Aiken County Public Schools (ACPS) celebrated the many accomplishments of the Class of 2022 during graduation ceremonies, including the Aiken County Career and Technology Center Completer Ceremony, held at the USC Aiken Convocation Center June 1-3, 2022.
Exemplary recognition included 38-percent of the 1,326 seniors being recognized as Honor Graduates, 58 graduates earning a Seal of Biliteracy, and 79 graduates being recognized as Senior Scholars.
The Class of 2022 earned a total of $58,070,249 in scholarship dollars. Of this year’s graduating class, 74-percent plan to attend a post-secondary institution, 23-percent plan to immediately enter the workforce, two percent plan to join the United States military following graduation, and one percent of graduates are undecided.
Aiken Scholars Academy, which opened on the campus of USC Aiken in 2018 to serve the top academically gifted students, hosted its inaugural graduation ceremony for the school’s first cohort of students. During the course of their academic careers, Aiken Scholars Academy students spend the first two years taking accelerated high school courses and the last two taking college courses.
“As the first graduating class of Aiken Scholars Academy, I commend you on your willingness to take a risk,” said Aiken County Superintendent King Laurence in his address to ASA graduates. “You volunteered, applied, and were accepted to a school that didn’t fully exist yet. Now four years later you’ll walk across this stage with a high school diploma and half a bachelor’s degree. That’s impressive.”
Following are Class of 2022 graduation highlights for each of the eight high schools.
Aiken High School had 259 graduates, a total of 89, or 34-percent of graduates, were recognized as Honor Graduates. The Hornets earned a combined total of $15,200,000 in academic awards and qualifying scholarship offers, the largest school award package in the District. Aiken High’s Valedictorian was Laura Elizabeth Huff, and Victoria Ann Colon-LaBorde was the Salutatorian. One graduate is a National Merit Finalist, and two graduates are Cambridge AICE International Diploma Recipients.
Aiken Scholars Academy celebrated 36 graduates during the school’s first graduation ceremony. Of those graduates, 81-percent were recognized as Honor Graduates. The Phoenix earned a combined total of $5,847,724 in academic awards and qualifying scholarship offers.
The Valedictorian was Kayla Erin Goldschmidt, and Grace Elizabeth Burns was the Salutatorian. Kayla will attend George Mason University in the fall. One graduate is a National Merit Scholarship recipient earning the President's Scholarship for $80,000 from the University of Utah; two graduates were National Merit Commended Students; and one graduate earned a National Beta Scholarship which only 250 are available nation-wide. Eleven graduates earned the State Honors Diploma Award; 15 earned the AP Seminar and AP Research Certificate from AP Capstone Program; seven earned the AP Capstone Diploma; 16 earned AP Scholar designation; and 13 graduates earned AP Scholar with Distinction designation.
Midland Valley High School honored 228 graduates who earned $11,145,195 in qualifying scholarship offers. The school also recognized 15 Early College graduates who earned an associate’s degree from Aiken Technical College in May. Among its graduates, 64 Mustangs, or 28-percent of the Class of 2022 were celebrated as Honor Graduates. The school recognized Emma Grace Troup as its Valedictorian, and Palmer Carlile Wiggins as its Salutatorian. More than 70-percent of the Class of 2022 plan to attend a college or university, and more than 80-percent are college or career ready with many going straight into the workforce with certifications from the Aiken County Career and Technology Center.
North Augusta High School’s graduating class consisted of 312 graduates, making it the largest graduating class in the District. One hundred forty-five graduates, or 46-percent, were celebrated as Honor Graduates. The Jackets earned a combined total of $12,671,136 in academic awards and qualifying scholarship offers. The Jackets' Valedictorian was Katherine Elizabeth Cannon, and Andrew Mitchell Towner was the Salutatorian.
Silver Bluff High School celebrated 119 graduates, with 34 graduates, or 29-percent of the senior class, earning special recognition as Honor Graduates. The school recognized Madeline Rose Hawkins as Valedictorian, and Estephanie Lopez Maldonado as Salutatorian. The amount of qualifying scholarship offers awarded to the Bulldogs was $3,795,000. Both Madeline and Estephanie received scholarships that will cover the total cost of college expenses. Estephanie is included in the 32-percent of Silver Bluff graduates who are the first-generation in their family to attend college.
South Aiken High School recognized Ronald Paul Rathenkamp as its Valedictorian, and Kaitlyn Frances Golyski as its Salutatorian. South Aiken's Class of 2022 featured 269 Thoroughbred graduates, 114 of whom were celebrated as Honor Graduates, or 42-percent. The class earned $4,722,500 in qualifying scholarship offers. Five Thoroughbreds are choosing to serve in the military.
Ridge Spring-Monetta High School celebrated 52 seniors as members of the Class of 2022, with 18 seniors being recognized as Honor Graduates, or 35-percent. The Valedictorian was Vy Shaniyah Ja’Tisha Bussey and the Salutation was Mikenzie Faith Kinard. Total qualifying scholarship offers for the Trojans amounted to $ 2,453,658.
Wagener-Salley High School featured 51 graduates, among whom were 11 Honor Graduates, or 22-percent of the Class of 2022. The school’s Valedictorian was Caitlin Hope Courtney and the Salutatorian was Ayreanna Jalyn Wood. The amount of qualifying scholarship offers earned by the War Eagles during the 2021-22 school year was $2,263,912.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2022 PR Graduation Recap