The 2009 seniors earned approximately $1,208,000 in scholarship offers! Here are the awards:
American Legion Award
This award is presented to one male and one female student who best display the qualities of character, courage, scholarship, leadership, and service. This award presents the highest honor given to any civilian by the American Legion and is voted on by the high school faculty and the Senior class. This year’s awards are presented to:
Olaolu Ogunyemi, Ruthenia Woodard
Student of the Year
The Simsboro High School student of the year is voted on by a committee of teachers. Students must have maintained a 3.5 GPA during their four years of high school and be involved in numerous extra-curricular activities. This year’s winner is:
Olaolu Ogunyemi
Lincoln Parish Academic Awards
Students who have maintained a 3.5 GPA each year receive the Lincoln Parish Academic Award.
Seniors receiving first year awards are:
April Cole, Justin Dooley, Laniqua Holland, Riley Rushing, Barry Turner
Seniors receiving second year awards are:
Casey Backhaus, Brandy Shadowens, Ruthenia Woodard
Seniors receiving third year awards are:
Olaolu Ogunyemi
Seniors receiving fourth year awards are:
Cody Sumrall
Regent’s Scholar Certificates
The Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education expresses its congratulations to every graduate for the hard work that has led to this important milepost of your educational journey. You are the future of our great state. We need your bright ideas, enthusiasm, civic-minded solutions and talents to grow at one of Louisiana’s colleges or universities and we wish you a productive and promising future.
The Board of Regents is also honored to provide certificates recognizing the exemplary academic achievement of students here at Simsboro High School. Regents’ Scholar Certificates are awarded to those students who have earned a 3.5 GPA or higher in rigorous college preparatory courses which best prepare students academically for the challenges of college.
Olaolu Ogunyemi, Brandy Shadowens, Cody Sumrall, Ruthenia Woodard
State Representative Rick Gallot Valedictorian/Salutatorian
Each year, State Representative Rick Gallot recognizes the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for outstanding achievement and dedication to academic excellence.
This year’s Valedictorian is: Cody Sumrall.
This year’s Salutatorian is: Olaolu Ogunyemi.
The United States Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award
Since 1981, the United States Army Reserve has annually recognized the most deserving students for outstanding academic and athletic achievement. The U.S. Army Reserve believes that young people should strive to be the best in all areas of their lives. This year’s recipients are:
Olaolu Ogunyemi, Ruthenia Woodard
Mt. Calm Church Scholarship
The Mt. Calm Church and Boris Braggs are proud and honored to present a scholarship in the amount of $500 to one of their faithful members. This year’s recipient is:
Alexis Harrell
Louisiana Army National Guard
Three Simsboro Seniors have decided that joining the Louisiana Army National Guard is the best path for them to assist in furthering their education. They will be getting state tuition exemption, federal tuition assistance, the Montgomery G.I. Bill, and a $20,000 bonus.
Rakeem Hammock joined the Headquarters Company, 527th Engineer Battallion as a Combat Engineer and will be receiving a total of $57,044.
Katherine Rhodes and Alatrae Pruitt both joined Detachment 1, 844th Horizontal Engineer company as Automated Logistical Special ist. They will be receiving $49, 844 each. The Louisiana National Guard and SSG Sims would like to personally thank each of them for their dedication to their country, state, and community.
Scott Dowling Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship is to honor the memory of Mr. Scott Dowling, an avid athletic supporter and an alumnus of Simsboro High School, who believed in daring to dream and bringing to fruition the desires of ones heart by exhibiting strong leadership skill, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to follow-through in difficult situations. This year’s recipient of the $200 award is:
Olaolu Ogunyemi
Louisiana Association of School Administrators of Federally Assisted Programs
The Louisiana Association of School Administrators of Federally Assisted Programs is dedicated to assisting students in furthering their education. They provide a $500 scholarship to a region 8 senior planning to major in education. This year’s recipient is:
Jordan Hawkins
University of Rochester Scholarship
The University of Rochester offers a unique college experience. Students enrolled are allowed to design and pursue an independent program of study. Students must be committed to academic excellence. The University has selected a student at Simsboro High School to receive an academic scholarship in the amount of $40,000. The recipient is:
Cody Sumrall
W.A. Burt Scholarship
W.A.Burt was a former school board member and served as Simsboro’s first mayor. His family annually awards two scholarships in the amount of $400 to seniors who plan to enroll in Louisiana Tech University. The two recipients of these scholarships are chosen by the high school faculty based on the following characteristics: ability, character, and need. This year’s recipients are:
Casey Backhaus, Barry Turner
Emory University Scholarship
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia has offered an academic award package in the amount of $192,000 to an outstanding senior. The recipient of this award is:
Cody Sumrall
Lyon College Scholarship
Lyon College in Batesville Arkansas has awarded a $26,000 scholarship to a Simsboro High School senior. This award goes to students who they are confident will make an outstanding contribution to the world. This year’s recipient is:
Olaolu Ogunyemi
Drexel University Scholarship
Since 1891, Drexel has been at the forefront in combining practical experience with a challenging academic curriculum. In acknowledgement of academic success, Drexel has named a senior as an A.J. Drexel Scholar rewarding him with a scholarship in the amount of $58,000. This year’s recipient is:
Cody Sumrall
Rogers C. Jackson memorial Scholarship
Mr. Rogers C. Jackson, Sr., was a visionary leader, community servant, and philanthropist. He was concerned about the plight of African-Americans and was determined to make life for them better. His philosophy was “You can make it if you try.” Each year, his family provides scholarships to aid deserving youth in the furtherance of their educational goals. This year’s recipients of the $500 scholarships are:
Ruthenia Woodard, Olaolu Ogunyemi
Lamar Dowling Scholarship
The Lamar Dowling Scholarship is given in honor of the former school board member. Its purpose is to create dreams and follow through on those individual desires by developing leadership skills, the ability to think, and the confidence to follow through in difficult situations. The family of Lamar Dowling has chosen to present this $1000 scholarship to:
Jordan Hawkins
Tulane University Scholarship
Tulane University in New Orleans offers Distinguished Scholar Scholarships in the amount of $80,000 to students whose academic achievements indicate talents and capabilities necessary to make the most out of their educational experience. This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Scholar is:
Cody Sumrall
Simsboro High School Alumni Foundation Scholarship
The Simsboro High School alumni organization has a rich tradition of supporting the school’s educational mission. The alumni annually award two scholarships in the amount of $750 to two deserving seniors. These students must have attended Simsboro High School from 9th-12th grades. The recipients are chosen through an interview process conducted by a panel of alumni members. This year’s Simsboro High School Alumni Scholarship winners are:
Barry Turner, Ruthenia Woodard
Louisiana State Legislature Scholarship
Each year, the members of the Louisiana legislature reward a full paid academic scholarship in the amount of $160,000 based on academic excellence to Tulane University. This year’s recipient is:
Cody Sumrall
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Scholarship
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Alabama has awarded a full athletic scholarship in the amount of $28,000 to:
Shannon Watts
Local Coca-Cola Scholarship
Coca-Cola Bottling Company understands the value of a firm education. Each year, they provide $500 scholarships to local schools to assist students in achieving their educational goals. This year’s recipient of the Local Coca-Cola scholarship is:
April Cole
Grambling State University
Grambling State University awards scholarships annually to top graduates that have participated in their Upward Bound or High Ability Programs. This year’s recipient of the $14,000 scholarship is:
Olaolu Ogunyemi
Louisiana State University Scholarships
The State Literary Rally held annually on the Louisiana State University campus awards $500 scholarships to every 1st place winner. This year Simsboro High School had a senior to place 1st in Biology II:
Justin Dooley
Louisiana State University offers Centennial Scholarships in the amount of $4000 to the top students in the state. This year’s recipient is:
Cody Sumrall
Louisiana Tech University Scholarships
Louisiana Tech University offers scholarships based on academic performance throughout high school.
Haley Attaway will receive the Louisiana Tech University Outstanding Student Scholarship in the amount of $4800.
Cody Sumrall will receive the Louisiana Tech University Outstanding Student Scholarship, GPA Award, Valedictorian Award totaling $12,400.
Olaolu Ogunyemi will receive the Louisiana Tech Outstanding Student Scholarship, and the GPA Award totaling $6,000.
Simsboro Lion’s Club Scholarship
The Simsboro Lion’s Club awards an annual scholarship in the amount of $500 to be used toward the purchase of textbooks and supplies. This year’s recipient is: Cody Sumrall
Calloway-Thomas Scholarship
The New Hopewell Baptist Church is honored to present the Calloway-Thomas Scholarship in the amount of $250 to:
Shannon Watts
TOPS Awards
Louisiana’s Tuition Opportunity Program for Students or TOPS is a comprehensive program of state scholarships and is one of the most innovative and progressive student assistance programs in the nation. TOPS has five award components including GPA, ACT scores, rigorous and relevant curriculum, core units, and full time student.
Haley Attaway, Casey Backhaus, Justin Dooley, Olaolu Ogunyemi
Brandy Shadowens, Cody Sumrall, Barry Turner, Ruthenia Woodard
Dustin Cochran, Miles Carter, Jordan Hawkins
