Silver Valley Elementary School honors graduating students
Receiving top year-end honors at Silver Valley Elementary School were (from left) were Natalie Petteys, Aleigha Fincham and Levi Pifer. {Contributed photo/Gary Arnold}
Three students earned top accolades at the Silver Valley Elementary School fifth grade graduation and year-end assembly June 9.
Aleigha Fincham earned The Principal’s Award. The honor is given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional growth or achievement throughout elementary school.
Aleigha noted as having grown academically, is kind and well liked by her classmates and teachers.
Principal Dr. Crystal Sexton stated, “This student has faced challenges beyond her years; however, her ability to rise above those difficult circumstances, protect others, and never ever give up is so very extraordinary.” Aleigha is the daughter of Ashley and Allen Fincham.
The award has been given annually since 1971 and now totals 55 recipients. The award signifies an all-around student with a strong work ethic, high academic performance and activities beyond the classroom.
Natalie Petteys earned the Silver Valley Civitan Distinguished School Citizen Award.
The award was presented for the 65 th consecutive year with Natalie becoming the 70th student to receive the honor. She is the daughter of Jessica and Allen Petteys.
The distinguished school citizen award annually recognizes an exemplary fifth grade student who is a role model to their peers, has an outstanding scholastic performance, co-operative attitude, dependability and leadership qualities. Petteys name is engraved on a perpetual plaque along with previous recipients and is displayed in the school.
The school citizen award was the first service project of the Silver Valley Civitan Club after being chartered April 25, 1959. Then principal, and Civitan member, the late Paul V. Yarborough along with teacher and Civitan charter president, the late Boyd G.
Smith, initiated the recognition. Smith passed this past August 27 at the age of 87 years.
The citizenship award is given as a memorial, on an alternating basis, to four outstanding past members of the club. This year’s award was given for the 12 th time in memory of Russell Maner, a past club president and fire chief.
The honor was presented by Civitan President Rev. Brad Treece and Civitan Garrett Hughes, great-grandson of Maner. Also attending was Debbie Maner Hughes, daughter of Russell Maner.
The annual WoodmenLife Award is earned by a student for outstanding proficiency in American history. Earning the honor was Levi Pifer who is the son of Chastity and Michael Pifer. The presentation was made by WoodmenLife representative Wayne Markham.
Nominations for the accolades were from the graduating fifth grade class of 25 students.
The recipients were selected by their teachers.
Other awards presented included graduation medals and certificates as well certificates for academic achievements, honor roll status, student council participation, music, art, physical education, citizenship and perfect attendance.
The hour long morning ceremony took place in the school gymnasium with several hundred family and friends in attendance.
# # #
