Last Thursday evening, several hundred guests attended Bath Elementary School’s eighth-grade promotion ceremony, which was held at Northside High School.

Jo Ann Krantz played the processional and recessional music and directed the Junior High Chorus, singing “Firework” by Katy Perry. Machelle Sanders, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Administration, was the guest speaker.

Brian Swain, principal, introduced Sanders and presented several student awards.

Perfect Attendance Awards were presented to Natalie Alligood, Tyler Harris and Megan Windley. The Joel Taylor Respect Awards, honoring former Bath student, Joel Taylor, who died in Iraq, were presented to Sean Hopkins and Ethan Jordan. The Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards went to Tyler Modlin and Anna Taylor. Colonial Book Club Citizenship Awards were presented to Ryan Cornelius and Kyndall Seger. Leadership Awards were presented to Katie Godley and Gavin Rayburn. The Principal’s Awards went to Natalie Alligood and Cameron Craig. The Music Award, honoring the memory of Gail Fulp, was given to Acacia West. The North Carolina History Award, honoring the memory of John Oden and given by the Beaufort County Genealogical Association, was presented to Anna Taylor. The Earl Respess Service Awards, which are given by Tommy and Laurie Respess in honor the late Earl Respess, went to Nick Baker and Lilly Wallace.

The Best All-Around Awards are voted on by the eighth-grade students. They went to Taylor Chase and Tyler Modlin. The Joel Tetterton “Caught Caring” Awards, which are given in the memory of Joel Tetterton, a former Bath Elementary student and given by the family, were presented to Josh Hennasey and Allison Williams. The Perseverance Awards were presented to Natalie Asby and Daniel Smith. Also honored for their participation in this year’s Science Olympiad competition were Natalie Alligood, Caleb Alligood, Natalie Asby, Caroline Boyd, Katie Godley, Tyler Harris, Tyler Modlin, Gavin Rayburn, Anna Taylor, Sam Vansant and Bethany Waters.

Swain then presented the academic awards for the following: fourth highest average – Bethany Waters; third highest average – Katie Godley; salutatorian – Caroline Boyd; and valedictorian – Anna Taylor.

The seventh-grade marshals were: Karen Maldonado (chief), Kaleigh Jordan, Lauren Burbage, Caden Mrkva, Keifer Boyd, Gabe Wynne, Aliyah Jones, Caroline Briley, Alleigh Sadler and Olivia Briley. Bath Elementary staff, Melissa Boyd and Timothy Smith presented the Certificates of Promotion. Assistant Principal Candice Strickland gave the closing remarks.