Amanda Elzy High School will graduate 99 seniors at its commencement exercises Friday night.
The program will begin at 7 at the Leflore County Civic Center.
Tacorya Collins is the class valedictorian.
Kenyotta White and Kerrinesha Crigler are co-salutatorians.
Collins had an ACT score of 22 and a 4.0 GPA.
Both White and Crigler had an ACT score of 18 and a GPA of 3.9.
Collins said she will challenge her fellow graduates.
“I plan on speaking about making the world a better place,” she said.
An active member of the school’s National Honor Society, Collins served as partial band manager at the beginning of the school year. A member of Steadfast Church of God in Christ, she’s been active in the church’s mentoring work with young, at-risk students.
Collins is planning to attend Tougaloo College in the fall and major in biology.
She said her father, Maurice Collins Sr., who passed away in February, played a significant part in her life.
“He was such an inspiration in getting me to where I am. He encouraged me,” she said.
Collins’ mother, Tawanda Logan Collins, is also proving to be a tower of strength — raising six children by herself. Collins has four sisters, Aijalon, 11, Emerald, 10, Parris, 9, and Gabriel, 7; and a brother, Maurice Collins Jr., 14.
Kenyotta White has been active in the Senior Select Program, which focuses on community service work students’ senior year.
She is a member of Salem Missionary Baptist of Racetrack Plantation.
She said plans to attend Rust College and major in nursing.
White is the daughter of Priscilla White and Willie Little.
Kerrineshia Crigler said she plans to encourage her fellow graduates.
“I’m going to be telling them to keep their heads up and do their best to be successful,” she said.
Crigler, a member of Hyman Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Sidon, said she plans to attend Mississippi Valley State University in the fall. She’ll major in biology with the ultimate goal of attending medical school.
Crigler is the daughter of Debra Crigler and Wayne Self.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
