaway, Teshia Goff, Lane Goss, Nolan Gottlied, Aaron Gottlied, Alyzandra C. Griffith, Emma Hancock, Christian Hendrixson, Chandler Johnson, Emma Johnson, Skyler Jose, Jacklyn Kleparek, Chloe Lockwood, Hannah Lohorn, Jamison Marlar, Eli Martin, Emma Martin, Madison Martin, Yair De Jesus Mata Garcia, Mario Matias, Sayla McBroom, Aleaha Miller, Cameron Miller, Ryder Miller, Blake Morton, Bailey Mullican, Joshua Musick, Ailish Munoz, Halayna Newby, Matthew Nokes, Sheridan O’Conner, Kristen Oakley, Conner Paladino, Hannah Patterson, Katie Patterson, Alyssa Pugh, Ashtyn Ramos, Darrah Ramsey, Brendyn Richey, McKenzie Sanders, Isaac Sasser, Raven Savage, Brayden Shehane, Brandon Silva, Logan Starkey, Hannah Swoape, Aiden Thompson, Anthony Tittle, Andrew Tramel, Hannah Trapp, Connor Vance, Elizabeth Vaughn, Brett Walker, Layla Walker, Morgan Walker, William Wallace, Carlee West, Robert Wheeler, Kaleb Wildes, Haley Williams, Katherine Williams, Jenna Wright, Kelbi Young, and Jonathan Zavala.

The following students have met the requirements for graduating with Tennessee State Honors by meeting all of the ACT or SAT subject area readiness benchmarks. The ACT benchmarks are as follows: English – 18, Reading – 22, Math – 22, and Science 23. The SAT benchmarks are as follows: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing – 480 Math – 530:

Stetson Agee, Ryder Miller, Amelia Atnip, Halayna Newby, Cameron Bailey, Matthew Nokes, Jordan Blackwell, Sheridan O’Conner, Isaac Brown, Darrah Ramsey, William Hunter Cantrell, Brendyn Richey, Tiana Clark, Logan Starkey, Zoe Cripps, Conner Vance, Noah Evans, Brett Walker, Malcolm Gora, William Wallace, Lane Goss, Robert Wheeler,Nolan Gottlied, Kaleb Wildes, Alyzandra Griffith, Jenna Wright, Christian Hendrixson, Kelbi Young, Chandler Johnson, and Cameron Miller.

The following students have met all requirements for becoming a Tennessee Scholar. The Tennessee Scholars program encourages students to take a more rigorous and challenging course of study in high school. Students graduating as Tennessee Scholars have to maintain good academic, disciplinary, and attendance standards as well as volunteer in the community. Tennessee Scholars also choose to take rigorous courses beyond what is required to graduate:

Zoe Cripps, Noah Evans, Katherine Gassaway, Aaron Gottlied, Nolan Gottlied, Alyzandra Griffith, Jacklyn Kleparek, Hannah Lohorn, Aleaha Miller, Bailey Mullican, Ailish Munoz, Sheridan O’Conner, Darrah Ramsey, McKenzie Sanders, Brayden Shehane, Hannah Swoape, Brett Walker, and Robert Wheeler.

The following students are Senior Service Award recipients:

Serenity Burgess, Zoe Cripps, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Katherine Gassaway, Aaron Gottlied, Nolan Gottlied, Alyzandra Griffith, Jacklyn Kleparek, Hannah Lohorn, Bailey Mullican, Sheridan O’Conner, Darrah Ramsey, McKenzie Sanders, Brayden Shehane, Brett Walker, Morgan Walker, and Robert Wheeler.

Members of the DCHs Class of 2023 are as follows:

Danna Regina Acosta Guzman, Stetson Lane Agee, Mariela Aguilar Estrada, Samuel Elijah Allen, Cristal Alvarez Tinajero, Andrea Arellano, Jackson Riley Arnold, Amelia Rose Atnip, April Areona Atnip, Christian Avalos Godinez,

Cameron Michael Bailey, Jase Glendon Bain, Colby Davis Barnes, Alexandrea Bella Beneke, Haven Samantha Betancourt, Zackary Parker Birmingham, Jordan Alexander Blackwell, Cooper Dunham Brown, Isaac Hartwell Brown, Serenity Faith Burgess, Jadin Zeus Burke,

Sayla Yvonne Cantrell, William Hunter Cantrell, Aviannca Nikole Chalfant, Shan-Chih Chen, Andrew Wayne Christian, Lauren Michelle Clark, Tiana Darlene Clark, Fernando Solomon Clavel, Alexis Nicole Clay, William Gavin Conger, Destiny Kay Conners, Bryan Carter Cook, Christopher James Cox, Zoe Potter Cripps, Landon James Crips,

Luke Preston Driver,

Rebecca Lynn Eastes, John Schuylar Ellis, Tessa Roshelle Ervin, Tyler Cleveland Estes, Hayden Andrew Evans, Noah Alexander Evans,

Aniston Jane Farler, Conner Jaylee Farmer, Makyra Christine Farris, Mersadies Kadley Fountain, Lily Jade Frederick, Lakeisha K. Fullilove,

Elizabeth Carlene Gaines, Rylee Grace Garmer, Katherine Dell Gassaway, Allison Faith Gay, Austin Matthew Glenn, Teshia Jo Goff, Malcolm Alexander Gora, Lane Elijah Goss, Aaron David Gottlied, Nolan Wood Gottlied, Alyzandra Claire Griffith,

Morgan Mackenzie Hale, Emma Caroline Hancock, Draven Damion Harner, Christian Tyler Hendrixson, Estrella Ruby Hernandez Alfaro, Dixie Mai Hill,

John Richard Iervolino,

Chandler Joseph Johnson, Emma Grace Johnson, Ean Wade Jones, Kailyn Alyse Jordan, Skyler Rae Jose, Jordan Rayne Judkins,

Tavia Logan Key, Jacklyn Rose Kleparek, Olivia Faith Knowles,

Christopher Lee Lewis, Chloe Chevelle Lockwood, Hannah Leigh Lohorn, Jessica Marie-Cyr Lyda,

Sadreanna Jesenia Magallanes, Jamison Spencer Marlar, Eli Jeremy Martin, Emma Grace Martin, Kiley Hope Martin, Madison Elizabeth Martin, Miguel Angel Mata Guzman, Yair De Jesus Mata Garcia, Mario Alberto Matias, Devon Jerome Maxwell, Sayla Marie McBroom, Aleaha Michelle Miller, Cameron David Miller, Ryder Cole Miller, Breanna Frances Millsap, Zachariah Caleb Morris, Blake Lavoy Morton, Bailey Lynn Mullican, Ailish Belen Munoz, Casandra Munoz Garcia, Samantha Jo Murphy, Joshua Bradly Musick,

Halayna Jade Newby, Isaac Andrew Newby, Matthew Neal Nokes,

Sheridan Marie O’Connor, Kristen A. Oakley, McKenzie Denise Oiler, Phillip Gage Olmstead, Jonathan Ortega Garcia, Jacqueline Alexandra Overstreet,

Braxton Kane Page, Connor Joseph Paladino, Hailey Jean-Elizabeth Palk, Hannah Grace Patterson, Katie Elizabeth Patterson, Berkley Allen Pedigo, Summer Haven Waters Pedigo, Alyssa Gail Pugh,

Kevin F. Quezada,

Adan Roel Ramirez, Ashtyn Elishah Ramos, Cristal Ramos, Darrah Elizabeth Ramsey, Shadie Simon Isaac Rankhorn, Brendyn Austin Richey,

McKenzie Faith Sanders, Isacc Sasser, William Kensley Saucier, Raven Savage, Cameron Austin Scruggs, Brayden Shawn Shehane, Brandon Alexander Silva, Johnny Landin Skinner, Logan Lewis Starkey, Hannah Elizabeth Swoape,

Kenlee Renae Taylor, Aiden Julius Thompson, Anthony William Tittle, Andrew Owens Tramel, Hannah Paige Trapp, Holden Craig Trapp, Sharon Marisol Trejo Bernardo, Braden Thomas Truelove, Kaden Ross Truelove,

Connor Hugh Vance, Elizabeth Grace Vaughn,

Brett Allen Walker, Layla Lynn Walker, Morgan Rhea Walker, William Alton Wallace, Carlee Elizabeth West, Robert Sullivan Wheeler, Kaleb Chase Wildes, Justin Elijah Wilkinson, Haley Reese Williams, Katherine Elizabeth Aline Williams, Tyler Nathaniel Williams, Ethan Cole Winchester, Mason Alexander Winter, Aniston Grace Wood, Jenna Elizabeth Wright, Kenneth Wesley Wright,

Kelbi Diana Young, and

Jonathan Zavala.

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.