Toni Milbourne/Chronicle Jefferson High School senior Ricardo Henriquez received the U.S. Army ROTC scholarship for $168,744.

Jefferson High seniors gathered in the auditorium Monday evening to find out what assistance they might receive as they head off to college in the fall. The senior ceremony saw students receive monetary awards ranging from $250 to a complete four-year scholarship.

Guidance Counselor Jennifer Steen complimented all those in the senior class who received not only monetary awards, but academic recognition as well.

“More than half of the graduating class of 2018 is being recognized for graduating with honors,” Steen said as she began calling the names of those who earned Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude status for maintaining consistently high grade-point averages through seven semesters of their high school careers. Each student received a medal they’ll wear Sunday during the graduation ceremony at Shepherd University.

Also recognized were students designated as AP Scholars, who have taken advanced placement courses and scored 3 or above on the tests associated with those courses. Each of these students received a cord they’ll wear, in addition to their honors medals, on Sunday.

Steen then recognized all seniors who qualified for and were recipients of the West Virginia Promise Scholarship. Requirements for the Promise Scholarship state that students must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or whatever is considered a “B” average, based on county board grading policies, in both core courses and overall coursework required for graduation.

Toni Milbourne/Chronicle Bryce Turney, center, and Ethan Gottlieb, left, have received appointments to the U.S. Naval Academy. Best friends for much of their time in school, the two will head to Annapolis together.

Assistant Principal Darius Fenton took a few moments during Monday’s assembly to recognize students for their commitments to attendance in school over the past year. Those with stellar attendance records – including those who didn’t miss a single day of class – received certificates.

Fenton recognized one student, William Lu, not only for having perfect attendance this school year, but every year since fifth grade, when his family moved to Jefferson County.

Lu, who wasn’t in attendance Monday evening, was later the recipient of the Jefferson Medical Center Scholarship, as he plans to study medicine after graduation. “I see Mr. Lu has ruined his perfect attendance by not being here tonight to accept this award,” Dr. Adrienne Zavala, who presented the award, quipped.

Several full scholarships were presented throughout the evening, including some military scholarships. Two students, Ethan Gottlieb and Bryce Turney, were recently appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and both were recognized by a Navy representative. Senior Ricardo Henriquez received the U.S. Army ROTC scholarship in the amount of $168,744.

Several students were recipients of the McCormick Scholarship, which provides coverage of all college costs for four years to an in-state school. The scholarship is named for Robert W. McCormick, who retired in 1968 after 30 years as owner and operator of the Fairview Farm in Middleway. He died in June 1993, leaving an estate and scholarship trust that has allowed many of Jefferson’s students to attend college through his generosity. Among those selected for the honor were Maya Garcia, Samantha Milbourne and Alexander Hine.

Other scholarships included several from Shepherdstown organizations. Recipients of the Shepherdstown High School Alumni scholarships included Kayla Weller, Dylan Thomas, Maya Garcia, Nicholas Chapman and Aaron Di Lima. Di Lima was also the recipient of the Emily Spickler Memorial Scholarship. The Shepherdstown Elementary Student Council Scholarship went to Cassie Chrisman, while the Shepherdstown Elementary Parent Group selected Jackson Crouse as the winner of its scholarship.

Multiple other groups presented dollar amounts to students to assist them with their college needs.

Steen closed out the night saying that, although she had only done a rough calculation throughout the evening, she knew that more than $1 million dollars had been awarded to the students at Jefferson High.

“Go Cougars!” she said.