York High School will have 254 students honored with diplomas Friday.
The class of 2014 will be honored in a commencement ceremony 3:30 p.m. Friday at William & Mary Hall.
The seniors, 50 of whom garnered scholarships that totaled more than $4.5 million, will have 49 percent of their class attend four-year colleges in the fall. The class will also send 31 percent of the seniors to two-year colleges and 5 percent into the military. Click here for a full list of scholarships.
Shi Jia Wang, the valedictorian, plans to attend the University of Virginia in the fall. While the class’ salutatorian, Lilly Marie Grella will head to Washington and Lee University.
Read Wang’s and Grella’s answers to a questionnaire from the York County School Division and a full list of graduates below.
Shi Jia Wang, valedictorian
1. Age: 18
2. Parents: Jian Wang and XiaoHua Wang
3. GPA: 4.9183
4. High School Extracurricular activities: Scholastic Bowl, FBLA, Science Fair
5. Community Involvement: Tabb Public Library
6. College attending: University of Virginia
7. Studying/Major: Economics
8. Name one thing you learned in high school that you didn’t expect to learn: IB is not love, it is the hammer with which we crush ignorance
9. Name one person who has influenced you and why: My grandmother instilled in me the virtues of dedication and diligence
10. Is there a teacher you would most like to thank and why: Ms. Miller for giving us excellent classes in my weakest subject for 2 years
11. Favorite quote or catchphrase: “I am become Vishnu, destroyer of worlds”
12. Most cherished high school memory: Mr. MacGuinness’s video and music projects revealed our inner performance talents
Lilly Marie Grella, salutatorian
1. Age: 18
2. Parents: Patti and Carmine Grella
3. GPA: 4.8774
4. High School Extracurricular activities: School of the Arts, Odyssey of the Mind, Honor Societies, Autism Awareness Club, Piano player
5. Community Involvement: I worked two consecutive summers with the Appalachian Service Project; I tutor children in math and english; and I was a volunteer for the Gatewood PEEP carnival, a festival that provided fun activities for special needs children and their families.
6. College attending: Washington and Lee University
7. Studying/Major: International Affairs/Political Science
8. Name one thing you learned in high school that you didn’t expect to learn: Unconventional paths are sometimes the most fulfilling.
9. Name one person who has influenced you and why: Mona Grella, one of my grandmothers, has had an enormous impact on my life. I have learned, through her, that no matter what trials you may go through, it is possible to push through and be a stronger, more loving individual. Nancy Dinkins, my other grandmother, has allowed me to become the person I am today as she represents the type of person I want to be when I grow up. With both of my grandmothers’ loving and magnanimous personalities, I have learned what qualities to yearn for as person.
10. Is there a teacher you would most like to thank and why: Dr. Jaime Miller. I credit my high school success to the one and only Dr. Miller. She has provided me with the skill set I needed to not just go far in my high school career but to also succeed in life. I would not trade the time I spent in her class for anything. Thank you so very much Dr. Miller for all you have done for me and many other York High students.
11. Favorite quote or catchphrase: Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity or Little by little one walks far.
12. Most cherished high school memory: Proving to others that a petite girl can use power tools and master carpentry and being able to show off those construction skills by taking on the role of Master Carpenter in Young Frankenstein at the School of the Arts.
Below is a full list of graduates in the class of 2014 and the top 10 colleges chosen:
Kyle Brian Abbott
Derik Ryan Adams
Taylor Nicole Adams
Daniel Ulysses Akers
Joshua Gabil Alers Varela
Teresa Alvarez Moreno
Adam Kenneth Arno
Jacob William Arno
Huma Ashai
Samontae Travon Bailey
Chase Ryan Baldwin
Destiny Renee Banks
Stephanie Marie Barker
Lia Moreen Batchelor
Stevie Marie Benavidez
Michael Benjamin Bennis
Taylor Lawrence Blanton
Catherine Lesley Boggs
Kymyra Ashante’ Boston
Michael Connor Brackney
Heather Leeann Brinkley
Brittney Leigh Brown
Ethan Gray Buck
A’Leah Nicole Burrell
Madison Monroe Busby
Caelan Dentrell Campbell
Hannah Elizabeth Campbell
Brianna Alyanna Cannon
Lauren True Carter
Claire Kathleen Cecil
Cailin Regina Chaloux
Jessica Lakshmi Chandrasekhar
Charity Amanda Choice
Sophie Victoria Cienski
Benjamin Cintron III
Cassidy Logan Clements
Caroline Elizabeth Coburn
Connor Isaiah Cole
Joseph Bradley Coleman
Brookelyn Nicole Collier
Morgan Brittney Collins
Dane Alexander Conley
Kathryn Eileen Conlon
Dawson Edward Connell
Anne Mills Conner
Tatum Alexandra Conner
Jewel Alyssa Cooke
Brian Lefebvre Corey
Amanda Rae Daly
Joseph Edward Daly
Hunter Charles Davenport
Seth Michael Dawson
Samantha Faye Dempsey
Thomas Edward Denardi Jr
Kayla Nicole Dianna
Samantha Annie Dow
Trenton Paul Dringenberg
Timothy Ray Duffer
Brice Riley Duncan
Khalil Rashid Duncan
Caroline Ann Edwards
Robert Cruise Edwards
Sandra Lucinda Grace Edwards-Thro
Kemp Wilson Estes
Paul Lawson Evans III
Bridget Ann Evans
Carlie Noel Fairbanks
Stevie Dare Faust
Shaina Marie Ferguson
Edward Chapman Field
Wayne Andrew Fields III
Jacob John Fowler
Somer Nichole French
Alexander Chase Frielingsdorf
Ashley Nicole Gailey
Jeet Minesh Kumar Gajjar
Sidney Alexandrea Garrett
D’MareiyÄ Edward Gay
Ileana Vallecillo Geary
Benjamin Thomas Gianturco
Katie Ashley Gilley
Gabrielle Alyse Gittens
Leah Brie Gittens
Tristan Gabriel Gonzalez
Ian James Gordon
Lilly Marie Grella
Rachel Simone Hale
Kierstin Marie Hall
Anthony William Hamel
Julia Jean Hare
Victoria Lynn Harlow
Joshua Carlyle Harris
Tori Chanise Harris
Mikayla Elaine Hart
Hannah Elizabeth Hartman
Kendra Brianne Haseleu
Marchelle May Hatchett
Allan Hunter Hautz
Hannah Elizabeth Hautz
Emma Elizabeth Heath
Murphy Kalyn Heist
Chad McCelland Hensberger
Jared Dwain Henson
Michelle Elisabeth Hermes
Christian Robert Hodson
Anna Alesia Wills Holck
Symone Kimeka Holliday
Amelia Rose Holt
Arianna Christine Honstetter
Van Davis Hooker
Jena Nicole Hopkins
Kimberly Ann Horner
Nicholas Ray Hornung
Abigail Elizabeth Hunt
Michael Christopher Ingalls
Katherine Elizabeth Jacoby
Thomas Glenn Jamerson
Da’Shawn Lemaine James
Beverly Renee Jester
Gabrielle Noel Johanek
Alicia Marie Johns
Kara Veronica Johnson
Savannah James Johnson
Alexandra Maye Jones
Pasche’ Shaquata Jones
Rebekah Rose Jones
Trevor Allen Kelly
Benjamin Sky Kempton
Soo Bin Kim
Svetlana Nicole Kistler
Brendan Christian Klein
Zane Cabrera Knight
Kiara Leigh Kocsis
Marisa Nicole Kohler
Ryan Michael Krank
Amber Nicole Krause
Daniel Conway Lambert
Chad Alexander Latulipe
Kaitlyn Danielle Leach
Brian Quinn Lee
Catherine Hunter Longacre
Anne Catherine Louden
Amber Nicolle Lydecker
Alec Tyler Mang
Shannon Renae Mann
Jacob Aaron Martin
Molly Anne Martin
Dalton Michael James Mason
Kevin Michael Mastracci
Mark Anthony Joseph Maxim
Loren Nicole McAdams
Roisin A. Mary McCabe
Haleigh Rae Middlebrooks
Isaiah Daniel Miles
Elliott Alan Miller
Rebecca Joyce Mitchell
Samuel Allen Moninger
Jacob Tyler Morse
Jonathan David Moulton
Katarina Rachiell Nadjkovic
Joel David Neville
Patrick James Nichols
Shane Mitchell Nuckols
Krystal Alejandra Ortiz
Cameron Gerald Ouellette
Ronica Mukesh Patel
Vishan Amish Patel
Gabrielle Mariah Patrick
Dominique Brianna Jonae Payne
Priscilla Lauren Pence
Armand Edward Perry
Leslie Deanna Petty
Elizabeth Anne Philipps
Emily Ann Philpott
Nicole Rae Pierce
Justin Kyle Porter
Monico Maxim Ramos
Christopher Jay Rankin
Jordan Elizabeth Rath
Tristan Michael Rathbun
Walter Henry Rausch III
Marissa Theresa Reilly
Brady Wallis Reisch
Malcolm Jamex Reynolds
Alexis LaVonne Ricks
Thomas Jay Rinderle
Connor James Rinoski
Syed Abid Rizvi
Alexa Kelli Robb
Robert Dean Roberts II
Christopher Andrew Rock
Madeline Mae Rogerson
Jeremiah Malone Rosa-Peoples
Sven Montray Ross
Ashley Lynn Royal
Michelle Katherine Runnels
Johnathan Ray Russell
Taryn Brooke Salyers
Ramon Franzuela Santiago
Sloane Gabriele Sarabia
Parker Green Schrum
Emily Victoria Shelton
Darrell Ervin Shields-Brisbon
Devin Michael Shoop
Caitlyn Jean Elizabeth Short
Imani Briannah Simmons
Helena Marie Slate
Kristin Rae Smith
Melecca Dorothea Smith
Jordan Alan Snyder
Nathan Andrew Sobba
Brett Dennis Sommers
Ryan Marcus Sorel
Hunter Eubank Spencer
Cara Marie Stablein
Taylor Marie Stanley
Raleak De’Shawn Stewart
Bruce Hunter Strack
Matthew Garrett Tanner
Sabrina Moranda Tasky
Cheyenne Mackenzie Taylor
Kyle Lee Taylor
Katherine Jane Thompson
Nanavale Margarita Toma
Colby Martin Tran
Kali Leann Tran
Kaila Brittany Trawitzki
Hannah Elisabeth Noble Treacy
Bethany Nicole Vaught
Madison Hope Voirol
Jessi Rae Volkers
Breana Abigail Vylonis
Marcus Andrew Wakelyn
Adara Chanise Walker
Emily Sarah Walsh
Shi Jia Wang
Elizabeth Ann Watt
Alexa Marie Weaver
Kelsey Michelle Weis
Jared Arlen Wells-Sadowski
Ellen Catherine Westby
Arthur David Wiedemann
Cassandra Molina Wiggins
Steven Cody Williams
Kristen Ann Williamson
Steven Yun Woodard
Brittany Nicole Woodman
Alaina Makel Woolley
James Robert Wright
Taylor Marie Wynne
Correy Albert Xu
Jonathan Michael Yeo
Madison Faith Young
Haley Elizabeth-Lynn Zarkos
Top 10 Colleges
Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, James Madison University, Old Dominion University, Radford Unversity, The College of William and Mary, Thomas Nelson Community College, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University
Senior Class Officers:
President: Huma Ashai
Vice President: Symone Holliday
Secretary: Michelle Hermes
Treasurer: Lauren Carter
Historian: Cassidy Clements
Senior Class Representatives: Hannah Hautz & Alec Mang
