Kamberlin King didn’t wait until he received official word he would be Leflore County High School’s valedictorian before he began contemplating what he would tell his graduating classmates.
“It’s going to be about being a great leader, about being a role model for students to look up to and influencing them,” he said of the speech he expects to deliver at Saturday’s commencement.
King and Alyncea Hawkins, the salutatorian, will lead the 55 graduating seniors. The program begins at 1 p.m. at the Leflore County Civic Center.
King has a 4.17 grade point average and scored a 21 on the ACT. He is the son of Margetta Johnson and Terrol King.
King said he wanted to recognize two teachers who helped him along the way — Jordan Trudiano, who teaches human anatomy and genetics, and Jerome Petty, a government and economics teacher.
King is a member of the Student Government Association as well as the P-16 Council, a community-based group that addresses educational needs in the community from pre-school to college.
He is a member of the school’s National Honor Society.
King also has been involved with the Students Against Violence Everywhere organization, which seeks peaceful conflict resolution throughout society.
He has also served as a mentor at Leflore County Elementary School, tutoring students in math in his free time.
King has been named a Who’s Who Among All-American Scholars as well as a Delta Scholar.
King played third base on the school’s baseball team.
He also has served as a volunteer with Itta Bena Little League Baseball.
King has received a full four-year scholarship at Mississippi Valley State University, where he plans to major in computer science.
Hawkins said she already developed the theme for her salutatorian address.
“My speech will be more like a welcome. Telling everybody how good it is to be a 2014 graduate. They are welcome to celebrate with us,” she said.
Hawkins has a 4.0 grade point average and scored an 18 on the ACT. She is the daughter of Catrena Hawkins and Royce Jackson.
Hawkins said three English teachers she has had at the school since junior high — Calvin Ivory, Catasha Brown and Cynthia Cooper — helped to inspire her during her years of schooling.
She, like King, also named Trudiano as another teacher who encouraged her during her senior year.
“She does a great job,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins is a member of the National Honor Society.
She also was a member of the National Junior Beta Club while in junior high.
Hawkins played guard on the basketball team.
A member of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church of Itta Bena, Hawkins is active in the church’s many youth programs as well as its Mistress of Ceremonies program.
Hawkins will be attending Rust College in the fall on a full four-year scholarship. She plans to major in social work.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
