West Rusk students honored

Fifty eighth graders graduated during West Rusk Junior High's awards assembly on May 29, and several students were lauded for their academic success.

Malorie Herron was named valedictorian and Hannah Elaine Waller was salutatorian.

Herron had a grade point average of 95.76. She is the daughter of Lisa Herron and Shane Herron and granddaughter of Don and Mary Mason and Jerry and Pat Herron.

She has been active in UIL events such as calculator skills, number sense, maps, graphs and charts, and spelling, and played saxophone in the WRJH Raider Band. Herron also played volleyball, basketball and track, and was a cheerleader. Her 8th grade year was highlighted by being named District Champion in the 400-meter dash.

Waller had a GPA of 94.6. She is the daughter of LaKeshia and Barry Waller and the granddaughter of Glenna Tryon and Mary Frances Waller. She has been a member of the BETA Club at WRJH and played trumpet in the junior high band. During her seventh and eighth grade years she was a junior high twirler and will join her sister on the high school twirling line.

Also active in athletics, she played volleyball, basketball and track and earned the title of District Champion in the mile race.

Other honor students attaining 89-andabove averages during their sixth, seventh and eighth grade years are Jodi Lee, Gary Higginbotham, Leni Hill, Tristan Edwards, Tyler Andrews, Lindsey McMillan, Heather Furguson, Tate Nicks, Ashley Tarbutton and Daniel Webb.

"Great Students" chosen by the faculty for their outstanding character and hard work for the 2008-2009 school year were also honored. They are:

— Sixth graders Alison Nutt, Eli Nicks, Ashley Meador, Enrique Valdez, Rosa Guevara, Roel Cruz, Laci Dorsey, Jose Valverde, Cece Boggus, Brandy Cody, Rebecca Najera and Ashlyn McGowan;

— Seventh graders Emily Gibbs, Tyrice Ross, Miranda Higginbotham, Elijah Dews, Sarah Buckner, Austin Tarbutton, Trinity King, Sophia Wadiwalla, Bailee Stanley, Keandra Roquemore, Carrigan Dragoo and Sara Blakeley; and

— Eighth graders Heather Furguson, Gary Higginbotham, Jodi Lee, Tristan Edwards, Malorie Herron, Daniel Webb, Ashley Tarbutton, Tate Nicks, Hannah Waller, Alan Wallace, Shanicia Harper and Steve Ramos.

Students were awarded for maintaining honor roll status for the whole year, perfect attendance, and receiving All Region band and music honors.

Three students, Trinity King, Grant Sudweeks and Sophia Wadiwalla, were selected by the Duke University Talent Identification Program to complete either the SAT or the ACT this school year.

Students who qualify for the Duke State Recognition score at or above the national average on the test. This year, King received State Recognition based on her ACT score.

Students who received Commended Performance on the TAKS tests were also honored during the assembly. WRJH had 16 sixth grade students commended in reading and 12 commended in math; 19 seventh grade students commended in writing, 13 in reading and four in math; and 16 eighth grade students commended in reading, six in math, nine in social studies and four in science.