Cathedral SChool NatChez

– Number of graduates: 38

– Number of students going to 4-year colleges: 32

– Number of students going to community colleges: 6

– Number of scholarship recipients: 32

– Largest scholarship awarded: $90,000

– Notable next steps: United States Army –Wyatt Fair

– Total amount of scholarship money offered: $2,101,656

– Total amount of scholarship money accepted: $1,087,014

– Total amount of service hours: 5,900 total for the four years of high school, with 25 seniors receiving the Exemplary Service Award

– Notable service projects: Honor Society Coat Drive – Members organized an extremely successful campus wide coat drive from November 28 – December 18, 2023. Then, students organized the donated coats by size and transported them to The Natchez Stewpot where they distributed coats to those in need.

– STAR Student/Teacher Award: Will Welch and Mrs. Jean Biglane

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL NATCHEZ VALEDICTORIAN:

MARISSA RILEY STARR

GPA: 4.35 – ACT: 30

From her speech: Setting high expectations has been a cornerstone of our education here at Cathedral. Our teachers have pushed us to excel academically, spiritually and morally, inspiring us to become the best versions of ourselves. Through our education, we have been given the tools necessary to continue on this journey. High expectations are like our own personal compass. They guide us, motivate us, and help us navigate the ups and downs of life. They challenge us to strive for excellence, even when the road ahead seems daunting. Setting high expectations means having the audacity to dream big, to believe in ourselves and to be unafraid of failure. After all, as the saying goes, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

Church: Our Lady of Lourdes, Vidalia, Louisiana

Favorite service project: My favorite service project was the coat drive for the National Honor Society. It was a thrill to see how happy people in need were to choose coats from the piles. Some even took whole bags with them. I got to enjoy the experience of helping others with my friends, which made the project that much better. It was a wonderful way to bring the Society together to benefit the community.

Plans to attend: William Carey University

Plans to study: Nursing An-

Esthesiology

Scholarships: William Carey University Trustee Scholarship ($9,300/year); David G. Hall, M.D. and Christina W. Hall, R.N. Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships offered, but not using: Mississippi State University ($5,000/year); University of Mississippi ($5,500/year); University of Southern Mississippi ($7,000/year); Copiah Lincoln Community College President’s Scholarship ($1,750/semester)

Awards/honors: CARE Award (9-11); SAINT Award (12); Valedictorian; Exemplary Service; Betsy James Memorial Scholarship (10); Principal’s List (9-12); Highest Average Award (all classes except Pre-Calculus and College Algebra); Sophomore Class Representative; Junior Class President; National Honor Society President (12); Golf’s Most Valuable Golfer Award (11)

Activities: Golf (9, 11); National Honor Society (10-12); Peer Ministry (11-12); Key Club (9); Science Olympiad (10); Student Government (10-11)

Favorite subject: Science (especially Anatomy and Physiology)

SALUTATORIAN: JACKSON PARKE LEWIS

GPA: 4.28 – ACT: 30

From his speech: I believe that the class of 2023 has achieved these requirements to be considered winners. Though only one of us can be ranked first in our class, we are all winners tonight. Whether you are standing here to give a speech or simply watching me nervously stumble on my words, we will all leave here with a diploma. That is something that we should all be proud of. With that being said, I want to congratulate you all for working tirelessly to get here and for all of the accom- plishments you have achieved. I also want to thank all of our friends, family and faculty because we could not have done any of it without them.

We must also thank God for getting us here today. Cathedral has instilled each of us with a firm faith that should be a guiding light in all we do.

As we move on to the next stages of our lives, let us remember all of the memories we have made and the lessons that we have learned. I know that in all we set out to do, our class will always be winners!

Church: First Baptist of Natchez

Favorite service project: Hunters for the Hungry/Stewpot – I believe feeding the hungry is a must, and I am grateful to assist those in need of food.

Plans to attend: Mississippi State University

Plans to study: Civil Engineering

Scholarships: Freshman Academic Scholarship $20,000; Colvard Future Leaders $10,000; Mississippi State Salutatorian $4,000; Rotary of Natchez $2,000; Mississippi Eminent Scholar $10,000; Key Club $250; George and Ninette Junkin Memorial Scholarship $670; Southern Ag Credit $1,000 – $52,920 Total

Awards/honors: Senior year team Captain on Baseball and Football team; Most Improved Football player junior year; SAINT Award – 1st nine weeks senior year; Principal’s list – each year at Cathedral School

Activities: Varsity Baseball and Football

Favorite subject: AP Calculus