Sixth-grade students receiving "Certificates of Distinction" at the LCMS Sixth and Seventh-Grade Academic Reception were: (l-r) Alec Burt, Blake Murray, Deanne Hearst, Brett Matthews, Emily Beggs, Ashley Asbell, Behren Bass, and Hailey Rosser. "Achieving Excellence" was the theme of the 19th Annual Sixth and Seventh-Grade Academic Reception held Tuesday, May 8, in the school cafeteria.

Following the invocation given by Willie Harris, assistant principal at LCMS, Dylan Norman, the student with the second-highest average in the seventh grade, welcomed those present, and Brett Matthews, the student with the second-highest average in the sixth grade, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Highlights of the evening were addresses delivered by sixth-grader Hailey Rosser and seventh-grader Connor Eades. These students had the highest academic averages in their respective grades.

Following the addresses, awards were presented to those students who dedicated themselves to excellence this school year. Receiving recognition were:

Those seventh-grade students receiving "Certificates of Distinction" at the 19th Annual LCMS Sixth and Seventh-Grade Academic Reception were: (l-r) Dylan Norman, Connor Eades, and Kathryn Poss. Sixth-Grade "Certificate of Honor" Students (90-94 average): Christina Taylor, Raquan Beard, Tyler Cole, Chelsea Norman, Kahlil Norman, Emily Royal, Alex Western, Jessica Reid, Bekendrianna Wynn, Jesse Grabb, Drake Schaetzle, Will Chomskis, Grayson Ashmore, Jasmine Benning, Glenn Creech, Rex Bandy, and Joseph Cobb.

Sixth-Grade "Certificate of Distinction" Students (95+ average): Hailey Rosser, Brett Matthews, Ashley Asbell, Behren Bass, Blake Murray, Deanne Hearst, Alec Burt, and Emily Beggs.

Seventh-Grade "Certificate of Honor" Students (90-94 average): Jason Courtright, Brooke Lyons, Crystal Juhasz, Amanda Sims, James H. Collins II, Jennifer Reid, Jaylen Savage, Austin Holt, Javequia Martin, Travis Vaught, Chelsea Davis, Hannah Bryant, Taylor Fernandes, Brandon O'Neill, Bethany Beggs, Miranda Beale, Destiny Jones, Rozina Harris, and Alexis Harris.

Seventh-Grade "Certificate of Distinction" Students (95+ average): Connor Eades, Dylan Norman, and Kathryn Poss.

Subject Area Awards (students with the highest averages): Language Arts - Brett Matthews, sixth grade, and Connor Eades, seventh grade; Reading - Connor Eades, seventh grade; Math - Hailey Rosser and Glenn Creech, sixth grade, and Kevin Sutherland, seventh grade; Pre-Algebra - Dylan Norman, seventh grade; Science - Hailey Rosser and Brett Matthews, sixth grade, and Kathryn Poss, seventh grade; and Social Studies - Hailey Rosser, sixth grade, and Connor Eades, seventh grade.

Citizenship Award: Brett Matthews and Raquan Beard, sixth grade, and Kathryn Poss and Joel Dukes, seventh grade.

To conclude the awards ceremony, LCMS Principal Pam Carmichael offered words of encouragement to the rising seventh and eighth-grade students.

Members of the LCMS Academic Reception Committee were school counselor Dionne Mills, who presided over the program; Principal Carmichael; Assistant Principal Harris; Patty Arthur; Tonya Burt; Mary Jane Ramey; Faith Hill; Stacey Radford; Becky Rice; and Corliss Wideman.