News
DCHS Class of 2025 to Graduate Friday Night, May 16 at 6 p.m. on football field (Senior Scholarship Award Winners from Tuesday Night Named Here)
May 15, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Commencement for the Class of 2025 is scheduled to take place on the football field of DeKalb County High School Friday night, May 16 starting at 6 p.m. (Senior Award Night Scholarship Winners from Tuesday night are noted in this story below)
WJLE and participating sponsors are presenting a photo gallery of the DCHS Class of 2025.
Click on the link below to view the senior formals.
The graduation program schedule Friday night is as follows:
A processional by the DCHS band as members of the class take their seats; invocation by FCA member Andrew Dakas, musical presentation by the DCHS Choir, introduction by Class President Madeline Martin, and remarks by Valedictorian Kora Kilgore. Students will be recognized for Honors and Service Awards along with Motlow associate degree recipients, Distinction and Military Enlistments, and Top Rank students.
Principal Bruce Curtis will recognize the Class Valedictorian and Salutatorian and present the White Rose and Citizenship Awards. Diplomas will then be presented to each member of the class by Principal Curtis and Director of Schools Patrick Cripps as their names are called by Assistant Principal Jenny Norris. The commencement will close with a Benediction by FCA member Seth Fuson.
Meanwhile eighty plus members of the DCHS Class of 2025 were rewarded for years of academic and athletic achievements during Tuesday evening’s senior awards night program held in the high school gym.
The following seniors receiving scholarships and other special awards Tuesday night are as follows:
Avery Agee: Southern Landscape Supply/Diamond 9 Sports Student Athlete Scholarship
Hannah Aldino: MTSU Blue Raider Scholarship-$2,500
Sarah Aldino: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Brayden Alverson: Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship-$2,000
Macy Anderson: MTSU Presidential Scholarship-$18,000 and Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000
Alisha Armour: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Jaden Barber: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, DCHS Cosmetology Awards, Upper Cumberland Association of Realtors Scholarship-$250
Keslie Barber: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, DCHS Cosmetology Awards, Motlow State Community College Scholarship, Upper Cumberland Association of Realtors Scholarship-$250
Ian Barnes: Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000
Jamey Bradshaw: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Cale Brown: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship-$2,000, Tennessee College of Applied Technology McMinnville-$300
Caleb Buckley: Mechatronics/Industrial Maintenance FESTO Introduction to Mechatronics Industry Certification, Woodmen Life U.S. History Award-$50
Tanner Cantrell: Tennessee College of Applied Technology Livingston Scholarship-$1,400
Hector Cervantes: DCHS Class of 1975 Jacque Redmon Hale Memorial Scholarship-$300
Owen Coffee: United State Army Enlistment
Dare Collins: DeKalb County Board of Education Members Scholarship-$700, FirstBank Scholarship-$500, Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial Scholarship-$1,000, Motlow State Community College associate’s degree
Landon Colwell: Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000, United State Air Force Enlistment
Caroline Crook: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, Love Cantrell Funeral Home Scholarship-$350
Adreana Cuevas: Tennessee Technological University Residence Hall Award-$2,500
Andrew Dakas: Tennessee Tech University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000, Belmont Archer Presidential Scholarship-full cost of attendance, General Assembly Merit Scholarship-$4,000, Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial Scholarship-$1,000
Annabella Dakas: Belmont University Merit Scholar Scholarship-$76,000, Kyle & Kenny Robinson Memorial Scholarship-$1,000
Leonardo Delgado: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 2nd Place Winner-$100,
Chloe Dies: Cumberland University Scholarship, DeKalb County Retired Teachers Scholarship-$500
Ashton Ferrell: Mechatronics/Industrial Maintenance FESTO Introduction to Mechatronics Industry Certification, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000
Kristi Flores: Belmont University Merit Scholar Scholarship-$12,000, DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Shaelee Foster: Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital Scholarship-$500, East Tennessee State University
Lauren Fry: Cumberland University Scholarship
Seth Fuson: Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital Scholarship-$500, Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Scholarship-$350, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000, Tennessee Technological University Rector/Henry Family Endowed Scholarship-$1,500, University of Tennessee Knoxville Volunteer Scholarship-$16,000
Alyssa Gilpin: Middle Tennessee State University Presidential Scholarship-$18,000, Motlow State Community College associate’s degree
Kalina Goodman: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 1st Place Winner-Trip to Washington D.C.
Allison Goodwin: Middle Tennessee State University Presidential Scholarship-$18,000, Motlow State Community College associate’s degree
Camila Granados Cortes: DCHS HOSA Scholarship-$250,
Caleb Gray: East Tennessee State University-$16,000, General Assembly Merit Scholarship-$4,000, Middle Tennessee State University Presidential Scholarship-$18,000, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000, University of Tennessee Chattanooga-$16,000
Miguel Guzman: Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship-$2,000
Samuel Harris: Jo Ellen Huffman & Ron Rogers Memorial 4-H Scholarship-$500, Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, DCHS FFA Scholarship-$250, DeKalb County Cattlemen’s Association Scholarship-$500, DeKalb County Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship-$500, DeKalb County Soil & Water Conservation District Scholarship-$1,000, Lynn Leland Johnson Memorial FFA Agricultural Scholarship-$250
Clayton Hattaway: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000
Alexis Hawkins: Tennessee Technological University Brenda Norman Albright Endowed Scholarship-$500
Jackson Hodges: Talmage Young Automotive Memorial Scholarship-$300
Charles Holland: Joe Hearn Memorial Career and Technical Education Scholarship Alexandria Lions Club-$1,000, Tennessee College of Applied Technology McMinnville-$300
Hannah Keith: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, DeKalb County Board of Education Members Scholarship-$700, Jo Ellen Huffman & Ron Rogers Memorial 4-H Scholarship-$350
Wesley Kent: DeKalb Fishing Team Scholarship-$350
Kora Kilgore: Advanced Placement Scholar & Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor, Anderson University Baptist Scholarship-$1,200, Anderson University Denmark Scholarship-$12,000, Anderson University Out of State Scholarship-$12,000, Anderson University President’s Scholarship-$68,000, Anderson University Softball Scholarship-$88,000, General Assembly Merit Scholarship-$4,000, Valedictorian
Dallas Kirby: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000
Katherine Knowles: Charles G. Berwind Foundation-$40,000, Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Scholarship-$14,000
Caleb Lawson: Allen D. Hooper Memorial Scholarship-$500, Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Scholarship-$14,000, Scottish Rite-$1,000, Tennessee Technological University Golden Opportunity Scholarship-$10,000,
Aidan Malone: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 4th Place Winner-$50, DCHS Class of 1966-$500
Braeden Mangin: DeKalb Fishing Scholarship-$350
Madeline Martin: American Legion & Ladies Auxiliary Girls State, DCHS HOSA Scholarship-$250, First Bank Scholarship-$500, General Assembly Merit Scholarship-$4,000, Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Scholarship-$350, Salutatorian, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$20,000, University of Tennessee Knoxville Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship-full tuition and fees
Jackson Mathis: AMVETS Scholarship in Memory of Kurt Rust-$500, Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, DTC Communications Media Scholarship for Excellence-$1,000, First Bank Scholarship-$500, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000,
Ashton McClain: Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Scholarship-$14,000
Luke Midgett: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, Eddie Crips Memorial Scholarship-$1,000, Faulkner University Jack Zorn Scholarship-$98,400, Jo Ellen Huffman & Ron Rogers Memorial 4-H Scholarship-$500, Southern Landscape Supply/Diamond 9 Sports-$500
Keara Milligan: AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship in Memory of Sharon Rust-$250, DCHS Cosmetology Awards, Tyler Vanhoose Memorial Scholarship-$2,000
Paisley Mullican: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Mara Oakley: Lucille Stewart Educational Award-$2,000, DCHS Student Government Association Scholarship-$250, Tennessee Technological University W. Doyle and Melford Smith Scholarship-$3,000, Vicky Terrell Memorial Scholarship for Education-$1,250
Charlotte Paladino: Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Scholarship-$14,000, “Southern Landscape Supply/Diamond 9 Sports Student Athlete Scholarship”-$500, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000
Jordan Parker: Cumberland University Academic/Athletic Football Scholarship-$84,000, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000
Megyn Patterson: Motlow State Community College associate’s degree
Bradley Pelham: Tennessee Technological University Golden Opportunity Scholarship-$10,000
Bryna Pelham: Campbellsville University Softball Performance Scholarship-$32,000, Campbellsville University Trustees Academic Scholarship-$66,000,
Evan Prichard: Love-Cantrell Funeral Home Scholarship-$350
Bryan Ramirez: Tennessee Technological Tommy Burks Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Engineering-$700
Siraya Ratley: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Emily Robinson: Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Scholarship-$14,000, Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000,
Zeva Robinson: Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raider Scholarship-$2,500
Kobe Roller: Caney Fork Electric Essay Contest 3rd Place Winner-$75, Mechatronics/Industrial Maintenance FESTO Introduction to Mechatronics Industry Certification, Middle Tennessee State University Presidential Scholarship-$18,000
Kinsley Savage: Mechatronics/Industrial Maintenance FANUC Robotics Level 1 Industry Certification
Kylee Savage: DCHS Cosmetology Awards-
Julio Sebastian Santiage: Belmont University Merit Scholar Scholarship-$76,000
Owen Snipes: Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital Stones River-$500
Ayden Sprague: Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship-$2,000
Daniel Stiffler: Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$16,000
Alissa Summers: Liberty State Bank Scholarship-$1,000
Kaitlyn Summers: DCHS Cosmetology Awards:
Mason Taylor: Bryan College Fishing Scholarship-$18,000, Bryan College Silver Academic Scholarship-$16,000, Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, DeKalb Fishing Team Scholarship-$350
Emily Teague: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Nhan Truong: Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Scholarship-$14,000
Emma Valdez: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Ty Webb: Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital Scholarship-$500, Clyde Thomas Family Trust Scholarship-$1,000, DeKalb County Board of Education Members Scholarship-$700, Maryville College Educator Award-$4,000, Maryville College MC Isaac Anderson Fellowship-$12,000, Maryville College Scots Legacy-$80,000, Maryville College Visit Scholarship-$1,000, “Southern Landscape Supply/Diamond 9 Sports Student Athlete Scholarship”-$500
Chrissy White: DCHS Cosmetology Awards
Jaden Wildes: Middle Tennessee State University True Blue Scholarship-$14,000
Emily Young: Tennessee Technological University Presidential Scholarship-$12,000, University of Tennessee Chattanooga Mocs Scholarship-$12,000
Senior Service Award Winners: Dare Collins, Andrew Dakas, Annabella Dakas, Seth Fuson, Jackson Mathis, and Charlotte Paladino
Tennessee Scholars: Kelsie Barber, Jaden Barber, Audrey Collins, Seth Fuson, Jackson Mathis, Charlotte Paladino, Andrew Dakas, and Annabella Dakas
State Representative Michael Hale Presented Awards to the Top 10 Students in the Class Rank: Kora Kilgore, Madeline Martin, Seth Fuson, Landon Colwell, Andrew Dakas, Dallas Kirby, Emily Robinson, Jackson Mathis, Annabella Dakas, and Layla Newby
Woodmen Life Presentation of U.S. Flag to DCHS
Motlow State Community College 12 or More Hours of Credit
DCHS Class of 2025 takes “Senior Walk” at SES & DWS (VIEW VIDEOS HERE)
May 15, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Greeted by cheering youngsters, the DeKalb County High School Class of 2025 paid a call on Smithville Elementary and DeKalb West Schools for the Annual Senior Walk today (Thursday).
Administrators and staff at each school joined the younger students in welcoming the soon to be graduates upon their arrival by school bus. Many of the elementary kids, lined down the halls, greeted the seniors with signs, waves and high fives as the high school students passed by. Some 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.
(NOTE TIME CHANGE). The commencement program for the Class of 2025 at DCHS has been changed from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 16. The event is still planned to be held on the high school football field.
A Hero’s Welcome! (View Video Here) (Note Day & Time Change on Sectionals Game)
May 15, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A hero’s welcome!
The DeKalb County High School Tigerette Fastpitch Softball team arrived home late Wednesday night with a police escort and sirens blazing in celebration of a 2025 TSSAA Division 1 Region 4 Championship.
(Video submitted by Carsyn Beshearse)
The Tigerettes, the District Champs, took down Lawrence County on the road 11-1 Wednesday evening to capture the Region Tournament crown and will advance to the Sectionals with a showdown against visiting Lenoir City Saturday, May 17 at 3 p.m. in Smithville at the Danny Bond Field. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.
