KRISHNA PATEL Valedictorian Graduation exercises for 110 LCHS seniors will be held Friday, May 22, at Buddy Bufford Field, beginning at 8 p.m.

A highlight of commencement will be addresses delivered by Valedictorian Krishna Patel and Salutatorian Kayla Lyons.

Patel has been in the top five percent of her class throughout high school, serving as an honor usher at commencement exercises last year.

As senior, she participated in the dual enrollment program at ASU.

At this spring's academic awards ceremony, the gifted scholar received the Senior Biological Sciences Award and the Senior Math Award for having the highest cumulative averages in those subject areas over the past four years. She was also designated as a Farmers State Bank High Achiever for making over 1,100 on the SAT.

At last year's ceremony, Patel was recognized as having the highest score on the science portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT). She likewise received Certificates of Merit from Augusta State University and the University of Georgia.

KAYLA LYONS Salutatorian During her high school career, Patel was a member of the Senior Beta Club, the Spanish Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter, and the National Forensic League (NFL).

Moreover, she was voted "Craziest Driver" by the Class of 2009.

Concerning extracurricular activities, Patel served as a peer tutor and currently works at Abercrombie in the Augusta Mall.

In her leisure time, she enjoys working out at the gym, learning how to play the piano, reading, watching movies, "Facebooking," and spending time with friends and family.

In the fall, the valedictorian will be attending the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she plans to major in biology or biomedical engineering. She is particularly interested in the field of cancer research.

She is the daughter of Shashikant and Amita Patel.

Salutatorian Kayla Lyons is the daughter of Keith and Kim Lyons and Gene and Robin Sutton.

Like Patel, she has been in the top five percent of her class throughout high school and was an honor usher at commencement exercises last May.

At this year's academic recognition ceremony, Lyons was named a Farmers State Bank SAT High Achiever and was awarded a scholarship from the Watson-Brown Foundation.

She is likewise the recipient of a full scholarship from the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Georgia.

At the 2008 academic awards ceremony, Lyons was presented with Certificates of Merit from ASU and UGA.

During her high school career, the salutatorian served as president and reporter of the Spanish Honor Society and as secretary, vice president, and president of the Student Council. She was also a member of the Senior Beta Club, FBLA, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), the school's yearbook staff, the JV Cheerleading Squad (10th grade), and the NFL, placing second in Duo Interpretation at the state competition last year.

Lyons, who participated in the joint enrollment program at ASU full time this semester, was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by her fellow seniors.

In addition to attending ASU, the talented teenager is an active member of Harlem United Methodist Church and works at California Dreaming, a popular restaurant in Evans.

Looking toward the future, Lyons plans to attend ASU for another year and possibly transfer to Toccoa Falls University. Presently, her major is undecided.

In her spare time, Lyons enjoys reading, attending church, spending time with her friends, Facebooking, and shopping.

Along with the addresses delivered by Patel and Lyons, the commencement program will also include welcoming remarks given by Daravious Cullars, president of the Class of 2009, and the recognition of scholarship recipients.

Pianist Lynn Gay and the Senior Ensemble, under the direction of choral music teacher Carolee Hobbins, will provide music for the occasion. Accompanied by Curry Colvin on guitar, the ensemble will sing "The Time of My Life."

Honor Graduates for the Class of 2009 are: Kashade Andrews, Chase Bandy, Amanda Broom, Charles Byrne, T.J. Carani, Ashton Cartledge, Curry Colvin, Emily Diamond. Hillary Doss, Amanda Gay, Amanda Gunby, Donnell Harris, Shondez Harrison, Barbara Hill, Tim Hutton, Cardelro Jones, Garrett Matthews, Daniel McAlister, Lindsey McWhorter, Aldan O'Neill, Lee O'Neill.

Tabitha Rayner, Morgan Reese, Ashley Rivera, Tim Rutland, Amanda Scott, Ashley Stanley, Dalton Tankersley, Lena Turner, Matilda Watson, Miranda West, Audriana Whimbush, James Williams, and Emily Wright. The following juniors will serve as honor ushers for the ceremony: Rachel Arnett, Darby Bass, Nicole Beard, Audra Bradford, Chelsea Broom, Alisha Brown, Jeffery Brown.

Tequila Bussey, Hattie Collins, Keldrick Cunningham, Jade Deason, Lauren Dill, Brittany Doster, Chelsea Duncan, Mollie Ferguson, Chandler Goldman, Shayman Hearst.

Emily Hinson, Christopher Jones, Cindy Juhasz, Hannah Mongrue, Kyrstie Scales, Russell Spratlin, Dakota Turner, Roxanne Ware, Scott Waters, and Luke Watson.

On Sunday, May 17, the seniors were honored at a breakfast held at LCHS.

The welcome was given by Jeanie Smith, and the invocation was delivered by Coach Kevin Banks.

The guest speaker for the occasion was Stephanie Harrison Dyer, assistant athletic director at Albany State University and a member of the LCHS Class of 1987.

The speaker was introduced by her sister, Regina Harrison Moore.

In addition to Dyer's remarks, the seniors and their parents were also treated to a slide show titled "One Last Look," evoking memories of their senior year, produced by LCHS media specialist Jeanie Smith. The audience likewise enjoyed hearing anecdotes about the seniors and their years as students in the Lincoln County School System.

The senior class sponsors are Jeanie Smith, Lee Robinson, Kevin Banks, Howard Ellis, Kathy Thomas, Marcella Goldman, Carolee Hobbins, and LuAnn Beale.