By NELL LUTER FLOYD
Sun Staff Writer
HIGH SCHOOL seniors across the Northside are counting down to the big day.
It’s May, and the students will soon mark the successful completion of high school.
Between May 16 and May 30, more than 1,000 students are expected to don caps and gowns, take photos with family and friends to share on social media and prepare to receive their diplomas.
As of earlier this week, several area schools still had not announced valedictorian and salutatorian, and were waiting to break the news after testing and at various class/senior day programs.
Jackson Academy students will be first up, with the school’s commencement program scheduled Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the school’s outdoor stadium, The Brickyard. According to Patti Wade, JA director of marketing and communications, 98 students are slated to graduate. Mallory Brooks, valedictorian and Gautam Ray, salutatorian will address classmates.
In an earlier senior gathering. John Scarbrough, JA’s Distinguished Alumni of the Year award recipient, spoke with the soon-to-be graduates.
The next night, May 17 at 7 p.m., 96 Madison-Ridgeland Academy seniors will gather at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison to receive their degrees.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Alan Hart will present the commencement speech, according to Martha Maxey, director of advancement. Emma Kate Cook is valedictorian and the salutatorian is Ayon Iftekhar.
The northside’s largest class will walk across the stage on Saturday, May 18. On that day 383 students are expected to graduate from Madison Central High School. The program is planned for 10 a.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum. Like some other schools, the valedictorian and salutatorian had not been announced by presstime.That same day Germantown High School seniors will gather at 2 p.m. at the coliseum. Three hundred and foureen students will be presented their diplomas.
Three days later on Monday, May 20, it will be Ridgeland High School students’ turn to walk across the stage at the coliseum starting at 2 p.m. The class of 2024 is made up of 218.
One hundred and nineteen seniors at Jackson Prep will receive their diplomas during a graduation ceremony from 6:30-8 p.m. on May 21 at Thalia Mara Hall in downtown Jackson. The valedictorian and salutatorian were scheduled to be announced during Class Day today, Friday, May 10, according to Emily Myers Garner, director of branding and marketing.
Stephen Shackelford, Class of 1995, will deliver the Distinguished Alum commencement address.
St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison will celebrate graduation with Bishop Jospeh R. Kopacz on May 22 from 6-9 p.m. in the school gymnasium. A baccalaureate mass is scheduled on May 21 from 6-8 p.m. in the school auditorium. The students selected as valedictorian and salutatorian were not known at presstime.
The 76 seniors at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Ridgeland will receive their diplomas on May 24 at 9 a.m. during an outdoor ceremony at Lake Sherwood Wise at the Ridgeland campus. Head of School Kevin Lewis will present the commencement address. The two students who will be receiving the highest awards have not been announced yet.
A baccalaureate service is scheduled on May 23 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Jackson.
The Murrah High School graduating Class of 2024 will participate in commencement ceremonies on May 30 from 1:30-3 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum. The program is expected to last about one hour.
The coliseum requires only clear bags for anyone entering. Guests at Jackson Public Schools graduation ceremonies must enter through a metal detector; no balloons, signs or noisemakers will be allowed.
