Bruton High School will be the first of York County School Division’s four high schools to host its commencement ceremony, graduating 153 students Friday morning.
The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. Friday, the first of four that day at William & Mary Hall.
The class of 2014 will have 55 percent of its students attend four-year colleges, 35 percent at two-year colleges, and 3 percent in the military.
The class earned more than $1.4 million in scholarships spread across 43 graduates. Click here for a full list of scholarships given to Bruton High students.
Erin Morrow, who will attend Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music in the fall, is the 2014 valedictorian. University of Virginia-bound Kassie Abbinanti is the salutatorian.
Read Morrow’s and Abbinanti’s answers to a YCSD questionnaire and a full list of graduates below.
Erin Morrow, valedictorian
Erin Morrow
1. Age: 18
2. Parents: JoAnn and Keith Morrow
3. GPA: 4.7142
4. High School Extracurricular activities: Key Club, Chemistry Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, French club, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Bruton High school concert and marching band, SCA secretary, Bruton Field Hockey team, Bruton Swim team.
5. Community involvement: Williamsburg Aquatic Club, Williamsburg Youth Orchestra, Flute Frenzy
6. College attending: Vanderbilt University-Blair School of Music
7. Studying/Major: Flute Performance
8. Name one thing you learned in high school that you didn’t expect to learn: I learned that you can’t take things for granted because high school and life go by really fast. That lesson isn’t something teachers can teach you in a classroom but something you learn through experience throughout the years in high school.
9. Name one person who has influenced you and why: One person who has influenced me is my best friend Cody. He has taught me that the impossible is possible and that you define your own life. You can have the worse sickness in the world but still live your life and live it to the fullest. Cody has a disability but has never given up. He always has these huge dreams and works towards bigger and better things everyday, and he has taught me to do that as well.
10. Is there a teacher you would most like to thank and why: I want to thank all my teachers because without every single one of them, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I wouldn’t have been able to push myself as hard as I did throughout my high school career. They all supported me and kept me working hard so I could be the best student and person I could be.
11. Favorite quote or catchphrase: “Life’s not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Unknown
12. Most cherished high school memory: My most cherished high school memory was my last field hockey game played with the Bruton High School field hockey team. I remember everyone crying because it was over and all of the seniors who had become my family staying on the field together for the very last time. We sat in the field hockey cage and prayed and cried together as that chapter in our life came to a close. Then, I remember hearing the lights buzz on the pit for the very last time. There are so many memories I hold dearly to my heart from field hockey and that team.
Kassie Abbinanti, salutatorian
Kassie Abbinanti
1. Age: 17
2. Parents: David and Lisa Abbinanti
3. GPA: 4.7
4. High School Extracurricular activities: Student Council Association (President), National Honor Society (Treasurer), Math Honor Society, Chemistry Honor Society, Key Club, Health Occupational Students of America, Scholastic Bowl, Model United Nations, Soccer (Captain) and Field Hockey (Captain).
5. Community involvement: Member of the York County Youth Commission, junior volunteer at Sentara Regional Medical center, member of the Peninsula Youth Field Hockey Association.
6. College attending: University of Virginia
7. Studying/Major: Foreign Affairs
8. Name one thing you learned in high school that you didn’t expect to learn: After countless hours of staying up late, I learned how important sleep is!
9. Name one person who has influenced you and why: My high school and club field hockey coach, Joe Dougherty, has influenced me to the upmost degree. He has taught me how to push myself to the limit, both physically and mentally. Thank you, Coach Joe, for teaching me how to prevail through obstacles and strive to reach my goals.
10. Is there a teacher you would most like to thank and why: I would like to thank every teacher at Bruton for their dedication and compassion. Mr. Jacobson, thank you for not only being one of the best history teachers I’ve had but also the most entertaining story-teller and understanding SCA sponsor. Ms. Hart, I would like to thank you for helping me become a better writer and for encouraging me to push myself. Ms. Milne, thank you for acting as a role model and mentor for not only myself but our whole class.
11. Favorite quote or catchphrase: “You will find the key to success under the alarm clock.” –Benjamin Franklin
12. Most cherished high school memory: My most cherished high school memory was playing field hockey at Bruton for the past four years. From hearing my coach say “God Bless America” on the sidelines to our pre-game talks, these are memories I will never forget. My teammates became my sisters, and my coach, Joe Dougherty, became our second father. The team chemistry was unexplainable, and together we were able to have winning seasons. After our last game, the seniors sat in the goal of “The Pit” crying and looking back on the past four years-these memories created will last a lifetime.
Below is the full list of graduates in the class of 2014 and their top 10 colleges:
Kassie Marie Abbinanti
Adrion Key’Shawn Alexander
Jonathan William Armstead
Bryce Andrew Baker
Ian Thomas Ballou
Hakeem Anthony Bargaineer
Diamond Montoya Bartlett
Emily Austin Battleson
Vanessa Angelique Beltran
Chase Harrison Boyer
Corinne Elise Brown
Darius Da’Shawn Brown
Jumanne Kitwana Brown
Aubrey Catherine Buck
Ta’Shara Mache Bully
Delaney Martineau Burgett
Alexis Mariah Calloway
Jason Michael Campbell
Marcus Deion Carter
Howard Craig Carver Jr
Phillip Michael Condra
Jacob Edward Cook
Jordan Mae Cook
Andrew John Cooper
J’son Devon Cooper Ochoa
Taryn Jade Cornman
Anika Starr Corsi
Clinton DeCarlo Cowles Jr
Alexandra Talbott Craven
Jessica Lynn Curtin
Melkwon Unique Dailey
Maya Cait Degenhart
Parker James Dickman
Victoria Danielle Diesburg
Jennifer Christine Doak
Jade Ko’Asia Doucet
Kapri D’Shanti Doucet
Dorothy Anne Douglas
Kacey Elaine Ducey
Malik Ellis
Bradley Neal Ellington
Avion Darnell Etheridge
Maurice Nashon Evans
Alexis Christine Ferebee
Zoe Nicole Ferebee
Molly Elizabeth Feser
Joemanjy Lee Figueroa Lorenzana
Nicholas Scott Flanagan
Charles Alexander Ford
Nadia Alyssa Frazier
Sierra Nicole Fry
Lexi Skylar Frye
Austin Perez Gardner
Haley Leanne Gardner
Shyheim Tre’Von Gayles
Matthew David Gholson
Ilana Antwanette Nicole Graham
Cullen Reid Green
Robert Bradley Gust
Taylor Delane Harris
Hawes Cole Helwig
Ariana Noelle Hernandez
Tomas Gordon Hert
Amyiah Chintia Hillian
Angelica Kyanne Schuberth Hilstrom
Jessica Leigh Holmes
Katherine Delano Horn
Brittany Michael Horne
Trudy Michelle Hannah Horsting
Cody Ray Jackson
Jonice Quintina Jackson
Breanna Rose Jarvis
Kayla Loren Jones
Tyler Scott Kempton
Freddie Assante Kenny
Justin Lee Knight
Shantel Tyona Lawson
Elizabeth Alayne Lee
Larenzo Miguel Legaspi
Dillon Alan Mabe
Kyle Christopher Mackem
Jessica Diane Madden
Reina Ellen Malpica
R’landa Ashante Mapp
Jesse David McCue-Gomes
Kevin William McCummings
David Zachary-Walter McFatridge
Kyle Ernest McLaughlin
Peter Lawrence McReynolds
Kiana Nichole Medina
Bailey Nicole Menge
Jonann Elizabeth Michael
Kyle Christopher Mielczarek
Mariah Janet Minns
Jonathan Dalton Mitchell
Kurt Leonard Mittmann
Zachery Allen Moler
James Robert Monk
Timothy Dalton Moore
Erin Elisabeth Morrow
Devonta Leonard Nazareth
Leontee’ Lamont Neil
Jabari Moeshe Pace
Devin Stewart Palmer
Jose’ Darius Palmer
Shreya Hemant Patel
Joseph Albion Payson
Skyla Laurelle Pepin
Rachel Marie Perry
Kira Paulina Pfost
ZhenJi Piao
Scott William Racoosin
Katrina Lenay Redwine
Kevin Joel Rexach Cabrera
Ethan Morgan Carle Rice
Jordan Chiles Barden Robinson
Keenan Travis Robinson
Owen Martin Minter Robinson
Ryan McClain Robinson
Jack Louis Sadler
Michael Alexander Sangalang
Edward Jean Anthony Schuler
Catherine Louise Seddon
Dallis Thomas Seeker
Carley Ann Shannon
Brittany Nicole Shelton
Shelby Alexandra Shelton
Vanessa Marie Simmons
Grace Christina Smith
Ashley Ann Stauffer
Lonnie Cetrialy Swinton Jr
Jesse Michael Thomas Swisher
Ki’andrah Dasjuanae Taylor
Richard Lee Taylor IV
Christine Miriam Thomas
Kenyon Michael Twing
Rachel Nicole Veneris
Bilal Sharif Wallace
Deja Marie Wallace
Dejana Monae Wallace
Madeline Eileen Walters
Oliver William Jackson Wells
Rachel Leigh Westbrook
Darian Adele White
Jasmine Anne White
Shaquille Lamont White
Jane Elizabeth Wilkinson
Darrand Evans Williams Jr
Madelyn Elaine Williams
Michael Stanley Wilson Jr
Christopher Wolinski
Rico De’Andre Wright Jr
Austin Blake York
Top 10 Colleges:
University of Virginia, James Madison University, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, College of William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University, Christopher Newport University, Liberty University, and Thomas Nelson Community College
Senior Class Officers:
President: Haley Gardner
Vice President: Jordan Cook
Secretary: Jonice Jackson
Treasurer: Christine Thomas