It is one of South Harrison’s favorite times of the year when we get to celebrate the academic successes of our students. This past weekend celebrations officially kicked off with the annual Academic Awards Banquet featuring a former South Harrison student as keynote speaker, a nice catered meal and an award ceremony where students received individual recognition for their academic achievements. The top 20 percent of Corydon Central High School and South Central’s graduating class and their families were invited to attend the ceremony as a time to celebrate and get recognized for their outstanding academic achievements.
This year, 2003 Corydon Central graduate Quentin Combs gave the keynote address. After graduating from high school, Quentin attended Indiana University. Once he graduated he joined the United States Marine Corps for four years with two deployments to Iraq during a time of war. This path led Quentin to pursuing a degree in nursing and working at the Department of Veteran Affairs where he provides care to veterans just like him. Through discovering his passion in health care, he was inspired to further his education in nursing and earn a master’s degree.
Although Quentin has made several achievements in his academic and professional career, he emphasized that it was not always easy and required a lot of sacrifice and perseverance.
He spoke on the importance of hard work, determination, and remaining resilient through the challenges you may face in life stating, “Anything truly worth achieving in life will demand something from you. But the reward is sweeter because of the struggle it took to get there.” He also highlighted the importance of leaning on your support system, because we are never alone.
He concluded his message by saying, “You don't have to have all the answers today. You just need the willingness to try, to learn, to stumble, and to keep going. You have so much potential inside you and you have a community that believes in you - starting right here, today.”
Dr. Eastridge and School Board President Mary Mathes presented the following students their awards:
Addison Rachelle Alford - University of Louisville
Aniston Sue Applegate - Indiana University Southeast
Ali Moises Bolanos Olivera - Purdue Polytechnic Institute New Albany
Brady August Campbell - Eastern Kentucky University
Camille Abigail Coffman - Marian University
Radia Jane Coffman - University of Louisville
Gwendolyn Myrtle Connerly - Ball State University
Lillian Fay Cortie - Undecided
Jayden Caleb Crawford - United States Air Force
Dylan Michael Davenport - Ivy Tech Community College
Dalton Cole Davis - Vincennes University
Preston Garon Dennison - University of Louisville
Nathaniel Scott Dooley - University of Louisville
Sydney Elaine Edwards - Indiana University Bloomington
Nolan James Erwin - Indiana University Southeast
Kailee Marie Flanders - University of Louisville
Ava Jo Gerdon - University of Louisville
Kody Gabriel Heinlein - Workforce - Classic Truss
Dylan Lee Heitkemper - Workforce - Corydon Auto Collision Inc.
Gabrielle Michelle Holland - University of Southern Indiana
Jenna Mae Hougland - University of Southern Indiana
Ivan Scott Jones - University of Louisville
Booker Deen LaHue - Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta
Addyson Mae Leonard - University of Evansville
Tristen Raymond Lone - Indiana University Southeast
Colton Michael Lord - Indiana University Bloomington
Olivia Grace Maley - University of Louisville
Kyndall Baylee Mathes - Indiana University Southeast
Andrew Keith Meeks - Workforce - Electrician
Kassidy Mae Miller - University of Southern Indiana
Delaney Michelle Mueller - Franklin College
Alyssa Marie Murphy - Undecided
Brady Alexander Reynolds - Indiana University Southeast
Katie Beth Richard - Indiana University Southeast
Robert Charles Rowan - Purdue University
Emma Niecole Rowland - Indiana University Southeast &
Sullivan University College of Pharmacy
Rozlynn Hope Spalding - Indiana University Southeast
Felicity Faylyne Travis - University of Southern Indiana
Josie Layne Vaughn - Undecided
Miles Robert Walker - University of Louisville
Landon Parker Waynescott - Indiana State University
Matthew Wilson Weber - Indiana University Southeast
David Alan Wiley - Undecided
Samantha Adaire Wilkerson - Murray State University
Madelyn Elaine Wolverton - University of Pittsburgh
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible: Tim Bec 2 catering, SHCSC administration, Penny Smith and Anna Heinze, Quentin Combs and his wife, and all attendees. Congratulations to our seniors! South Harrison is so proud of your hard work and can’t wait to see where life takes you next.