Italy High School hosted the 30th Annual Academic Banquet Thursday night at the Italy High School dome-nasium. Superintendent, Barry Bassett, and IHS Principal, Lee Joffre, recognized high ranking students. “The lowest GPA here tonight is 3.4,” said Joffre. The administration presented trophies to Valedictorian Reid Jacinto and Salutatorian Meagan Hooker.

Honored guest, Mrs. Wanda Scott, was key in beginning the banquet years ago, with the aid of her husband and longtime superintendent, George Scott. “My husband’s dream was for every child in Italy that wanted to go to college could,” Scott said, referring to the George E. Scott Scholarship. This banquet is just a small part of that dream. It was started to recognize the top students.

After he welcomed everyone, Mr. Joffre explained responsibility to the audience, composed of National Honor students and their families. “Responsibility is to make productive decisions for yourself or others and accept the consequences of those decisions,” Joffre said.

Mr. Joffre told a story of the day he turned 18 and how his father handed him a $100 bill and explained from that day forward, Joffre would be responsible for his food, clothes and bills. This had made a big difference in Mr. Joffre’s life, how his father entrusted him to be a responsible adult. Joffre went on to say that the students should thank their parents that helped them get this far and to succeed. He asked the seniors to be responsible adults and to involve productive activities and services in their lives. For Juniors or lower class men, he advised to bring their GPA up; get registered and take the ACT/SAT before January in their junior year; prepare for the tests, show their parents how responsible the student can be and research the colleges they are interested in; recognize your parent’s desire for the student to improve and find ways to contribute.

Mr. Bassett and Mr. Joffre recognized the members of the Italy National Honor Society:

FIRST YEAR
Gus Allen
Katie Byers
Morgan Cockerham
Paul Harris
Julissa Hernandez
Amber Hooker
Logan Owens
Alyssa Richards
Courtney Russell
Tia Russell
Juan Suaste

SECOND YEAR
Trevor Davis
Meagan Hooker
Jaclynn Lewis
Kelsey Nelson
Jesica Wilkins

THIRD YEAR
Cole Hopkins
Taylor Turner

FOURTH YEAR
Reid Jacinto
Brett Kirton

The administration recognized the Italy School Board members and faculty that were present. Mr. Joffre thanked Vivian Moreland for her hard work in getting the banquet ready and for utilizing other classes’ talents for the decorations. Mrs. Bassett’s Spanish classes made the beautiful centerpieces for the Mexican themed dinner. The classical guitar music was provided by Mary Jacinto.