Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • June 15, 2018 12 Resurrection Catholic High School PASCAGOULA -- Bishop Louis F. Kihneman, III, was principal celebrant and homilist for Resurrection Catholic High School’s May 22 graduation Mass at Sacred Heart Church’s Delmas Activities Center in Pascagoula. Clayton Becht Rowell , valedictorian of Resur- rection Catholic School’s class of 2018, is the son of Amy (Wells) and Doug Rowell. He attends Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pascagoula and is an active member of the CYO at St. Joseph’s in Moss Point. He served as the Student Body President at RCS for the 2017-2018 school year, the treasurer for the National Honor Society, and as a member of the Catholic Dio- cese of Biloxi Search Team. He was also a member of the Campus Ministry team, Key Club, and graduated with a 4.241 GPA. Becht has been a recipient of nu- merous local scholarships and was offered scholarships to the University of Mississippi, Millsaps College, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of South Alabama, and Texas Christian University, for a total of over $387,000 in scholarship offers. Becht was selected as Mr. RCS by his classmates, and he was also chosen to be in the RCS Hall of Fame. He was voted as “Most School Spirit” by his peers as well. Over the course of his high school career, he was a member of the varsity football and basketball teams where he served as team captain for both. He was on the All-District three times for football and twice for basketball. Coaches from around the state also select- ed him to the All-State football team during his junior year. Because of his academic and athletic accolades, Becht was chosen as a Wendy’s High School Heisman school winner and state finalist. He also represented RCS as 2018 STAR Student and received the school’s St. Pope John Paul II award. Becht will be attending the University of Missis- sippi in the fall where he plans to major in Exercise Science with a pre-Medicine track. Becht says, “Res- urrection Catholic School has truly shaped me into the person I am today. With its faith background, strong sense of community, and source of infinite knowledge, it has been a sturdy shelter for me over the past 9 years, and I know that my time there will continue to guide me for the rest of my life.” Kayla Washington , salutatorian of Resurrection Catholic High School’s class of 2018, is the daughter of Doctor Eric and Joyce Washington. Kayla is a mem- ber of the Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. She served as vice president of her senior class, presi- dent of the Zonta International Club, secretary of the Interact Club, teen president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorpo- rated, member of Campus Ministry Team, vice presi- dent of the National Honor Society, and a member of the Honor Roll, graduating with a grade point average of 4.205. Clayton Becht Rowell Valedictorian Kayla Washington Salutatorian SEE RESURRECTION, PAGE 16 BILOXI -- Matt Buckley, principal of St. Patrick Catholic High School, is proud to announce Lauren Skinner as the Class of 2018 Valedictorian and Richard Springer as the Class of 2018 Salutatorian. Valedictorian Lauren Skinner is the daughter of Larry and Linda Skinner and is a parishioner of St. Alphonsus. Skinner will attend the University of Mississippi and major in biomedical engineering with an emphasis in pre-med. Her career plans include becoming a pediatric oncologist, with the hopes of interning at St. Jude. She would eventually like to bring her skills back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. During her time at St. Patrick, Skinner has achieved a score of 35 on the ACT, has been a mem- ber of the honor roll since 2014, has been named a Furman Scholar, has been designated as a STAR Student in Mississippi, and she has received a Coach’s Award for her role on the Fighting Irish Swim Team. Skinner has attended several leadership confer- ences, including Apex Leadership Summit and Singing River Leadership Co-Op. She has also held a variety of leadership positions on campus, including swim team captain, robotics treasurer, member of the Pride of St. Patrick Band, Science Honor Society president, Spanish Honor Society event coordinator, Mu Alpha Theta secretary and Drama Guild chair. Skinner performs more than 40 hours of commu- nity service each year through her service with Robotics in mentoring the St. Alphonsus Elementary School Lego League Team and through assisting with Vacation Bible School. She has been an active mem- ber of several organizations during her time at St. Patrick Catholic High School. On being named Valedictorian for the St. Patrick Catholic High School Class of 2018, she says, “It is truly an honor to be named Valedictorian and repre- sent my school. I am so thankful for the past four years and couldn’t have asked for a better high school experience.” Salutatorian Richard Springer is the son of Rick and Kathy Springer and is a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Springer plans to attend the University of Mississippi and major in mathematics. During his tenure at St. Patrick, Springer has been named a STAR Student for the State of Mississippi for his achievement of 35 on the ACT, is a National Merit Finalist, has been named a U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Candidate, is the Elks Most Valuable Student State Finalist and has been selected as a HOBY Academic All-Star Alumni. Springer has achieved Principal’s Honor Roll since 2012 and has been named the St. Patrick Catholic High School Citizen of the Year since 2013. He serves as the SPCHS student council president, receiving the MSASC President of the Year, and he received the Dale D. Hawley Leadership Award. He is also a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Interact Club, Big Buddies, National English Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Students for Life, National Honor Society, the Pride of St. Patrick Band, Science Olympiad, Robotics Team and Drama Guild. Springer has represented SPCHS in several leadership oppor- tunities, including as the student liaison for the Biloxi Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, as an Electric Power Association of America Youth Tour attendee, as an attendee of the Steven PalazzoYouth Leadership Summit, as a National Student Leadership Conference attendee and more. Springer has performed hundreds of hours of community service during his time at St. Patrick, including volunteering for several events along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and by serving his parish as St. Patrick Catholic High School Lauren Skinner Valedictorian Richard Springer Salutatorian SEE ST. PATRICK, PAGE 16