News

Top Scholars rack up $1.5 million worth of scholarships

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 27, 2023

Sixty-six of Henderson County public schools’ highest-achieving graduating seniors were honored Thursday, May 25, during the 2022-23 Top Scholars Banquet at Blue Ridge Community College sponsored by AdventHealth.

Held annually for 19 years, the Top Scholars ceremony recognizes the academic and athletic successes and strong leadership of seniors at the top of their classes.
“HCPS is proud to honor these 66 scholars who have gone above and beyond over the course of their high school careers. They have truly set themselves apart from the crowd,” said Superintendent Mark R. Garrett. “These young men and women have excelled not only academically but also in service to their schools and their communities. We look forward to seeing where their journeys take them and know they will have a positive impact on the world around them.”
This year, the event honored the top three students from Henderson County Career Academy, top three students from Henderson County Early College, and the top 15 students from Hendersonville High, North Henderson High, East Henderson High and West Henderson High.
As a group, this year’s cohort of Top Scholars received a total of $1,537,014 in college grants and scholarships, had an average 4.50 GPA and 27.8 ACT score, and volunteered at more than 85 organizations and nonprofits in Western North Carolina, the Upstate and beyond. Forty-eight of the 66 Top Scholars are North Carolina natives and 43 plan to continue their education in the state. Top Scholars are:

• East Henderson High: Robert Tyler Adams; Reece Grayson Alverson; James David Biggers; Eben James Carson; Nolan William Edge; Sarah Morgan Gaitskill; Josie Christeen Lively; Sara Ann Mabry; Elizabeth Shell Osborne; Hailey Elizabeth Rose; Ana Isabel Trejo-Ramirez; Madison Grace Walker; Sage Deci Walker; Tyler Jeremy Walkup; Oak Stiteler Wallace.
• Henderson County Career Academy: Makenna Zoe Cermak; Ja’Vair Quintrell-Lane Kilgore; Imelda Nahomi Ventura.
• Henderson County Early College: Efren Antonio; Jacquelyn Sophia Elmore; Arely Perez.
• Hendersonville High: Emily Elizabeth Brownfield; Rachel Katherine DeGuzman; Adelaide Marie DiMeglio; Macianna Christine Kiefer; Cooper Ray King; Julia Nicole Ledbetter; Ariah Rayne McMillan; Emily Kaitlin Phillips; Berit Berning Raines; Sarah James Shaffer; Laura Rapp Shelton; Reilly Kathleen Sparks; Audrey Mae Stevens; Melodi Anne Fancis Van’t Hoff; Halle Anna Vazquez.
• North Henderson High: Violet Villalobos Alonso; Nathaniel Douglas Baird; Bryce Tate Calton; Emily Kate Cohee; Evie Grey Corn; Skyler Lynn Gangestad; Tyler Christian Houston; Jeremy Hu; Caitlyn Joy McMinn; Emma Renee Michna; Yordan Alexander Mintz; Joshua Daniel Murphy; Emma Mae Osteen; Stacy Perez-Ibarra; Kalisha Shanice Price.
• West Henderson High: Katelyn Michelle Barron; Megan Elise Broome; Kaitlyn Ashley Chandler; Annelise Clare Eidt; Anna Grace Garner; Kylee Faith Haynes; Victoria Faith Knight; Olivia Leigh Payne; Mason Robert Pittman; Connor McKeeghan Poole; Garrett Wylie Poole; Adley Ehren Shelton; Reese Patrick Shrader; Kathryn Grace St. Jean; Jill Nicole Sudderberg.