The Aiken County Public School District’s graduating Class of 2021 overcame many obstacles, disappointments, and challenges along the way to achieving success as high school graduates.
On Thursday, June 10, 2021, and Friday, June 11, 2021, the District joined families and friends of its graduates in celebrating the accomplishments of 1,366 seniors who received their diplomas during ceremonies held in school football stadiums and gymnasiums and with masks worn as an option and not a requirement.
“Tonight, all of us, your parents, your teachers, your coaches, and your friends, all let you know how proud we are of you,” stated Aiken County Superintendent King Laurence in his address to ACPSD graduates.
“In the years ahead, you will encounter many more experiences that lead you to say this isn’t the one I wanted,” added Superintendent Laurence. “If you embrace your journey with the same character and determination with which you have approached your senior year there will be a day when you look at yourself and say, this is the life I’ve got and this is the one I wanted.”
Aiken County Board of Education Chairman Dr. John Bradley thanked the parents and guardians of Class of 2021 graduates for their support during a difficult and trying year while also thanking the Class of 2021 for their resilience in the face of adversity.
“It’s been an interesting year filled with adjustments, hardships, and accomplishments,” commented Chairman Bradley. “To the parents and guardians, I appreciate everything you’ve done to support your young people. To the graduating seniors, thank you for the way you’ve handled this year. No matter where your path takes you I wish you much happiness and success in the years to come.”
Aiken County graduates of the Class of 2021 earned a total of $49,667,830 in scholarship dollars during the 2020-21 school year.
The District recognized 36 percent of this year's 1,387 graduates as ACPSD Honor Graduates.
Following are Class of 2021 graduation highlights for each of our eight ACPSD high schools.
Aiken High School celebrated a Class of 2021 that numbered 244 graduates, a total of 88, or 36-percent of graduates, were recognized as Honor Graduates. The Hornets earned a combined total of $13,963,654 in academic awards and qualifying scholarship offers, the largest school award package in the District. Aiken High’s Valedictorian was Jasmine Deborah Sampson, and Margaret Hannah O'Leary was the Salutatorian. Aiken High has 7 students who are entering the military. Sixty percent of the Class of 2021, or 146 graduates, plan to attend a post-secondary institution. Fifty Aiken High graduates plan to immediately enter the workforce following graduation. Three students received full scholarships to attend the School of New York and New York University.
Midland Valley High School’s 41st Commencement Exercises honored 216 graduates of the Class of 2021 who earned $9,493,921 in qualifying scholarship offers. The school also recognized 23 Early College graduates, with 11 earning both an Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree from Aiken Technical College in May. Mustang senior and Early College graduate Stephanie Zaragoza will attend Harvard University. Among its graduates, 74 Mustangs, or 34-percent of the Class of 2021 were celebrated as Honor Graduates. The school recognized Jacob Keith Clerc as its Valedictorian, and Avigai Reyes Guerrero as its Salutatorian. Seventy-six percent of the Class of 2021, or one hundred and sixty-six graduates, plan to attend a college or university, and 6 said they planned to join the United States military following graduation.
North Augusta High School’s graduating Class of 2021 consisted of 339 graduates, making it the largest graduating class in the District. One hundred fifty-eight, or 44-percent, of North Augusta’s graduates were celebrated as Honor Graduates. The Jackets earned a combined total of $10,579,310 in academic awards and qualifying scholarship offers. The Jackets' Valedictorian was Madden Nathaniel Bell, and Melissa Amanda Murph was the Salutatorian. Both the Valedictorian (Madden Bell) and Salutatorian (Melissa Murph) received National Merit Scholarships to The University of Alabama. The total value of the scholarship package is $189,250. Two hundred sixty-seven of North Augusta's graduates, or 79-percent of the Class of 2021, say they plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college or university following graduation, and 14 graduates say they plan to serve in the military. Sixteen graduates will enter the workforce.
Silver Bluff High School celebrated 145 graduates in its Class of 2021, with 32 graduates, or 22-percent of the senior class, earning special recognition as Honor Graduates. The school recognized Erica Marie Childers as Valedictorian, and Ella Reese Mack as Salutatorian. The amount of qualifying scholarship offers awarded to the Bulldogs was $4,342,258. Forty-six graduates plan to attend two-year colleges, and 82 say they plan to attend four-year colleges and universities, meaning 88-percent of the Class of 2021 plan to attend a post-secondary institution. Two Bulldog graduates plan to serve in the military. Nineteen Bulldogs plan to enter the workforce immediately after high school.
South Aiken High School recognized Kathleen Julianne Coleman as its Valedictorian, and Haley Luna Huynh as its Salutatorian. South Aiken's Class of 2021 featured 312 Thoroughbred graduates, 135 of whom were celebrated as Honor Graduates. The class earned $9,137,232 in qualifying scholarship offers. Two hundred thirty-nine graduates, or 77-percent of the Class of 2020 plan to attend a four-year college or university, or a two-year college. Six Thoroughbreds are choosing service in the military, while 56 said they planned to immediately enter the workforce after graduation. Two Thoroughbreds, Allison Ruth Valentina Carter and Benjamin Davis Kidd, completed the South Carolina Governors School of Science and Mathematics ACCELERATE program.
Ridge Spring-Monetta High School celebrated 57 seniors as members of the Class of 2021 during the school’s 65th Commencement Exercises, with 15 seniors being recognized as Honor Graduates. The Valedictorian was Makayla Synclair Carson, and the Salutation was Chelsey Lynn Ricker. Total qualifying scholarship offers for the Trojans amounted to $ 1,671,119. Thirty-seven graduates, or 65-percent of the Class of 2021, plan to attend a four-year college or university or a two-year college. Two graduates have chosen to serve in the U.S military, while 18 graduates plan to enter the workforce. Also, among the Trojans were several Girls State and Boys State candidates and an Eagle Scout.
Wagener-Salley High School’s graduating Class of 2021 featured 49 graduates, among whom were 15 Honor Graduates. The school’s Valedictorian was Brenna Logan Nunn and the Salutatorian was Raney Lane Burnett. Twenty-four graduates are planning to attend to a four-year college, while an additional 19 graduates are planning to attend a 2-year college, meaning 90-percent of the Class of 2021 will attend a post-secondary institution. Thirty of the 48 War Eagle graduates are Career & Technology Completers in the areas of Agriculture & Technology, Cosmetology, Welding, or Family & Consumer Sciences. The amount of qualifying scholarship offers earned by the War Eagles during the 2020-21 school year was $480,336.
Aiken Scholars Academy celebrated its very first high school graduates. The school does not officially have a graduating class until the 2021-22 school year, but four students who had met graduation requirements decided to graduate with the Class of 2021.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2021 PR DISTRICT CELEBRATES CLASS OF 2021