In The News

Salute to Success: Warwick student Clayton Smith wins Lett Scholarship

(May 15, 2009) - Clayton J. Smith, a senior at Warwick High School, has been named the Wayne D. Lett Scholar for 2009 by the Newport News Education Foundation.

Clayton, a senior at Warwick High School, will enter the studio art program at Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall. Clayton’s preferred medium is pencil, and he participates in the AP Art Studio Class at Warwick, as well as other art courses.

The $6,000 merit scholarship is given annually to an NNPS senior who plans to return to the school system to teach after graduation.

The foundation also honored top academic achievers at its annual Salute to Success student recognition banquet May 13. The students are top-ranked at their schools or were commended for high scores on standardized tests.

National Merit Scholarships are based on student scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, typically taken by students during their junior year. The students also have to be recommended by their schools, and their SAT scores must confirm the PSAT results.

The National Achievement Scholarship program for African-American students and the National Hispanic Recognition Program use the same criteria.

The students received awards and $50 gift certificates at the banquet attended by school, local, and state officials. Daily Press publisher Digby Solomon was keynote speaker at the event.

Wayne D. Lett Scholar
Clayton J. Smith, Warwick.

National Achievement Scholarship Finalist
Enrique A. Disla, Denbigh.

National Achievement Scholarship Outstanding Participants
Michele Griffin, Menchville; Jessica Morris, Warwick; Brittany S. Passmore, Menchville.

National Hispanic Recognition Program
Joshua M. Wanger, Woodside.

National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Douglas S. Lowell, Denbigh; Aaron J. Mattingly, Woodside.

National Merit Scholarship Commended
Abigail G. Anklam, Menchville; Stephen M. Barber, Menchville, Cameron C. Beasley, Warwick; Matthew Z. Dischner, Warwick; Enrique A. Disla, Denbigh; Steven J. Doster, Woodside; Nicole J. LeBouton, Menchville; Kayla R. Rupp, Menchville; Allegra J. Silcox, Menchville; Evghenii Storoja, Warwick; Alex J. Verhoef, Warwick; and Caitlin J. Wallace, Menchville.

Valedictorians
Stephen M. Barber, Menchville; Enrique A. Disla, Denbigh; Sarah E. Jones, Warwick; Aaron J. Mattingly, Woodside; Sara M. Nelson-Owens, Heritage.

Salutatorians
Matthew W. Boyce, Denbigh; Jacob D. Friedmann and Alyssa T. Gerstner, Woodside; Garren Montgomery, Menchville; Victoria S. Parker, Heritage; Alex. J. Verhoef, Warwick.

Top-Ranked Underclassmen
Grade 11
Toby G. Eisenberg, Menchville; Courtney L. Gilland, Woodside; Anthony Gillespie, Denbigh; Vivian Hsieh, Menchville; Wilson S. Pillow, Warwick; Taylor K. Robinson, Heritage.

Grade 10
Beverly F. Auman, Woodside; Jessica M. Evans, Menchville; Kaitlyn M. Fields, Menchville; Nicholas C. Horner, Denbigh; Chanel M. Johnson, Heritage; Kevin W. Lu, Warwick; Justice M. Madden, An Achievable Dream.

Grade 9
Eric N. Breedlove, Menchville; Amanda D. Carner, Menchville; Chloe S. Chaudhury, Woodside; Glenn A. Getty, Heritage; Wade D. Hodson, Warwick; Larry N. Holland, Denbigh; Kaitlyn J. Lissner, Menchville; Twymun K. Safford, Denbigh; Ryan M. Smith, Menchville; Sarah V. White, An Achievable Dream; Emily G. Wiggins, Menchville; Rachel C. Wilbur, Menchville.