From Bath Elementary School

On June 9, 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 “Wherever I Go” by Andrew Dodd and Adam Watts. G. Galen Braddy was the guest speaker. Brian Swain, principal, introduced Braddy and presented several student awards.

Perfect Attendance Awards were presented to Jamari Spencer and Isaiah Jordan. The Joel Taylor Respect Awards, honoring former Bath student, Joel Taylor, who died in Iraq, were presented to Jada Woolard and Trent Linton. The Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards went to Gracie Whitesell and Matthew Adams. Colonial Book Club Citizenship Awards were presented to Sierra Johnson and Cade Wallace. Leadership Awards were presented to Ashlee Rasmussen and Brody Hagen. The Principal’s Awards went to Hope Barber and Jaden Briley. The Music Award, honoring the memory of Gail Fulp, was given to Adonnika West. The North Carolina History Award, honoring the memory of John Oden and given by the Beaufort County Genealogical Association, was presented to Gracie Whitesell. The Earl Respess Service Awards, which are given by Tommy and Laurie Respess in honor the late Earl Respess, went to Kanysha Satchell and Somer Wetherington. The eighth-grade students vote on the Best All-Around Awards. They went to Grace Armstrong and Matthew Adams. 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 Jackie Lopez and Max Geritz. The Perseverance Awards were presented to Megan Huettmann and Ernesto Perez.

Swain asked the 32 members of the Junior Beta Club from this year’s eighth-grade class to rise and receive recognition for their accomplishments. Also honored for their participation in this year’s Science Olympiad Competition were Lexi Gibbs, Madeleine Mombaerts and Gracie Whitesell.

Swain then presented the academic awards for the following: fourth-highest average, Sarabeth Boyd; third-highest average, Hope Barber and Ashlee Rasmussen; salutatorian, Gracie Whitesell; and valedictorian, Grace Armstrong. The seventh-grade marshals were: Caroline Boyd (chief), Natalie Alligood, Bethany Waters, Sam Vansant, Anna Taylor, Natalie Asby, Caleb Alligood, Rachel Crets, Katie Godley and Tyler Modlin. Bath Elementary staff members Melissa Boyd and Tim Smith presented the Certificates of Promotion. Assistant Principal Candice Strickland gave the closing remarks.