FEATURE PAGE August 6, 2020

The SSS graduates --- in alphabetical order and socially distanced --- were dropped off in a parking lot and directed to a staging area in front of the school.

FINALLY!

Smithfield-Selma's seniors got their diplomas
individually, as usual, but it took all day long

Principal David Allen presents a diploma to Chloey Sande, on crutches, as her family celebrates nearby with a poster-clad vehicle (shown below). She graduated a year early, Mr. Allen noted.

As each graduate moved into position, family members were allowed to get closer to photograph the moment.

Throughout the day, the school's electronic sign flashed the names and faces of each graduate --- yet another touch to make a spoiled event special nonetheless.

Originally, Graduation Night for Johnston County's high schools was set for May 29.

The coronavirus pandemic scotched those plans.

Then, in response to parents' wishes, school leaders re-scheduled graduations for the last week in July in hopes that COVID-19 restrictions on mass gatherings by now would be eased to allow ceremonies closer to the usual format.

But alas, a recent upsurge in coronavirus cases in Johnston County as elsewhere across the state and nation stymied that plan as well.

Smithfield-Selma High School's solution to the problem was a day-long, drive-thru ceremony of sorts that continued from early morning till late afternoon last Thursday.

Most graduates processed in caps and gowns as their names were announced while a recording of "Pomp and Circumstance" filled the air.

"Nearly 20 teachers volunteered their time to make sure the event went off without a hitch," Principal Allen told the Sun.

SSS Graduation Coordinator Lori Rose organized the event.

This was the 51st commencement at Smithfield-Selma, which opened its doors to students for the first time at summer's end in 1969 when five of the area's high schools were consolidated and racially integrated on one campus.


ACADEMIC HONORS

Again this year, the school recognized its top 53 academic achievers with traditional Latin honors rather than naming a valedictorian and a salutatorian....

Graduating SUMMA CUM LAUDE were the following:
Turnage, Makenna Layne Hill, Anna Elizabeth Terrill, Ashley Martinez-Mata, Cristina Mustafa, Shuhud Abdelhadi Sandhu, Jagwinder S. Miller, Maisy McGee Wiseman, Kailey Elizabeth Clark, Olivia Ray Roslyn Powell, Brandy N. Lopez Villanueva, Bryan J. Myer, Kaylee Jordan Jenkins, Judah Paul Avila-Marmolejo, Yameli Nunez Enriquez, Rosalinda Woodall, Madeline Katherine	Grimes, Madeline Paige Hernandez-Mendez, Jasmin Mullins, Mary Grace Cox, Christina Faith Tedder, Olivia Marie Brown, Emily R. Ayala-Terrones, Dannys Daimar Dextre, Dante Vaughn Williams, Joshua Allen Hercules, Xavier A. Kincaid, Fiona Grace Tremblay, Caleb Carson Cruz-Alvarez, Fernando Flynn, Catherine Vanchoff, Delaine
Graduating MAGNA CUM LAUDE were the following:
Vaughn, Timothy David Runion, Ryan Thomas Johnson, Lindsay P. Parejo, Sergio Andres Tetreault, Robert R. Fletcher, Colby Levi Humphrey, Taimek Zion	Davis, Larissa Jean Makey, Anna Marie Lowry, Ashland Oneil Rouse, Hannah Alyssa Kempf, Alexa Pena, Alfonso Gonzales, Juan
Graduating CUM LAUDE were the following:
Prieto, Cristina Sanchez-Enriquez, Brayan Doyle, William Connor Avila-Rosas, Giselle	Pinion, Eva Rose Villeda-Lopez, Alyssa Sarahi Figueroa-Bernal, Natalia Oakley, Lillian Rebecca

Here's the complete list of 303 graduates in the Class of 2020:

Tyneasia Ohemaa Afari-Hudson Osmar Benjamin Aguilar-Hernandez Yerlin Yaileen Aguilar-Reyes Odalis Aguilar-Sanchez Tayde Alcantara Esteban Entima Elizabeth Aldana Colindres Natalie Elizabeth Aleman Azariah Rafael Francisco Alicea Johnathen Amos Allen Sydney Brooke Alley Tyreek Ladarrion Altman Armando Gabriel Alvarado Santos Jonathan Enrique Amador-Herrera Ramon Antonio Olguin Anselmo A Antunez Neysha Isabel Aparicio Sharon Yailyn Argueta Tariq Shapell Atkinson Yameli Avila-Marmolejo Dannys Daimar Ayala-Terrones Jhon Fabio Badillo Kamenga Nicole Bampende Julio Cesar Barbosa Fonseca Jasmine Akayla Barbour Jordan Antonio Barnes Kapelan Airelle Capri Barnes Key Estefily Barrera Morales Christian Ariel Benitez Recinos Alasa Renice Bethea Marissa Blanco Moreno Valeria Blanco-Mendoza Tatiana Bonilla Jaramillo Quentin Nathaniel Watson Brady Jaleen Taylor Brame Ky'Ana Monet' Bridges Princess Bristow Anna Grace Brown Emily Rebekah Brown Ramone Lee Brown Dominic Monteneze Bryant Alexis Danielle Butler Dequantaye Butler Kayla Denise Butler Chelsea Larissa Caceres Suzanna Nicole Carcione Ruth Karina Carranza Mystie Jean Casillas Deysy Castaneda Kelly Luis Castillo Zuriel Anthony Chico Olivia- Ray Roslyn Clark Shamar De'Andre Coats Shyque Manjuan Coleman Genesis Franshesca Contreras Funez Christina Faith Cox Kenneth Hugh Cramer Fernando Cruz-Alvarez Alex Jhair Cruz-Martinez Xaveon Marquis Cummings Jaziah Leoni Davis Larissa Jean Davis Devonte Degraffenried Dante Vaughn Dextre Leonardo Daniel Diaz William Jalen Dixon William Connor Doyle T'Kia Renee Dublin Oshawn Natavian Dunston Amberlyn Hope Ellis Damaris Enriquez Hernandez Edgar Saul Esquivel-Zarate Jason Steve Estrada Perez Tatiana Aaliyah Farmer Alder Samir Ferrera-Argueta Natalia Figueroa-Bernal Colby Levi Fletcher Diego Roberto Flores Ortiz Catherine Ashworth Flynn Key'Asia Miracle Ford Jeffrey Abraham Fradera Andrea Fraire Vazquez Narelibet Fraire-Jaquez Gizzell Contreras Franco Maria Guadalupe Franco Benjamin Frost Blanca Azucena Funes-Cano Delcy Damaris Fuentes Andy Jason Galdamez Elyssa Joy Fabricante Garcia Lisandro Garcia Samantha Lisbet Garcia Figueroa Yamille Manuel Garcia Ubarri Maria Fernanda Garcia-Castillo Cannon Shea Gardner Asia Vivian George Xavier Deon George Daniel Lee Gill Walter Gilmore Eddie Gonzalez Natanael Gonzalez Juan Alexis Gonzalez-Rodriguez Destiny Donisha Graham Madeline Paige Grimes Carizma Latavia Groves Jada Catrece Guerrero Jennifer Aurora Guerrero Mikael Alexi Guerrero Sarah Caitlyn Guffey Jesus Emanuel Gutierrez-Garcia Lorenzo Valdez Hamlin Xavier Angel Hercules Anthony Perez Hernandez Raymond Javier Hernandez Veronica Hernandez Roxana Hernandez Apo Mariela Hernandez Vazquez Jasmin Hernandez-Mendez Anna Elizabeth Hill Thomas Rickie Hill Jr Michael Jay Hinton Logan Tyler Hodges Alaysia Mikaiya Holden Aaliyah Arlene Holder Destyne Lashae Holder Martia Lashon Holmes Daniel Isaiah Howell Taimek Zion Humphrey Gerson Josue Irias-Barahona Se'Vyona Amaje-Sadevious Jackson Jondrea Rene' James Damien Michael Jenkins Judah Paul Jenkins Daniel Marvin Jimenez Ayon Joset Gabriel Jiminian Pena Lindsay Paulette Johnson Modesty Da'shay Johnson Vincent Perry Johnson Jr. Jeremiah John Moses Johnson, Jr. Cornaisa Simone Jones Shatirra Shayette Jones Trinity Maya Jones Josue David Joya Cabrera Kyra Cherith Joyner Alexa Claire Kempf Fiona Grace Kincaid Marquise Zaire Kingsberry Celeste Cidalid Larios Flores Mikenya Deseree Lawrence Santiago Liberto-Crispin Jala Onye' Little Treyva Alexandria Lockhart Blake Michelle Locklear

Aquila Cherie Longmire Ivan Lopez Arredondo Randall Diego Lopez Moore Bryan Jose Lopez Villanueva Ashland Oneil Lowry Jose Guadalupe Lunar Prieto Anna Marie Makey Alan Mares-Pedroza Yoselene Marquez Lopez Nala Tae' Ahiah Shante Marshall Ambar Adriany Martinez Javier Martinez Trejo Cristina Martinez-Mata Estrella Mailyn Martinez-Santos Dakeyli Mateo Destiny Flo'Asha Mays Cyrus Alexzander McCorkle Aaliyah Simone McDaniel Antoine McKoy Danesha Liberty Meeks Oseas Oseas Melendez Jorge Luis Mendez-Torres Jose Guadalupe Mendoza-Larios Maisy McGee Miller Dechlan Lee Minor Hayzel Alexys Monedero Jennifer Montes-Fernandez Stephanie Morales-Aquino Tristan Fuller Moran Margarita Moreno-Reyes Mary Grace Mullins Tyrell Richard Murray Jr. Shuhud Abdelhadi Mustafa Kaylee Jordan Myer Mario Cesar Najera-Segovia Kenia Navarro Garcia Jada Amani Neal Rena Latisha Newton Kaitlyn Amber Nichols Keimare Josiah Nichols Michael Shamar Nichols Rosalinda Nunez- Enriquez Lillian Rebecca Oakley Luis Olivares-Beltran Omar Ortega Jean Marie Ortiz Torres Johanna Pacheco Denzel Jasith Palacios Colon Sergio Andres Parejo Cano Zachary Taylor Thomas Parham Ja'Kiem Lamar Parker Eva Gisselle Paz Gamas Jamie Guadalupe Paz Gamas Xavier Rashaun Pearce Christian Joel Pena Alfonso Pena-Velasco Kalen Penister Alicia Perez-Herrera Lisandro Daniel Perez-Recinos Keyshun Fontai Perry Victoria Elizabeth Perry Juan Pedro Pineda-Garcia Eva Rose Pinion Joseph Eljaer Ponce Maritza Ponce-Fuentes Brandy Nicole Powell Kalen Price Cristina Prieto Ellen Marie Pullen Isabela Antonia Quintana La'Deja Janae Raiford Juana Sujeys Ramirez Kane David Ramirez-Diaz Jorge Ramirez, Jr. Jackeline Ramon Perez Jalyn Ta'key Reddick Carlos Ramon Renteria Vega Oscar Geovany Reyes Halle Roanne Rivas Angel Luis Rivera Figueroa Aidan Russell Robertson Andrea Celeste Rodriguez Macias Chance Bailey Roland Hannah Alyssa Rouse Ryan Thomas Runion Cristian Mateo Sabado Edwin Sagastume Angel Leonel Salazar Johann Sanchez Mendoza Angie Maholy Sanchez Ocampo Brayan Sanchez-Enriquez Chloey Faith Sande Malachi Alexander Zachariah Sanders Vadrian Nasir Sanders Jagwinder Singh Sandhu Guadalupe Eguia Santiago Marcos Santiago-Contreras Malik Emaje Scott-McClarin Preston David Sellers Shane Patrick Shaffery Imad Aied Shibli Dynasty Mariah Smith Matthew Aaron Sobrera Ashfield Joshua Soto Mejia Aniyah Shymire Stancil Daniel Earl Starling Jaidon Shariff Stokes Raphael Edrickson Stowe Charles William Sykes Fernando Tavera Casey Elizabeth Taylor Olivia Marie Tedder Michell Alejandra Teran Herrera Ashley Terrill Robert Reilly Tetreault Donniquea Larene Lajoy Thomas Joshua Thomas Alejandro Thomas Otero Bianca Lashay Thorne Kamari Andre Tillman Caleb Carson Tremblay Ann Krystelle Tropnas Makenna Layne Turnage Delanie Vanchoff Fabiola Nicolle Varela Mejia Lourdes Vargas-Esquivias Fransisco Ricardo Vargas-Garcia Jose Antonio Vasquez Timothy David Vaughn Elmer Velasquez, Jr. Marcello Vincent Vendetti Alfredo Mejia Ventura Ralph Albert Vicario V Victor M Villagomez Mendoza Alyssa Sarahi Villeda-Lopez Verlicia Rena Latrice Walker Elijah Jahsean Weir Jyciah Victoria White Kam'ron Lamont White Jakia Wiggins Christopher Decoris Williams Destiny Lateice Williams Jalen Keon Williams Jamariya Trinity Williams Jayla Aryiana Williams Joshua Allen Williams Kaitlyn Marie Williams Sameah Ayanna Williams Kailey Elizabeth Wiseman Madeline Katherine Woodall Keshawn Davon Young

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