HOPE – The Hope High School Class of 2017 jump-started its future with numerous post-secondary scholarships, and cumulative hours of concurrent college credit, as graduating seniors received diplomas here May 12.\r\n
\r\nHHS Principal Bill Hoglund announced that the Class of 2017 had accumulated 688 total hours of concurrent college credit through the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana, led by Johnny Luna with 51 total hours.\r\n
\r\nThe class of 148 graduating seniors was led by 13 honor graduates, including:\r\n
\r\nSumma cum laude (GPA of 4.0 or above) --\r\n
\r\nElizabeth Smelley, member of National Honor Society, HHS Student Council, Nike Club, Key Club, HHS Yearbook Editor, Girls State Delegate, Arkansas Senate Page as member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.\r\n
\r\nDestiny Martin, HHS Softball player, HHS Cheerleader, HHS Student Council, Nike Club, National Honor Society, Talent Search student, and Phi Theta Kappa.\r\n
\r\nDevron Collins, HHS Football player, HHS Track team, National Honor Society, Talent Search student, and Boys’ State Delegate.\r\n
\r\nMagna cum laude (3.75 to 3.99 GPA) –\r\n
\r\nKiara Smith, HHS Basketball HHS Softball, HHS Football Manager, HHS Student Council, Nike Club, and Talent Search student.\r\n
\r\nAustin Stubber, HHS Football, HHS Baseball, National Honor Society, HHS Student Council, Key Club, Texarkana American Legion World Series Baseball Champions, Arkansas Senate Page as member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.\r\n
\r\nGianni Deshon Trotter, HHS Cheerleader, Nike Club, National Honor Society, Talent Search student, AFJROTC, Girls State Delegate, and Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.\r\n
\r\nMatthew Tullos, National Honor Society, HHS Student Council, Key Club, Boys State Delegate, and Microsoft Technology Associate Certification.\r\n
\r\nCum laude (3.5 to 3.74 GPA) – \r\n
\r\nLeenetta Conway, HHS Track, Talent Search student, AFJROTC, 21st Century Classroom Program, Let’s Go to Work Foundation, National Honor Society.\r\n
\r\nShaquayla Jackson, HHS Track and AFJROTC.\r\n
\r\nEbony Wallace-Morrow, HHS Student Council, FFA, Key Club, Talent Search student, and National Honor Society.\r\n
\r\nSummer Pauley, Key Club, Nike Club, National Honor Society, Girls State Municipal Judge and Delegate, Key Club Lieutenant Governor Division 19 of Missouri-Arkansas District.\r\n
\r\nSydney Watson, HHS Golf, HHS Student Council, Nike Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, Girls State Delegate, HHS Yearbook Editor, and Arkansas Senate Page as member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.\r\n
\r\nClinton Primary School third grade teacher Cynthia Murphy gave the charge to the Class of 2017. Murphy encouraged the graduating seniors to choose a path in life and set a goal for that path.\r\n
\r\n“After graduation, you will be going different directions,” she said. “Each day that you move toward your dreams without suffering indignity, you’re winning.”\r\n
\r\nMurphy, who has taught in the Hope Public Schools for 45 years, reminded the graduating seniors that their future is a personal responsibility.\r\n
\r\n“You have been taught, but can’t be made to know,” she said. “Your parents took you to church, but they can’t make you believe.”\r\n
\r\nMurphy noted that each student should remember two rules.\r\n
\r\n“Rule number one is, don’t sweat the small stuff,” she said. “And, rule number two is, it’s all small stuff.”\r\n
\r\nHonored recently by the Arkansas Department of Education and the State Board of Education as a model teacher and representative for the ADE Teach Again initiative, Murphy is a graduate of the former Lincoln High School in Washington, Ar., and she holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff. She received her master’s degree in reading from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia in 1977.\r\n
(See photos of graduation night on Facebook.)
