2012 Laurel High School Top Ten
Ranking tenth, Khadijah Jones, the daughter of Mary Brown and James Jones and the stepdaughter of Rodney Brown, plans to attend Jones County Junior College on a basketball scholarship. Following JCJC, she plans to attend the University of Tennessee where she will major in sports medicine. While at Laurel High School, she was an active member of the Beta Club, Key Club, Future Business Leaders of American, Student Council and Teens Getting Involved for the Future. She was inducted into the L Club, and scored all Advanced on the state tests. She served as the varsity basketball team captain, where she was named Best Rebounder and received Most Valuable Player honors and was named team leader. As a member of the LHS Track Team, she placed second in the regional meets both her 10th and 11th grade years. She received Principal’s List and Superintendent’s List honors for academics and citizenship. She is a Mississippi Scholar.
Ranking ninth, April Gant, the daughter of Flora Gant and Robert Jones, plans to attend Copiah Lincoln Community College on a soccer scholarship. During her time at Laurel High, she was a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. Throughout her years at Laurel High she was on the Superintendent’s List, Principal’s List and Honor Roll for academics and citizenship. She participated in basketball, track and soccer, and served as captain of the soccer team. She is a Mississippi Scholar, and was voted Senior Class Favorite, Friendliest and Cutest Smile.
Ranking eighth, Dontreal Pruitt, the son of Michelle Pruitt and Joseph Barnes, plans to attend East Mississippi Community College on a football scholarship. While at Laurel High School, he was a member of Beta Club and Key Club, and is a Mississippi Scholar. He received perfect attendance honors and good citizenship honors. He was named to the Principal’s List, Honor Roll and Superintendent’s List for academics and citizenship. Pruitt received numerous awards for his standout football talents. He also played baseball for the Golden Tornadoes.
Ranking seventh, Daryl McKines, Jr., the son of Stephanie McKines and Daryl McKines, Sr., plans to attend Tougaloo College where he will double major in law and business administration and minor in music. While at Laurel High School, he was an active member of the Speech and Debate Team, Dropout Prevention Team, Beta Club, Student Council, Drama Club, and Show Stoppers. He was also a member of the Tornado Ambassadors, Future Leaders of Jones County and Teens Getting Involved for the Future. In 2011, he was inducted into the L Club. McKines received the highest average in Advanced Placement World History and was named Teens Getting Involved for the Future Member of the Year. He participated in basketball, football, tennis and track, and was twice named Mr. LHS. McKines was a member of the Select Choir who recently performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. He was selected for Boys State, and was elected Alderman of Ward 4 at the Mississippi Municipal League Mock Elections. McKines was Student Body President, First Priority Team Leader and Student of the Month.
Ranking sixth, Conseula Hadley, the daughter of Julius Hadley Sr. and Ira L. Newell, plans to attend Copiah Lincoln Community College on a soccer scholarship. Following Co-Lin, she plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi were she will major in physical therapy. During her senior year, she was a member of the soccer team, and was named Rookie of the Year and Best Defender. She received Superintendent’s List honors for academics and citizenship and she was named Student of the Month. She was a member of DECA at the LHS Career and Technical Center. She currently serves as an afterschool tutor at East Laurel Church of Christ, and has completed over 50 hours of community services. She is a Mississippi Scholar.
Ranking fifth, Jada Jones, the daughter of Beverly Jones and Jimmy McCurdy, plans to attend Mississippi State University where she will major in accounting. While at Laurel High School she was a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. She received Principal’s List and Honor Roll honors for academics and citizenship. She was a cheerleader for four years, served as captain and she was named All-American. Jones was twice named Student of the Month, received the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, and was voted Miss LHS, Most Outgoing and Cutest. She is a Mississippi Scholar.
Ranking fourth, Shaquita Pulliam, the daughter of Monica Pulliam, plans to attend a university in New York where she will major in accounting, minor in English and work toward completing a pre-med track. While at Laurel High School, she has served as the secretary for the Future Business Leaders of America, and will represent Mississippi at the national FBLA competition in Texas after winning first place at the state competition. She also served as an editor and designer for the yearbook staff, and was a member of the National Honor Society. Pulliam has also been in Advanced Choir and Advanced Arts for six years. She has been a Superintendent’s List Scholar, received a Citizenship Award, was named Star Student, and is graduating a Mississippi Scholar. She is a mentor and frequent blood donor.
Historian Barbara Chambers, the daughter of Bobby and Brenda Chambers, plans to attend the University of Southern Mississippi where she will major in speech pathology. While at Laurel High School she was a four year member of the Student Council, Marching Band, Select Choir and Ladies Ensemble. She was a three year member of Interact, Beta Club and the National Honor Society. She served as Math Bowl team captain and was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Key Club, Speech and Debate, Theater Club and was a Diamond Darling. Chambers was a Superintendent’s List and Principal’s List Scholar for academics and citizenship and received Student of the Month. She received awards for perfect attendance and good citizenship. She also received academic awards in chemistry, physics, band, choir, history, accelerated English, advanced placement English and math, and is graduating a Mississippi Scholar. She was an Academic Ambassador, Future Leader of Jones County and a 13-year member of Girl Scout Troop 208. She was voted Most Likely to Succeed. Chambers has completed numerous hours of community service including volunteering at the soup kitchen and serving as a Salvation Army bell ringer. She is an active member of St. Elmo Missionary Baptist Church.
Salutatorian Lewis Steel Bateman, the son of Steve and Sandra Bateman, plans to attend Jones County Junior College followed by the University of Mississippi where he plans to major in finance and law. While at Laurel High School, he served as president of the Beta Club and was a member of the Future Leaders of Jones County, National Honor Society, Key Club and Principal’s Leadership Team. He was duel enrolled at Jones County Junior College, where he was named to Phi Theta Kappa for his academic success and has completed over 32 hours of college credits. Bateman received perfect attendance honors, was a Superintendent’s Scholar, and is graduating as a Mississippi Scholar. He was inducted into the L Club for academics. He played on the LHS Varsity Tennis Team for four years. Bateman completed numerous community service hours through his work with the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, and is an active supporter of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art.
Valedictorian Cortias Jones, the son of Angela Jones and Kennis Badue, plans to attend college where he will major in either accounting or engineering. During his time at Laurel High School, he was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club, Student Council and Principal’s Leadership Team. He served as captain of the Math Bowl Team, Math/Science Bowl Team and Scholars Bowl Team. Jones received awards for the Highest Average in Welding, Excellent Student in Culinary Arts, Good Citizenship, Perfect Attendance, Highest Average in Mathematics, Student of the Month and Youth of the Month. He was a Superintendent’s List Scholar and Principal’s List Scholar for academics and citizenship, and is graduating a Mississippi Scholar. He loves going to school and rarely misses a day. Jones received a Senior Award for football and baseball. He also received National Center for Construction Education and Research welding credentials. Jones completed numerous community service hours through a variety of volunteer activities including reading books to students at Oak Park Elementary and Nora Davis Magnet. |
