Prescott High School Seniors took a picture with guest speaker Arkansas State Senator Joyce Elliott at the 51st Annual Prescott Kiwanis Honors Banquet.

Prescott Kiwanis held their 51st Annual Honors Banquet in the Prescott Middle School Cafeteria last night to recognize numerous students for their outstanding achievements in academics.

Kiwanis President Bonnie Pruitt welcomed the audience, and after guests were treated to a hearty meal of chicken wings, barbecue brisket, pasta salad, fruit, veggies, and cake, Kiwanis Secretary Hyacinth Deon introduced the night's guest speaker, Arkansas State Senator Joyce Elliott. "I have been acquainted with this lady for over 30 years and have known her to be a champion for equitable education opportunities for all children in Arkansas," Deon said.

Elliott then took the podium and encouraged the honorees to become leaders in their home state of Arkansas and suggested four things for them to consider in that endeavor: empathy, resilience/persistence, humility, and civic engagement. "We need leaders from your generation," Elliott told them. After explaining and giving examples of her four tenants of leadership, she expressed appreciation to the students for their accomplishments and the Kiwanis members for recognizing the students' achievements. "Young people, I'm so proud of you," Elliott said. "All of the adults, thank you so much for caring enough about these young people to let them know how much you love them, how much you respect them, and how much we know you [students] are a great hope for the future for all of us."

Kiwanis member Howard Austin then recognized Key Club sponsor Janet Banister and thanked her for all her hard work and dedication. Banister expressed to the audience her appreciation for the great students at Prescott and the commitment of the Kiwanis Club to the town and school. She then shared some of the activities of Key Club: cleaning the highway, Christmas shopping for children, assisting with the yearly pancake supper, participating in Teacher Appreciation Week, sponsoring a blood drive, and more. Banister then introduced to guests two Key Club officers, President Olivia Cornelius and Vice President Chloe Grimes.

Next, Austin presented to Principal Tommy Poole a plaque which listed all of the student honorees for the year. Poole told students, "You earned this. The criteria you have to meet to get your name here is something to be proud of, and I'm proud of each one of you."

For the highlight of the night, Tish Jones read out the student honoree names, while her fellow Kiwanians Tammy Armstrong and Judy Duke handed out the certificates of achievement. The seniors being recognized were also presented with gift sets of pens with the Kiwanis emblem. All students wore happy smiles as they were called to the front to receive their certificates and pose for pictures.

Each student who was honored last night earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 with no less than a 3.6 GPA for the previous semester. The full list of student honorees at the 51st Annual Kiwanis Honor Banquet are as follows:

Seniors
Ra’Shawn Bell
Tatum Jarvis
Aydan Bullinger
Lillian McKinnon
Olivia Cornelius
Carston Poole
Caden Dice
Gabryel Rodgers
Chloe Grimes

Juniors
Marnie Buck
Rocco Loe
Zareah Colbert
Eli Lowdermilk
Karleigh Cole
Raegan McKinnon
Georgia Crain
Rocco Patrick
Drew Foley
Roy Peachey
Dylan Foley
John Rabadan
Gavin Hatley
Talan Smith
Lily Koger
Alanie Spratt
Baleigh Laughard

Sophomores
Richard Benton
Zackary Laughard
Kensley Chalmers
Marketric Mixon
Lakyn Crayne
Cimarron Phillips
Jace Cummings
Caytlee Poole
Padrin Davis
Autumn Sullivan
Carlee Glass
Braden Williams
Breanna Haddix
Derrius Williams
Gabriella Irvin
Isabella Wingfield
Grayson Jackson