Delta Council will hold its 13th annual Salute to Delta Honor Graduates on Friday at the Bologna Performing Arts Center at Delta State University.
The event will begin at 9 a.m. as a preface to the Delta Council’s 81st annual meeting.
More than 100 graduates will be honored this year. Students are selected by school administrators based on grade point average, extracurricular activities and community service.
The student chosen as the top honor graduate will receive a scholarship worth $2,500.
The winner of the scholarship will again be recognized during the business session of the Delta Council meeting, which is set to begin at 10:30 a.m.
The following students from Leflore and Carroll counties will be recognized Friday:
Leflore
• Presley Alford, North New Summit School
• Preston Alford, North New Summit School
• Ashanti Brownlow, Amanda Elzy High School
• Kamron Daniels, Greenwood High School
• Mallory Davis, Pillow Academy
• Michael Davis, Pillow Academy
• John McCall, Amanda Elzy High School
• Frager McCline, Leflore County High School
• Dannielle Ratliff, Greenwood High School
• Destiney Sharkey, Leflore County High School
Carroll
• Ashtyn Carpenter, Carroll Academy
• Elizabeth Gibbs, J.Z. George High School
• Paris Somerville, J.Z. George High School
• Reed Williams, Carroll Academy
Dr. Glenn Boyce, Mississippi’s higher education commissioner, will be the keynote speaker at the business session, and state Sen. Willie Simmons will co-host.
Boyce has served as commissioner since 2015. He received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Mississippi and a master’s degree in administration education from Mississippi College. He later returned to the University of Mississippi and earned a doctorate in education leadership.
Boyce is a member of Madison United Methodist Church, where he regularly attends with his wife and three daughters.
Before being appointed commissioner of higher education, Boyce had served as the associate commissioner of academic affairs and as president of Holmes Community College.
Simmons, who will be introducing Boyce, is an alumnus of Alcorn State and Delta State universities.
Simmons is the owner of both the Simmons and Associates Consultant Firm and The Senator’s Place restaurant in Cleveland. He is also active in the Cleveland Area Civic Club, 100 Black Men of Bolivar County, the National Association of State Legislators, the National Association of Black State Legislators and the Mississippi Association of Professionals in Corrections.
Simmons and his wife and four children are members of Solomon Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cleveland.
• Contact Chloe Ricks at 581-7124 or cricks@gwcommonwealth.com.
