CHHS seniors proud to share on ‘Wall of Fame’
Published 11:50 pm Friday, March 9, 2012
With only 45 days left in the school year, Charles Henderson High School seniors stood before their peers and shared their college acceptance letters on Friday.
Each one was posted to the school’s first “Wall of Fame” that will annually honor the academic achievements of CHHS seniors.
“This has been an outstanding year,” school Principal Boyd English, Ph.D., said to the students. “Today we are here to celebrate your transition into college and we are very proud of you.”
One by one, students were called forward with an opportunity to share their college course of study.
Scott Ryan Kelley, 18, proudly stood in front of the other seniors and declared he’d joined the U.S. Army in hopes of one day becoming a Navy SEAL.
Josey Green, 17, will be attending Wallace Community College’s Sparks Campus to study welding.
“Today was really positive,” said Anthony Siler, 17, who is heading off to the University of Alabama in the fall. “Hearing from everyone and knowing where they will be going made me feel proud of my class.”
Siler will be studying mechanical engineering and plans to obtain his doctorate. As he plans for the future, he has a big goal in mind.
“I just want to support my mother,” Siler said. “She’s done a lot for me and I want to financially support her so she doesn’t have to do anything else.”
Shariya Pryor, 17, will also be at the University of Alabama studying physical therapy. She said the campus “just felt right” to her.
Mary Beth Wasden, 18, will be moving across the street from CHHS to Troy University where she will work toward her nursing degree. She said she was excited because the school now offered a doctorate program in nursing.
“I chose nursing because I like knowing that I’ll always be around people, and each day will be different,” Wasden said.
Mekeaila “MiMi” Harris, 18, also hopes to help others as she begins studying criminal justice at Alabama State after she graduates from CHHS. Eventually, Harris plans to attend law school.
“I just want to fight for what’s right,” Harris said.
English said the school borrowed the idea of the “Wall of Fame” from another institution that had seen success. He hopes that underclassmen will strive to have their own letters of acceptance on the wall when they are seniors.
There are 130 seniors at CHHS this year and 35 acceptance letters are already posted on the wall, with at least 35 others expected. This graduating class will be the first since English became principal.
“There are always firsts in life,” English said. “This group will always be special to me.”
Click Here for a complete list of the seniors honor and their selected colleges.
Click Here for a photo gallery from the ceremony.