Mack Lyon 8th grade girls enjoy the class awards ceremony held in the school gym on May 31. Photo by Vernon Robison.

By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

The members of the outgoing eighth grade class at Mack Lyon Elementary School were honored at a special awards ceremony held on Tuesday, May 31 in the school’s gymnasium. Each student in the class of 131 kids was presented a certificate of advancement from middle school as they will be moving on to Moapa Valley High School in the fall.

In his introductory remarks, principal Rod Adams said he couldn’t help but become emotional when he reflected on this group of students.

“This class is the first group of students that I have seen all the way through from sixth to eighth grade as their principal,” said Adams who has served as principal at Lyon since the fall of 2007.

“Our job (at the Middle School) was to push you to greater heights,” Adams told students. “You have met every challenge with hard work. It has been awesome to work with you.”

Select students were called up from the audience to receive special awards for academic achievement. The President’s Award for Education Improvement requiring a GPA of 3.5-3.79 had 20 recipients. The President’s Award for Education Excellence requiring a GPA of over 3.8 was awarded to 24 students.

Mack Lyon Middle School 8th graders, Austin Leavitt and Josie Henrie follow a procession into the school gym at the beginning of the school’s 8th grade awards night ceremonies.

Each faculty department presented awards for excellence in its specific coursework. The Reading award went to Jared Sailsbery. The Math Department presented awards in three categories: Mathematics awarded to Marissa Perez; Academics awarded to Timothy Twelker and Marisa Black; and Technology awarded to McKay Wilson. The Science Department awarded two categories: Science awarded to Alyssa Talbot; and Citizenship which went to Bruno Reyes and Marissa Hardy. The English Department included three categories: Writing awarded to Isabella Wahl; Leadership awarded to Spencer Baker and Sarah Davis; and Fine Arts awarded to Josephina Romero. The Social Studies Department presented three categories: History awarded to Mackenzie Nelson; Service awarded to Tanner James and Taylor Cordaro; and Effort awarded to Kirby May and Tahnee German.

Chaz Cornwall and Jayden St. John were presented with the Mustang Pride Award, a student’s choice award which is meant to recognize leadership, school spirit and good citizenship in the school.

Members of community organizations were also in attendance to present special scholarship awards to selected students.

The local post of the American Legion presented its award for courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service to Katie Frehner and Kaleb Bodily. This award included a certificate and $50.

The Moapa Valley Rotary Club presented an award for Great Character to Kadyn Griffiths. The award included a plaque and a $100 savings bond.

The Grant M. Bowler award for the student most involved in school activities went to Marisa Black. The award was a plaque and $50.

The Awards program ended with a slide show featuring photo of each grader first as babies then with present photographs.