For 16 years, Delta Council has honored two exemplary students from each of the high schools throughout the 19-county Mississippi Delta region, including public, parochial and private schools, at its annual meeting.
Students are selected by school administrators based on leadership, extra-curricular, scholastic and community service.
Because of COVID-19, Delta Council is postponing its annual meeting. This is only the third time in more than eight decades the meeting has been altered — the first time was during World War II and the second was during the flood of 2011.
“Delta Council is grateful to recognize these special young men and women throughout the Delta,” said Tom Gresham of Indianola, president of Delta Council. “Our message to these young people is to continue your high achievements in education and leadership by going to college, but please come home to Mississippi and the Delta to help us continue to make our communities better.”
As a result of Delta Council Day being postponed until after the onset of the fall school semester, the Salute to Delta Honor Graduates ceremony has been canceled.
The students’ honors and achievements, however, have not gone overlooked by Delta Council staff and supporters, the organization said in a press release. Delta Honor Graduates will receive a certificate signed by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and Delta Council’s president certifying that each student is celebrated as a Delta Honor Graduate of 2020. Each student will also be invited to and recognized at the fall meeting.
The following area students were named Delta Honor Graduates.
• Greenwood High School: Ka’Pri Burden and Cassidy Washington
• Amanda Elzy High School: Christian Glass and Juliaunia White
• Leflore County High School: Narkeshia Green and Anthony Johnson
• North New Summit School: Madison Rose Lary and Mary Long
• Pillow Academy: Jack Reichle and Shane Houston Stephens
• Carroll Academy: Mary Jordan Milton and James Armstrong Neill
• J.Z. George High School: Jasmine Newman and Carson Skelton
A $2,500 scholarship is awarded to the top Delta Honor Graduate, as selected by higher education officials in the Delta, to help defray tuition and expenses as the student’s college of choice sees fit. Delta Council said the recipient will be announced soon.
