MCHS Recognizes Graduates’ Accomplishments

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com

Montgomery County High School (MCHS) officially celebrated the academic achievements of the Class of 2026 during the Senior Honors Night on Tuesday, May 12.

The school’s Class of 2026 is an accomplished group, having earned several scholarships and academic accolades, as well as logging hundreds of community service hours.

Evan Hardeman is graduating at the top of the class as Valedictorian, and is followed closely behind by Salutatorian Addyson Shepherd. Other Honor Graduates recognized during the ceremony include Key’Miare Andrews, Christopher Blackburn, Tavarus Blount, Luke Burns, Nora Cartwright, Bailey Fountain, Zion Harvey, Patricia Horne, Daniel Johnson, Zoe Jordan, Jackson McCoy, Makailah Moore, Mya Nichols, Rudr Patel, Jazmely Sanchez, Angel Sosa, Marissa Tanner, Haze Thigpen, Jaden Turner, Jamia Wesley, Trinity Wideman, Hilton Williams, Terreanna Williams, and Hannah Williamson.

Evan Hardeman was presented with six scholarships, including the Tom Hutcheson Memorial Scholarship, Russia Little II Memorial Scholarship, Mount Vernon Garden Club Scholarship, John Robison Silicon Ranch Scholarship, Faye D. Brewer Scholarship, and John L. Robison and Lewis Davis Farm Bureau Scholarship.

Trinity Wideman also took home six scholarships – the Milbern and Thelma McRae Memorial Scholarship, the Legacy Scholarship (in memory of Charles Nobles), the Tri-County Family Connection Scholarship, the Memorial Health Meadows Auxiliary Scholarship, the Talmadge McLendon Jr. Memorial Scholarship, and the Vidalia Lions Club Scholarship.

Aaralyn Little received five scholarships, including the Milbern and Thelma McRae Memorial Scholarship, Christine C. Harris Memorial Scholarship, Verail Women’s Club Scholarship, Lillie B. Johnson Memorial Scholarship, and John Robison Silicon Ranch Scholarship.

Addyson Shepherd was awarded three scholarships – the Willie Mae Peebles McRae Memorial Scholarship, Cliff A. Poe Scholarship, and John Robison Silicon Ranch Scholarship.

Jamia Wesley took home the Brittany Ward and Betty Williams Scholarships, while Hannah Williamson was presented the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation Scholarship and Turner Brice Memorial Scholarship, and Nora Cartwright received the John Robison Silicon Ranch Scholarship and Reverend Robert J. Conner Memorial Scholarship.

Chez Rivera was also awarded the Brittany Ward Scholarship, Jaden Turner was given the Legacy Scholarship, Zoe Jordan received the Verail Women’s Club Scholarship, Bernice Ramos accepted the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation Scholarship, and Luke Burns took home the Barbara Thompson Conner Scholarship.

During the event, U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sargeant Castellaw presented several students with awards on behalf of the Marine Corps. Landon Williams and Makailah Moore each received the Distinguished Athlete Award, while Evan Hardeman accepted the Scholastic Excellence Award, and Daniel Johnson took home the Semper Fi Award for Musical Excellence.

Seven students were selected by their teachers as recipients of Department Awards for excelling in their classes throughout the year. Those students were: English Language Arts – Zyna Thompson Math – Tamarley Hansley Social Studies – Matthew Bivins Agriculture – Hannah Williamson Business – Bailey Fountain Work-Based Learning – Nora Cartwright Family and Consumer Science – Olivia Smiley Bailey Fountain also received the Character “Do Right!” Award, which is selected by the school’s teachers and staff.

Fountain was also recognized for receiving the Outstanding Regional Performance and Highest Scoring Team Member awards in the Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) Math Competition, while Zyna Thomas was celebrated for receiving first place in the RESA Music, Senior Art, and Beauty Competition, second place in the RESA Writing Contest #2, and fifth place in RESA Writing Contest #3.

Haze Thigpen received a special National Beta Club medal for being the senior with the most community service hours logged during thigh school, as he completed a total of 488 hours of service.

Luke Burns, Mack Chambers, Hilton Williams, Haze Thigpen, Evan Hardeman, and Daniel Johnson each received a Georgia 4-H green and white graduation cord for their participation in the Club’s shooting sports events throughout high school.

The Montgomery County High School Class of 2026 Eagles will soar from the nest and graduate at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 22, at Brogdon Field in Ailey.