Each year, MCPS hosts a breakfast at Chatmoss to honor and celebrate an exceptional group of students: those who have earned the Superintendent's Award. This is the highest academic honor a student can achieve here in Martinsville, as it recognizes those who have a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher.
Each student was presented with a cord to wear at graduation to signify their extraordinary achievement.
This year's keynote speaker was MHS alum Jyshir Plunkett ('25), who reminded the gathered seniors that "your success did not happen by accident. You did not arrive at this moment by luck alone. Your achievements are the product of discipline, resilience, prayer, support, and determination."
He acknowledged that each student took different paths and faced different challenges to arrive at the same place of honor and achievement. "Never underestimate the power of persistence," he said. "Because persistence changes people. The challenges you faced did not simply test your intelligence, they developed your character, and character will take you places that talent alone cannot."
Plunkett went on to remind the students that their generation has the power to influence communities, families, students, and the world around them.
"Be people of integrity. Be people of compassion. Be people who uplift others instead of tearing them down. And never become so successful that you forget how to be kind," he said.
This year's Superintendent's Award recipients are:
Jemea Leshay Craghead
Kamori Re Yanna Dillard
Zaniah Ariana Dillard
Jahrine Ezekiel Jones
Aerran Elysia Kellam
Jun Hermes Olea
Kaira Merci Womack
Congratulations to each of these extraordinary student scholars! As Jyshir said, " Celebrate your accomplishments, be proud of your journey, honor how far you have come, but do not stop here. Continue striving, continue growing, continue believing."