Honor graduates tell classmates:
‘Live, love like there is no tomorrow’ Madison St. Joseph
Commencement exercises for the Madison St. Joseph School Class of 2009 were held May 20 in the school gym. Fifty-nine seniors received 140 scholarships totaling over $2.6 million.
The Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated at Madison St. Francis of Assisi Church May 19. Bishop Joseph Latino was the homilist.
This year’s valedictorian, Alexa Le’Kia Lampkin, said in her commencement speech St. Joe prepared seniors to face the future with confidence in their ability to handle any situation as men and women of maturity, dedication and hard work. Lampkin talked about how St. Joe students welcomed with open arms many Hurricane Katrina students, some of whom were graduating with them. “This experience teaches us to put aside our own interests and think of others. These are the same values St. Joe has instilled in us throughout these years,” she said.
Lampkin, a member of Mount Galilee Baptist Church, received several scholarships including the Howard Hughes Bio Medical Scholarship and Honors Corps, the University of Mississippi Academic Achievement and Valedictorian Scholarships, Louisiana State University Academic and Leadership Scholarships, and Millsaps College Music and Academic Honors Program Scholarship.
Her awards included the American Legion Award, the Presidential Achievement Award, first place in the Declamation of Catholic Forensic League Qualifiers, National Forensic League Certificate of Merit, Who’s Who Among High School Students, Lady Bruins Basketball Spirit Award/Most Improved Player Award 2007-2008, and the Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Scholar Athlete.
In sports, Lampkin was involved in cheerleading, basketball, fast pitch softball and track.
She was a member of the student council, National Honor Society, St. Joe choir, Girl Scouts, Y-God Youth Ministry Group, the retreat team, Service Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Trent Lott Leadership Institute, and the Speech and Debate Team.
Lampkin volunteered at the Madison City Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and the American Red Cross.
Lampkin plans to attend the University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
This year’s Homecoming Queen, Brittany Nicole Bailey, shared the salutatorian title with Ian Patrick Kirkpatrick.
Bailey is a member of Morning Star Baptist Church. In her commencement speech she told classmates they are fortunate to be in a school where God is loved and welcomed. She said the school “did a lot in all of our lives and molded us into the people we are today.”
Bailey encouraged fellow students to be forgiving, to be compassionate listeners, to “make mistakes that you will not regret, move to new chapters in your life without forgetting the past, and love as if there is no tomorrow.”
She will attend the University of Southern Mississippi which awarded her the Academic and Excellence and Leadership Award scholarships. She also received the Mississippi College Freshman Leadership and Heritage Scholar, Mississippi State University Freshman Academic Excellence Scholarship, and Mississippi University for Women W Award of Excellence Scholarship.
Her awards and honors included: the Presidential Achievement Award, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Academic Awards for Excellence in science, public speaking, social studies and religion, and the Army Reserve Scholar Athlete.
In sports, she lettered in varsity basketball, softball, and track and was the District 6-AA basketball player of the Year 2007-2009, Madison County 2008 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, The Clarion-Ledger Girls Basketball All-Metro Second Team 2008 and 2009.
She was a member of the student council, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Retreat Team and Service Club.
As a volunteer, she was part of the March of Dimes Youth Leadership Council/Chain Reaction Team.
Bailey will attend the University of Southern Mississippi and will major in nursing.
Co-salutatorian Ian David Kirkpatrick was selected by Jackson Portico magazine as one of “25 students who will change the world” and was voted Most Likely to Succeed. He is a member of Jackson St. Richard Parish.
Kirkpatrick thinks of his classmates as the “Woodchucks That Could Chuck.” And “now we the groundhogs are exiting our burrows and entering steadfast into the world.” He said he is sure St. Joe provided them with more than education. “Being at St. Joe . . . has molded us into groundhogs that seek what is right and what is just.”
He received eight scholarships, including Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant, University of Mississippi Academic Excellence and Salutatorian scholarships, Spring Hill College Presidential Scholarship, Christian Brothers University Trustee Scholar and Woody Jenne/Ernie Micak Engineering Scholarship, and Rhodes College Presidential Fellowship and Grant.
His awards included: The Clarion Ledger All-Star Senior, Presidential Excellence Award, and National Society of High School Scholars. He was a member of the high school band, the bowling and golf teams, and the Frisbee Golf Club.
He was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Quiz Bowl Team, Journalism Club, Chess Club, and the Jackson Youth Legislature.
He volunteered in the community as a math tutor, Madison ARK volunteer, Mustard Seed visitor, Salvation Army bell ringer, and in the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.
He has not decided on a major yet but will attend the University of Mississippi, Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
NAtchez Cathedral
Natchez Cathedral School baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 20 and the commencement exercises were held May 22, both at St. Mary Basilica.
Thirty-three students were part of the Class of 2009 which received $1.2 million in scholarship offers.
Anne Alexandra Wilson, this year’s valedictorian, is a member of Jefferson Street Methodist Church. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA and scored 28 on her ACT. Her awards include the Betsy James Award, the American Legion Award and the Natalie Couillard Luscombe Award. She is a member of the National Honors Society.
Her extracurricular activities included ballet, cheerleading and soccer. She volunteered at Kyle’s House and has participated in the Natchez historic pageant.
Wilson will attend the University of Mississippi on a Valedictorian Scholarship and will major in pre-dentistry.
Reminiscing about her school years, Wilson said in her commencement speech Cathedral School embedded in her heart the fact she will never walk alone. “Our Cathedral family has provided us a faith-filled foundation upon which to build and grow.”
She encouraged her classmates, as they expand upon their journey, to remember what they have been taught; “rely on and trust in God, because you never walk alone.”
Salutatorian Harrison Burns, who graduated with a 4.35 GPA and scored 30 on his ACT, will attend the University of Alabama and will major in chemical engineering.
Burns’ speech was a reflection on a series of quotes from songs and movies important to him that he felt could help guide his classmates in the years to come.
“A few extra words of wisdom to my classmates. Live in the moment, prepare for the future, and never forget the past. Over the last four years, we as a class have learned life can change in a heartbeat, and we can lose a friend in the blink of an eye.”
He said the best advice he could give the class were the words to his favorite song, “Live Like You Were Dying.”
Burns, who was voted Most Versatile by his classmates, is a member of St. Mary Basilica CYO and served as altar server, usher and lector. He attended Catholic Heart Work Camps in Wisconsin and Indiana.
His scholarships include: Bennett Jeansonne Memorial Scholarship, Stella and Stuart Handy Memorial Scholarship, University of Alabama and the Veterans Administration Award.
Burns played football and soccer, was a member of the retreat team, National Honor Society, Who’s Who Among American High School Students and the Key Club.
Vicksburg St. Aloysius
Commencement exercises for the Vicksburg St. Aloysius School Class of 2009 were held May 19 at Vicksburg Convention Center. St. Aloysius’ 56 seniors received scholarships totaling over one million dollars.
The baccalaureate Mass was celebrated Friday, May 22, at St. Michael Church.
Claire Nicola Reid, valedictorian, is a member of St. Paul Parish where she has served as altar server, in the CYO, and volunteered with the Salvation Army Angel Tree, the Fall Faith Festival and traveled to the diocesan mission in Saltillo, Mexico.
Reid’s GPA was 4.57 and her ACT score was 29.
“As alumni of St. Francis and St. Aloysius, we embark upon the next chapter in our lives armed not only with knowledge but with an arsenal of virtues, hearts dedicated to service, and a strong sense of faith,” she said in her commencement speech.
Reid said her class will rise to meet their own expectations as well as the expectations of others, largely due to the education received in and out of the classrooms of Vicksburg Catholic Schools.
She will attend the University of Mississippi which awarded her the following: Distinguished Scholarship, Chancery Leadership, Provost Scholarship, Academic Excellence Scholarship, and Freshmen Leadership. She also received scholarships from Tulane University and the College of Charleston.
Her awards include Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Presidential Service Award and the University of Rochester Kodak Young Leaders Award.
At St. Al, she was a member of the math and science team, the Quiz Bowl Team, Liturgical Team, Retreat Team, Key Club, and Leo Club.
St. Aloysius’ salutatorian, Rachel Carolyn Clarke, is a member of St. Michael Parish and is an accomplished violinist. She graduated with a 4.55 GPA and scored 32 on the ACT test.
In her commencement speech Clarke said she will always remember her time at St. Francis and St. Aloysius as some of the best days of her life. “With unforgettable memories and experiences behind us, I feel we are well prepared to take on anything the world has to offer,” she said.
She will major in biological sciences at Mississippi State University which awarded her several scholarships including an Academic Award and the National Merit Scholarship. She received other scholarships from the University of Mississippi, Auburn University, Texas A&M, Spring Hill College, University of Memphis, and the University of Texas.
Among the awards and honors Clarke received are: the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Bronze Presidential Service Award, National Merit Scholarship and the National Scholar Athlete.
She was a member of the swim team, retreat team, track team, St. Joseph orchestra, liturgical team and St. Michael Parish CYO.
Clarke mentioned besides the good times, the Class of 2009 will be remembered for its sports’ accomplishments: state championship in baseball and state championships in golf for the past three years.
Greenville St. Joseph
St. Joseph School held commencement exercises May 19 at the school gym. The baccalaureate Mass was celebrated by Bishop Joseph Latino on May 21 at St. Joseph Church.
Thirty-seven students graduated in the Class of 2009. Seniors received a total of $442,670 in scholarships.
In her commencement speech, co-valedictorian Lauren Signa thanked God for giving her the opportunity to attend a Catholic school and for blessing her with so many wonderful people in her life.
She mentioned some of her classmates’ accomplishments as a way to remind them how talented they are and to encourage them to take chances and to get out of their comfort zones. “Everyone has a dream, but many are unwilling to try for it,” she told them. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Signa’s GPA was 4.0 and her ACT score was 30.
Her scholarships include: Mississippi State University Entering Freshman Excellence Academic Scholarship and Valedictorian Award, Hodding Carter Family Scholarship, and Mississippi Eminent Scholars Award.
Some of her awards and honors are: Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award, St. Joseph Ambassadors Service Award; was selected in Who’s Who as Most Polite, and to the Young Guns Leadership Program at Mississippi State University, Mississippi Scholar; member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta math honorary, named All-Star Dancer at UDA camps and the Sportsmanship Award in Basketball.
She was a member of the Irish Emeralds Dance Squad, St. Joseph girls softball team and the varsity girls basketball team.
Signa, a member of St. Joseph Parish and the CYO, serves as a reading buddy at Stern Enhancement School tutoring elementary students and volunteers in St. Joseph vacation Bible school. She will attend Mississippi State University and plans to major in biological sciences.
Angela DeAngelo, co-valedictorian, a member of St. Joseph Parish, graduated with a 4.0 GPA and scored 26 on her ACT test.
DeAngelo’s advice to her classmates? “Always strive to be the best you can.” In her commencement speech, she also talked about choices. “The choices we make will have a huge impact on our future,” she said. “We will either follow God’s choice or go in the opposite direction. When the two roads disperse, which way will you go? The way God is leading you or down the wrong path?”
She ended her speech with this advice, “For everything we do, let’s do it with passion, conviction, integrity, and sincerity.”
Her scholarships include: Mississippi High School Activities Association Lindy Callahan Scholarship, Delta State University (DSU) ACT Scholarship, DSU Hugh Ellis Walker Scholarship, DSU Valedictorian Award; and Francis P. And Annie Unkel Scholarship.
Her awards and honors include being selected as Most Athletic in Who’s Who ; Mississippi Scholar; membership in the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta; selected to attend the Mississippi Governor’s School and the Presidential Classroom; SJS 100 percent award in tennis (2 years), and 2008 1A Tennis Girls’ Doubles Champion.
In sports, DeAngelo was a member and captain of the varsity cheerleaders, the soccer team, and the tennis team, and a member of the varsity girls basketball team, cross country and track teams.
She was a member of the Greenville Mayor’s Youth Council, St. Joseph Parish CYO, and the Greenville Sub-Deb Cotillion.
At her parish, she was an altar server and lector and volunteer with the vacation Bible school. In her community, DeAngelo served as a reading buddy at Stern Enhancement School tutoring elementary students; she volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army.
DeAngelo will attend Delta State University and will major in pre-pharmacy.
Salutatorian Erinisha La’Sha Johnson would like to think of her high school journey as a game of basketball. In her commencement speech she said she is blessed to have had her own dream team.
“I would like to thank each member of my dream team (God, family, friends, mentors and teachers) for the love and support throughout the years.”
Johnson, who graduated with a 3.91 GPA and scored 25 on her ACT test, was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Greenville Mayor’s Youth Council, Retreat Team, SJS Ambassadors, Book Club, Environmental Science Club, Interact Club, and Youth on the Move for Christ.
Johnson was selected in Who’s Who as Most Likely to Succeed, and at St. Joe was selected to homecoming court as Junior Maid and Senior Princess.
In her community she served as a reading buddy at Stern Enhancement School tutoring elementary students and participated in city-wide clean-up and organizing area youth summits. In her church, Kindling Star MB Church, she is a Sunday school teacher.
Johnson will attend the University of Southern Mississippi which awarded her the Leadership Scholarship and the General Scholarship. She will major in psychology.
batesville
Emily Ridge, a member of St. Mary Parish, was valedictorian of the Class of 2009 at North Delta School near Batesville. Graduation exercises were held May 15 in the school gymnasium. Ridge will attend Delta State University and plans to major in pre-optometry and art.
In her commencement speech, Ridge challenged her classmates to set high goals, to learn from their mistakes, and stay close to God “because he will keep pouring his blessing upon us.”
Her speech was peppered with thoughts of gratitude to God for being a powerful force in her life.
Ridge, who was voted Miss North Delta and Most Likely to Succeed, scored 26 on her ACT and graduated with a 4.13 GPA. She was a member of the National Honor Society, was selected as Rotary Club Exchange Club Student of the Month, received the USAA National Merit Award, was named a UCA All Star Cheerleader and was selected to the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi Youth Leadership Program.
In sports, she played basketball, track, and tennis and was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Ridge volunteered in service activities in her community through her parish youth group, helped with vacation Bible school and was an altar server at St. Mary Parish.
Lampkin talked about how St. Joe students welcomed with open arms many Hurricane Katrina students, some of whom were graduating with them. “This experience teaches us to put aside our own interests and think of others. These are the same values St. Joe has instilled in us throughout these years,” she said.
elcomed. She said the school “did a lot in all of our lives and molded us into the people we are today.” 
e is sure St. Joe provided them with more than education. “Being at St. Joe . . . has molded us into groundhogs that seek what is right and what is just.”
Her awards include the Betsy James Award, the American Legion Award and the Natalie Couillard Luscombe Award. She is a member of the National Honors Society. 
him that he felt could help guide his classmates in the years to come. 
aith Festival and traveled to the diocesan mission in Saltillo, Mexico.
ancis and St. Aloysius as some of the best days of her life. “With unforgettable memories and experiences behind us, I feel we are well prepared to take on anything the world has to offer,” she said.
GPA and scored 26 on her ACT test. 
d 25 on her ACT test, was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Greenville Mayor’s Youth Council, Retreat Team, SJS Ambassadors, Book Club, Environmental Science Club, Interact Club, and Youth on the Move for Christ.
her commencement speech, Ridge challenged her classmates to set high goals, to learn from their mistakes, and stay close to God “because he will keep pouring his blessing upon us.” 