Peabody grads earn $1.6M in scholarships
By Crystal Burns
The Peabody High School Class of 2018 celebrated a banner year Friday night.
The graduates earned $1,672,594 in scholarships, a history-making 19 Peabody Scholars were named, and two students set record highs for college credit hours earned.
Bethany McKenzie, a Peabody Scholar graduating Summa cum Laude, earned 33 college credits, and Leah Pybas, who graduated Magna cum Laude, earned 30 credits. Both will enter college in the fall as sophomores (29 credits qualifies a student as a college sophomore).
Emelyn Bridges was added to the roster of Peabody Scholars, joining Jada Baker, Morgan Campbell, Chloe Cates, Michael Crutchfield, Kaylee Franks, Zachary Grooms, Heather Heatherly, Makayla Jones, Aimee Letienne, Jasmine Love, Keely Malone, Daisey Martinez, Bethany McKenzie, Dixie Reed, Claire Rollins, Anna Tubbs, Logan Warren, and Brantley Whitwell. Peabody Scholars are determined using a formula that guidance counselor Mary Bragg clarified takes the student’s ACT super score, the highest score in each subtest. The super composite is multiplied by 27.7777, and the student’s grade point average (GPA) is multiplied by 250. Those totals are added, and students with more than 1,689 points are awarded scholar status.
Students selected Jasmine Love, Bethany McKenzie, and Makayla Jones to give the scholar addresses, and Class President Kaylee Franks gave the welcome.
“We have been told by numerous authority figures that our class is the best of the best,” Love said. “Academically acclaimed, athletically skilled, musically talented, and extremely strong minded. We have the opportunity to accomplish our dreams, live our best lives, break barriers, and change the world.”
Academic accolades also included Tennessee Honor Graduates, Latin honors, and Peabody Honor Graduates. Tennessee Honor Grads met all four benchmarks on the ACT subtests (English 18, Reading 22, Math 22, and Science 23). They are Cecilia Angel, Jada Baker, Emelyn Bridges, Sterling Burch, Morgan Campbell, Chloe Cates, Michael Crutchfield, Reni Erven, Timothy Fields, Kaylee Franks, Zachary Grooms, Heather Heatherly, Alexys Hickerson, Makayla Jones, Aimee Letienne, Jasmine Love, Keely Malone, Daisey Martinez, Bethany McKenzie, Molly Milligan, Leah Pybas, Dixie Reed, Claire Rollins, Anna Tubbs, Isaiah Wade, Logan Warren, Brantley Whitwell, and Austin Workman.
Summa cum Laude students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.76-4.0. Students recognized were Cecilia Angel, Jada Baker, Emelyn Bridges, Morgan Campbell, Chloe Cates, Michael Crutchfield, Reni Erven, Kaylee Franks, Zachary Grooms, Heather Heatherly, Hunter Hudson, Makayla Jones, Aimee Letienne, Jasmine Love, Matthew Martin, Daisey Martinez, Bethany McKenzie, Eshan Patel, Claire Rollins, Anna Tubbs, Logan Warren, Brantley Whitwell, and Austin Workman.
Magna cum Laude students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.51-3.75. Students recognized were Angela Abbitt, Preston Black, Timothy Fields, Will Fisher, Megan Gordon, Alexys Hickerson, Keely Malone, Molly Milligan, Landon Pickard, Leah Pybas, Dixie Reed, Martina Roznovsky, Katelyn Starr, Jacob Taylor, Shelby Temple, and Isaiah Wade.
Cum Laude students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.26-3.50. Students recognized were Sterling Burch, Mallory Chute, Hayden Coleman, Jason Comer, Stephanie Doss, Brianna Howell, Kaylie Jones, Katie Pickard, and Hailey Tole.
Peabody Honor Graduates must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0-3.25. Students recognized were Robert Champion, Isaiah Guest, Joshua Jones, Kristin Lowery, Zoe McCall, Michael Scott, and Kaleigh Stephens.
In addition to announcing local, Peabody Alumni Association, and institutional scholarships (see lists in graduation section inserted in this issue), Bragg recognized that 55 graduates qualified for Tennessee Hope Lottery scholarships, which are worth up to $3,500 per year for the first and second years and $4,500 per year for the third and fourth years of college. To be eligible for Hope scholarships, students must have either a 3.0 GPA or a 21 ACT score. Seven additional students qualified for the Hope General Assembly Merit Scholarship, which is available to students with a minimum 3.75 GPA and a minimum 29 ACT score. Students receive an additional $1,500 per year.
Forty-two students are eligible for Tennessee Promise, which provides last dollar scholarships to any of the state’s two-year community colleges or technical schools. To qualify for Tennessee Promise, students must complete certain requirements including attending mandatory meetings, completing their federal aid financial application and eight hours of community service.
Three graduates received military enlistment bonuses (see list in graduation section inserted in this issue), which are included in the class’ total scholarship amount.
Peabody’s 140th graduating class included 94 students.
