Dr. R.B. Mays, the school’s principal, will welcome guests. Senior Blake Thomas will lead the invocation. Megan Durham and Tiffani Ellington will deliver the valedictory addresses. The GCHS Choir will perform the original Glee arrangement ofLean on Me. Cortni Cruse and Rachel McCracken will present the senior video. School administrators will award diplomas and Superintendent Pete Galloway will confer degrees.
The Class of 2012 includes some 307 graduates.
Valedictorian Megan Dawn Durham is the daughter of Dawn Durham and Scot and Tiffany Durham. She plans to attend the University of Louisville followed by medical school in preparation for a career as a pediatric neurologist. She has taken advantage of job shadowing opportunities in neurology, neurosurgery, and sleep laboratory at Murray-Calloway County Hospital and Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. She was named to the Kentucky Music Educators’ Association’s Senior High All-State Choir this year. She is a national Merit-Commended Student and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She participated in the Governor’s Scholars Program and was named a Rotary Club Student of the Month. She has won several Kentucky High School Speech League regional and state honors. She also won Student of the Year Awards in AP Calculus, Anatomy, and AP U.S. History. Other organizations in which she has participated include Beta Club, French Club, Interact Club, the Forensics Team, the Paducah Symphony Youth Chorus, and the Cunningham School of Dance Competition Troupe.
Valedictorian Tiffani Renee Ellington is the daughter of Shannon and Tonya Ellington. She plans to attend Campbellsville University and to major in psychology and Christian counseling in preparation for a career as a child psychologist or counselor. She has been a Rotary Club Student of the Month, this year’s GCHS Football Homecoming Queen, named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Broadcast 1 and 2 Student of the Year, and a statewide winner in Future Business Leaders of America competition. She has participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Beta Club, the Agape Club, Interact, and GCTV.
Salutatorian Samuel Parker Williams is the son of Dr. Wayne Williams and Julie Williams. He plans to attend UofL and to major in chemistry, followed by medical school and a career as a physician. His grade point average is 4.2. He won perfect attendance awards during all four years of high school. This year, he is an AP Scholar with Honor. He was named the Math/Science/Engineering Academy’s Student of the Month for September. Over the past three years he has earned five MSE Academy AP Achievement Awards. He played varsity tennis his junior and senior years and was a member of the forensics team his senior year.
Gatton Academy Graduate Daylynn Nichole Allison, the daughter of Douglas Allison and Carrie Burnett, is the second Graves County student to earn her diploma through a unique program of dual credit during his final two years of high school and first two years of college. She is one of some 61 academically-outstanding students selected statewide two years ago to participate in the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at Western Kentucky University for its Class of 2012. The goals of the Gatton Academy are to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities, preparing them for leadership roles in Kentucky. Ultimately, the Gatton Academy’s mission is to prepare Kentucky to compete in the knowledge-based, global economy by increasing the number of scientists and engineers who live and work in the commonwealth. The students in the Class of 2012 now have completed their junior and senior years living on the WKU campus and taking courses there. Not only have they completed the requirements for the high school diploma, but each also has earned at least two years’ college credit hours.
Other honor graduates, their parents’ names, their majors and institutions of choice include Lauren Rachelle Alexander, daughter of Michael and Teresa Rogers, physical therapy, West Kentucky Community and Technical College; Jessica Lauren Alford, daughter of Bill and April Alford, clinical psychology, Murray State University; Sara Beth Barrett, daughter of John and Cathy Barrett, English, MSU; Kelsey Nicole Beach, daughter of Dale Beach and Kim Harrison, nursing, MSU, with plans to become a nurse practitioner; Kelsey Alexandria Carrico, daughter of Jeff and Lisa Carrico, pre-pharmacy, University of Kentucky; Marianne Elizabeth Crowder, daughter of Brad and Marlene Crowder, WKCTC, medical school, and career as a physician; Emily Grace Duff, daughter of Matt Duff and Rodney and Donna Gream, history education, Trevecca Nazarene University, with plans to teach at the high school level; Corey Clayton Elder, son of Bart and Tracy Elder, computer engineering, UK; Conner James Elliott, son of Michael Elliott and Jeanna Elliott, chemical engineering with an interest in pre-medicine, UK; Kimberly Michelle Fulcher, daughter of Mark and Bettye Fulcher, WKCTC with plans to become a physical therapist’s assistant; Jacob Victor Hackel, son of Doug and Heyde Hackel, exercise science, MSU with plans to become a physical therapist; Shayna Lee Hall, daughter of Harold Hall and Phillip and Tracey Sullivan, English education, MSU, with plans to teach at the high school level; Clifton Trent Hendley, son of Richard and Sandy Hendley, civil engineering, Western Kentucky University; Kristin Brooke Henson, daughter of Greg and Tracey Henson, nursing, MSU; Jo Kate Holt, daughter of Richard and Penny Holt, nursing, MSU, with plans to become a nurse practitioner; Hannah Marie Hoover, daughter of Shawn and Kelli Hoover, nursing, MSU; Dalton Rane Jackson, son of Shane and Tammy Jackson, engineering, WKCTC and the UK College of Engineering at Paducah; Kadie Jo Kinnis, daughter of Ronnie and Karen Kinnis, accounting, MSU, with career plans to earn a doctor of veterinary medicine degree; Zachary Logan Magness, son of Jason and Dawn Magness, computer science, MSU; Austin Andrew McCallon, son of Joey McCallon and Angie Hayden, chemical engineering, WKCTC and the UK College of Engineering at Paducah; Rachael Dawn McCracken, daughter of David McCracken and Lisa Davis, broadcast journalism and web design, WKCTC followed by WKU; Jacob Evan McKinney, son of Rick and Jan McKinney, biology education, MSU, with career plans to teach at the high school level; Miranda Ann Oldham, daughter of John and Michelle Oldham, bioengineering, UofL; Elizabeth Brooke Page, daughter of Eddie and Susan Page, elementary education, MSU; Mark Davis Rhodes, son of Rick and Gail Rhodes, considering nursing, MSU; Kennedy Michele Rogers, daughter of Mark and Cathy Rogers, undeclared major, Mid-Continent University; Mercedes Shelton Smith, daughter of Reece Smith and Angela Burnett, agriculture education, MSU; Shelia Marie Stacy, daughter of Randy and Delbra Stacy, English education, Lindsey Wilson College, with career plans to teach and to write novels; Courtney Benet Sullivan, daughter of Matt and Stephanie Sullivan, undeclared major, MSU; Kristopher Blake Thomas, son of Damon Thomas and Carrie Thomas, biology, MSU, with career plans to become a pediatrician; Emily Jo Waggoner, daughter of Joseph and Becky Waggoner, chemistry, Union University; Corey Blake Whitenton, son of Will and Melissa Whitenton, mechanical engineering, WKCTC and the UK College of Engineering at Paducah; and Bridget Ann Wilkerson, daughter of Brian and Lori Wilkerson, science education, UK, with career plans to teach AP science courses at the high school level.
Commonwealth Diploma graduates include Rebecca Paige Cope, Trevor Reece Kaler, Elizabeth Alexandria Victoria Shaylor, Tesia Marie Smith, Shelia-Marie Stacy, and Caleb Austin Veatch.
All candidates for graduation include Mylan Seth Adams, Heather Dawn Alexander, Lauren Rachelle Alexander, Jessica Lauren Alford, Daylynn Nichole Allison, Timothy Blake Allred, Patricia Dawn Andrews, Taylor Blake Andrews, Matthew Tyler Baldwin, Jordan Leigh Balkey, Chey Andrew Barber, Sara Beth Barrett, Tiffany Michelle Bass, Jose Antonio Bautista, Kelsey Nicole Beach, Cody Gray Beyer, Mackenzie Katelin Bivens, Ross Daniel Blackwell, Esteban Abraham Blanco, Judith Renee Bobbett, Aaron Tyler Boone, Christine Rae Bounds, Qwinton Brooke Bradley, Logan Nicole Brazzell, Shayna Jo Brazzell, Meagan Lee Breeden, Asia Andrea Brewer, Austin Jay Brewer, Kanza Mackenzie Brooks, Gabrielle Beatrice Brown, Daniel Joseph Bundren, Carley Shay Burgess, Jennifer Bethany Burnett,
Maxwell Taylor Caldwell, Paighton Kennedy Caldwell, Ashton Scott Callis, Kinsey Brooke Camp, Shelby Faith Cancer, Miranda Del Carmon, Kelsey Alexandria Carrico, Martin Carillo, Amber Nichole Carter, Lakyn Danyelle Chalker, Emily Erin Charles, Marcus Anthony Cicchetti, Carly Danielle Clapp, Christopher Scott Clapp, Lindsey Dean Clymer, Brittany Lynn Cobb, Tiffany Joe Cobb, Tiffany Michelle Cole, Austin Blake Coleman, Zachary Allen Coles, Alex Leroy Colley, Brandon Lee Cook, Brent Austin Cope, Rebecca Paige Cope, Dustin Eric Copeland, Whitney Danielle Courtney, Curtis Franklin Cox, Andrew Neal Crider, Taylor Nicole Crittenden, Marianne Elizabeth Crowder, Bradley Shelton Crump, Cortni Briana Cruse, Adam Walter Curtsinger,
Jon Wesley Daniel, Matthew James Darge, Dylan Chance Demeyer, Jesus Salvador Diaz, Ashley Stephen Dick, Kelsey Noel Dowdy, Emily Grace Duff, Clark Richmond Duke, Allison Mckenzie Dunevant, Megan Elizabeth Durham, Steven Boyd Earles, Taylor Nicole Edgin, Corey Clayton Elder, Grace Elizabeth Elder, Tiffani Renee Ellington, Ashley Nicole Elliott, Conner James Elliott, Thomas Andrew Elliot, Mary Michelle English, Ashley Renee Ezell, Dominic Corey Fazzari, Christopher Dale Feezor, Maria Lopez Flores, James Andrew Franklin, Lauren Ann Frick, Kimberly Michelle Fulcher, Dallas Wade Fuller,
Jesse James Gargus, Amber Marie Garlic, Austin Chase Garrigus, Abby Elizabeth Glisson, Daniel Alan Glisson, Jayne Nicole Goldsmith, James Casidy Gooch, Michael Logan Gordon, Slayden David Gossum, Jordan Lee Gream, David Shawn Green, Jacob Victor Hackel, Shayna Lee Hall, Raye Ann Hargrove, Jessica Marie Harper, Savon O’Shaye Harris, Fayth Marie Hartman, Tyler David Hayden, Jasmine Lashea Hayes, Matthew Dale Heath, Brandon William Henderson, Erick Hersel Henderson, Clifton Trent Hendley, Kayla Denise Hendley, Kristin Brooke Henson, Hunter Ryan Herndon, Erika Scarlett Herrera, Joshua Don Hester, Tarah Dezarai Hill, Edward Blake Holder, Johnathan Trey Holmes, Micah Todd Holmes, James Dalton Holshouser, William Cain Holshouser, Jo Kate Holt, Hannah Marie Hoover, Michael Todd Hopwood, Chelsea Linn Houser, Mary Grace Hummel,
Rayna Lyn Ice, Kimberly Nicole Ivie, Dalton Rane Jackson, Morgan Nicole Jackson, Trevor Dean Jackson, Zachary Ryan Jameson, Miranda Raye Jeffries, Jonathon Trevor Jenkins, Nicholas Hunter Johnson, Justin Tyler Jones, Robert Ray Kaler, Trevor Reece Kaler, Ashley Nicole Keen, Jana Fay Kemp, Alexander Blake Kennedy, Kadie Jo Kinnis, Ashley Nakoada Knight, Savanna Marie Ladd, Austin Wray Lamb, Miranda Leanne Langston, Mandi Beth Lee, Cody Ray Legens, Timothy Joe Lewis,
Chelsey Brooke Madding, Zachary Logan Magness, Victoria Lynn Malone, Austin Reed Marshall, Kayla Rene Marshall, Tamra Adale Marshall, Tiffany Elaine Mason, Courtney Lynn Mathis, Megan Nicole Mathis, Amber Marie May, Jonathan Robert McAllister, Kaytlyn Danielle McAlpin, Austin Andrew McCallon, Clint Edward McClure, Joshua David McClure, Raye Ann McCormack, Rachel Dawn McCracken, Cody Blake McKinney, Jacob Evan McKinney, Kyle Matthew McKinney, Sierra Nichole Medley, Hunter Steele Mills, Chaney Nicole Mitchell, Jennifer Rayleen Moore, Jose Cruz Morales, Stephanie Lorraine Morgan, Tyler Shawn Morgan, Amanda Jo Morris Brock Alan Morris, Mary Kate Morris, Darren Michael Mountjoy, Ashton Raquel Mullins,
Olivia Grace Nelson, Tyler Allen Nesler, Lauren Ann Newsome, Lindsey Jane Newsome, Ryan Edward Noffsinger, Trey Steven Norman, Sarah Christine Norton, Nathan Daniel O’Neill, Miranda Ann Oldham, Elizabeth Brooke Page, James Herbert Page, Zakary Issac Page, Justin Wynn Painter, Jesus Paramo, Sabrina Nicole Parrish, Katherine Elizabeth Pearce, Diane Marie Peoples, Peace-Lynn Butterfly Perilloux, Katelyn Faye Poindexter, Nicholas Odell Prather, Hannah Beckman Pyle, Robert Kerry Ray, Michael Gunner Reed, Williams Austin Reed, Amber Dawn Reynolds, mark Davis Rhodes, Jacob McKinley Richardson, Dustin Shane Richeal, Adam Harper Riley, Jake Acey Riley, Madeline Ann Riley, Christopher Jason Roberts, Kennedy Michele Rogers, Maggy Joan Rosario, Michael Jeffery Ross, Alexandria Logan Routen, Cole Houston Routen, April Michelle Russell,
Daniel Shane Sanderson, Haily Elizabeth Day Sanderson, Mykala Renea Sanderson, Colby Nicholes Sanford, Emily Alexis Sasseen, Alicia Faye Schaefer, Geisha Mercedes Schieffer, Robert Dustin Scott, Brittany Denise Seay, Kaleb John Seymour, Zachary Lee Shafer, Elizabeth A V Shaylor, Samuel Noel Sims, Mitchell Lee Slayden, Mercedes Shelton Smith, Kathleen Ann Spainhour, Shane Michael Speed, Shelia Marie Stacy, Sara Elizabeth Starnes, Courtney Benet Sullivan, Dylan Cole Taylor, Nathan Donald Taylor, Kristopher Blake Thomas, Steven Tyler Thomas, Katherine E. Thomason, Jordan Lynn Thurston, Krystal Alexus Tibbs, Miranda Len Tidwell, Khourey Reece Toon, Clark Thomas Travis, Kodie Andrew Travis, Kendra Mark Traylor, Jennifer Michelle Triebull, Christopher Tyler Tubbs, Sara Nichole Turner, Erin Bailey Tynes, Caleb Austin Veatch, Devin Scott Viniard,
Emily Jo Waggoner, Lori Beth Waggoner, Cheyenne Summer Wagner, Colby Ashton Walker, James Don Walker, Alexis Dawn Watson, Sarah Lynn Watson, Dalton Roger Watt, Alexandria Nycole Watts, Kelsey Renee Weatherford, Dakota Gunner West, Allie Shea Wheeler, Cody William Whitenton, Corey Blake Whitenton, Ralph David Whitenton, Bridget Ann Wilkerson, Kristin Paige Wilkerson, Dallas James Williams, Krista Nicole Williams, Samuel Parker Williams, Savannah Deborah Williams, Brandon Scott Wilson, Peyton Laine Wilson, Kimberly Ann Workman, Ira Allen Wray, Courtney Brooke Wright, Meredeth Rae Wright, Emily Rae Yarbrough, Kara Nicole Young.
