Latta High School held Class Night for the Senior Class on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The faculty, staff, and administration congratulate all of our students on their many accomplishments.
Local Academic Awards
The evening began with the announcement of the LHS honor graduates. Salutatorian Janet Fernandez, Valedictorian Lydia George, Honor Graduates Emily Baxley, Bryan Berry, JP Bley, Kayla Bryant, Janet Fernandez, Kate Gasque, Lydia George, Brianna Hayes, Clay Lee, and Jada Vereen were announced. The IPTAY Award winner given in memory of Charlie and Claudia Carmichael was JP Bley. The Female Academic Athlete of the Year was Kaliya Herman. The Male Academic Athlete of the Year was JP Bley.
Students must make the Honor Roll all three grading periods (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Nine Weeks). A * indicates students with all A’s. Seniors recognized were Tania Argueta Rojas*, Madelyn Arnette, Gavin Aubin, Emily Baxley, Bryan Berry, JP Bley*, Lauryn Brumbles, Kayla Bryant*, Hayden Bullard, Trentitee Cooper, Janet Fernandez*, Kei’Na Fore, Kate Gasque*, Lydia George*, Miley Grainger, Ry’Ziah Gurley*, Woodrow Hamilton, Brianna Hayes*, Kaliya Herman, Joshua Howard*, Abigail Jones, Bailey Jordan, Lana Lassiter, Clay Lee*, Phoebe Maciel, Keira Mitschelen, Rhiana Odom, Zackarias Page, Savannah Powers, Cadence Reyes*, Samaya Richardson*, Price Rouse, Reese Rouse, Madison Stevens, Samantha Townsend, Jaelynn Truman*, Adrian Valencia*, Selena Velazquez, Jada Vereen, and Angelina Wilson.
Students were recognized for Academic Awards in subject areas. Students recognized for Academic Excellence are students who have earned superior grades in the subject area. Outstanding Students are students who may not always have the highest grade in the class but who consistently show determination, good attitudes, and leadership qualities in their classrooms. Career and Technology Education & Foreign Language – Academic Excellence – Tania Argueta Rojas, Kate Gasque, Brianna Hayes, Heath Mew, Mason Weatherford, and Adrian Valencia. Outstanding Students – Kate Gasque, Joshua Howard, and Clay Lee. English – Academic Excellence – Lydia George, Savannah Powers, and Samaya Richardson. Outstanding Students – Tania Argueta Rojas and Janet Fernandez. Fine Arts – Academic Excellence – Cadence Reyes. Outstanding Students – James Johnson. Mathematics – Academic Excellence – Lydia George. Outstanding Students – Kayla Bryant, Trenitee Cooper, Kate Gasque, and Samaya Richardson. Physical Education – Academic Excellence – Phoebe Maciel. Outstanding Students – Gavin Aubin. Science – Academic Excellence – Tray Carter, Janet Fernandez, and Ja’Mysia Nails. Outstanding Students – Trenitee Cooper, James Johnson, and Jada Vereen. Social Studies – Academic Excellence – JP Bley, Kate Gasque, Lydia George, Miley Grainger, Cadence Reyes, and Jada Vereen. Outstanding Students – Savannah Powers and Jordan Usher. Seniors who earned scores of 1100/24 or higher on SAT/ACT were Bryan Berry, JP Bley, Janet Fernandez, Kate Gasque, Lydia George, Brianna Hayes, Clay Lee, Henry Miller, and Keira Mitschelen.
Students who participated in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme were announced.
Seniors who participated in the Teacher Cadet program were recognized. The Teacher Cadets were Emily Baxley, Kayla Bryant, Kate Gasque, Lydia George, Lana Lassiter, and Jaelynn Truman.
Horticulture Program completers were Tania Argueta Rojas, Reese Barber, Dixie Baxley, Austin Felter, Kate Gasque, James Johnson, Heath Mew, Price Rouse, Reese Rouse, Zaari Thomas, Samantha Townsend, and Jaelynn Truman.
PLTW Engineering Program completers were Hayden Bullard, Amaiyah Campbell, Austin Felter, Kei’Na Fore, Joshua Howard, Briley Ivey, Seth Lane, Isaiah McRae, Rhiana Odom, Omarley Phillips, Fischer Richardson, and Zaari Thomas.
Vocational completers were recognized. Health Science- Aidyn Clark, Rhiana Odom, Me’Lia Thompson, Angelina Wilson. Emergency Medical Services- Tray Carter, Ty’Quan Drawhorn, and Bailey Jordan. Culinary Arts- Christian Hamilton, Madison Stevens, Jaelynn Truman, and Selena Velazquez. Carpentry- Jayden Alford and Eli Cook. Automotive- Christian Hamilton, Grayson Hayes, James Johnson, Jaydin Leach, and Preston Moore. Mechatronics- Hayden Bullard, Tray Carter, Austin Felter, Devin Gales, Seth Lane, Fischer Richardson, Price Rouse, Zaari Thomas, and Mason Weatherford. Information Technology- Joshua Howard.
Local Citizenship Awards
James Johnson was chosen to receive the Cleveland Bethea Memorial Award. Janet Fernandez and Heath Mew were chosen to receive the Good Citizenship Awards.
National Honors and Awards
Seniors were inducted into several honor societies. Those inducted into the National Honor Society were Tania Argueta Rojas, Madelyn Arnette, Gavin Aubin, Emily Baxley, Bryan Berry, JP Bley, Lauryn Brumbles, Kayla Bryant, Hayden Bullard, Amaiyah Campbell, Aidyn Clark, Austin Felter, Janet Fernandez, Kei’Na Fore, Kate Gasque, Lydia George, Miley Grainger, Ry’Ziah Gurley, Cristian Hamilton, Brianna Hayes, Grayson Hayes, Kaliya Herman, Abigail Jones, Bailey Jordan, Seth Lane, Lana Lassiter, Clay Lee, Phoebe Maciel, Heath Mew, Henry Miller, Rhiana Odom, Zackarias Page, Savannah Powers, Cadence Reyes, Fischer Richardson, Samaya Richardson, Price Rouse, Reese Rouse, Madison Stevens, Me’Lia Thompson, Samantha Townsend, Jaelynn Truman, Jordan Usher, Adrian Valencia, Selena Velazquez, Jada Vereen, and Mason Weatherford. Those inducted into National Technical Honor Society were Jordan Bailey, Aidyn Clark, Rhiana Odom, and Me’Lia Thompson. National Honor Society of Dance Arts- Madelyn Arnette, Lauryn Brumbles, Kate Gasque, Abigail Jones, and Jada Vereen. National Drama Honor Society- Zarya Bethea, Miley Grainger, Abigail Jones, and Me’Lia Thompson.
McLeod Health Volunteer, recognized for 40 hours of volunteer service, was Bailey Jordan.
Latta High FCA Leadership Team- Kate Gasque, Heath Mew, Samantha Townsend, Jaelyn Truman, and Selena Velazquez.
FFA Leadership- Kate Gasque, Lydia George, Abigail Jones, Heath Mew, Clay Lee, Janet Fernandez, Emily Baxley, James Johnson, Devin Gales, and Bailey Jordan.
Military Awards
Military Enlistment- U.S. Army- Christian Hamilton
Winner of the George F. Spradley Scholarship was Heath Mew.
The following students were Delegates of Girls state, Kate Gasque and Kiera Mitschelen. The Boys State Delegates were Heath Mew and Jordan Usher.
Student Publications
The staff of the Lattitude was also recognized – Zarya Bethea, Bailey Jordan, and Samantha Townsend.
School Awards
Merit Scholarships
The following scholarship information was provided to the school by the students. Jayden Alford (Averett Football Athletic Scholarship), Emily Baxley (Francis Marion’s Darla Moore Scholarship), Bryan Berry (Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship), Xy’Mari Bethea (Averett Football Athletic Scholarship), Janet Fernandez (Dean’s Scholars Award), Kei’Na Fore (Provot Scholarship), Kate Gasque (Perdue Associates and Growers Scholarship), Lydia George (Clemson University Merit Scholarship, Palmetto Pact Scholarship), Miley Grainger (Coastal Carolina Presidential Scholarship), Abigail Jones (FMU Academic Achievement Award), Bailey Jordan (Friendship Baptist Scholarship), Lana Lassiter (Coastal Carolina Merit Scholarship), Clay Lee (USC – Dean’s Scholar Merit Scholarship), Heath Mew (Bruce Welge Scholarship, Issac Dunlap & Maxine D. McIntyre Scholarship, North Greenville University President’s Scholarship, South Carolina Baptist Scholarship, and The 8th William Cecil Fore and Alexander Fore Scholarship), Savannah Powers (Lander University’s In-State Merit Award), Samaya Richardson (Gamecocks Guarantee Grant, USC – Institutional Grant), and Samantha Townsend (Columbia International University Softball Scholarship).
Community Scholarships
Bryan Berry, Janet Fernandez, Kate Gasque, Lydia George, and Clay Lee qualified for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. (This scholarship is tentative and is awarded by the institution after receiving approval from CHE that all qualifications are met for this scholarship.) Douglas Parham Scholarship to Samaya Richardson. Jamison Ray Memorial Scholarship to Jordan Usher. David H. Shuttleworth Scholarship to Ry’Ziah Gurley. Latta Rotary Club Scholarships to Heath Mew and Jordan Usher. The FMU & Communities for Dillon County (Latta Community Scholarship) to Gavin Aubin and Hayden Bullard. Rosanna D. King Memorial Scholarship to Jada Vereen. Alan Schafer Scholarship to Kate Gasque. McRae Lawn Service Scholarship to Amiyah Campbell. Ruiz 4 Kids Scholarship to Lydia George. Silent Servant Award to Madelyn Arnette. Latta Memorial Scholarship to Abigail Jones. Hair In Motion Scholarship to Amaiyah Campbell and Samaya Richardson. Moses and Martha Heyward Scholarship to Keira Mitschelen. Ellis Family Scholarship to Kate Gasque and Omarley Phillips. John & Vicki Kirby Scholarship to Tania Arguetta Rojas and Lana Lassister. Fred & Bonnie Ellis Scholarship to Landon Waugh and Mitschelen. Geraldine Ard Memorial Scholarship to Emily Baxley. Eddie Rice Athletic Scholarship to Bryan Berry. Neal A Berry Memorial Scholarship to Amiyah Campbell. Lou Ellen Bethea Scholarship to Samaya Richardson. Rev Fest Bethea Scholarship to Kate Gasque. Seba Stoudenmire Scholarship to Kate Gasque. Lou Stoudenmire Scholarship to Ja’Mysia Nails. Alex “Buddy” Johnson Baseball Scholarship to Bryan Berry, Fischer Richardson, and Mason Weatherford. FBi Construction Scholarship to Bryan Berry. Kathryn George Frost Leadership Scholarship to Kate Gasque and Lydia George. Hugh Watson Memorial Scholarship to Jayden Alford. Class of 1996- Journey Scholarship to Tania Argueta Rojas. Buddy and Mickey Johnson Scholarship to Jada Vereen. Heart of Service Scholarship to Amiyah Campbell and Jordan Usher. Meeting Street Finalists are Janet Fernandez, Kate Gasque, Ry’Ziah Gurley, Clay Lee, and Samaya Richardson. Vicki & John Kirby Performing Arts Scholarship to Emily Baxley- Art, Aidyn Clark- Music, Jada Vereen- Dance, and Miley Grainger- Drama. Jason Brown Memorial Scholarship to Lydia George. Teacher Fellows Scholarship to Emily Baxley. SC State Fair Ride of Your Life Scholarship to Kate Gasque. Ella Mae Rose Scholarship to Zarya Bethea and Lydia George. Branch Family Scholarship to Clay Lee. The Business and Professional Women Scholarship to Jada Vereen. And the Margaret McKinney Legacy Scholarship to Brianna Hayes.
Heart of the Viking
The Heart of the Viking award is given to a student who exemplifies the spirit of Latta High School. This student should embody the best qualities of a Latta High School student. The recipient chosen this year was Jaelynn Truman.
The administration, faculty, and staff congratulate the Class of 2026 on all of their accomplishments and send them best wishes on their future endeavors.
LATTA HIGH SCHOOL
Lydia Helen George, Valedictorian
Janet Fernandez, Salutatorian
Kate Elizabeth Gasque, Third Honor Graduate
