Despite having spent nearly half their junior year and all their senior year going to school under the cloud of a global pandemic, the Class of 2021 left its mark in the LCPS record books – a most-ever total of 55 students who exited high school with both a diploma and a two-year college degree, plus the second-best total for scholarship offers at $11.3 million. 

However, within the achievements of the group – the 589 graduates – scores of seniors stood out for their academic success. Following are students recognized as honor graduates or acknowledged according to other measures of academic excellence by their schools. (The Latin honors system used by LCPS for the past five years recognizes all students whose performance exceeded high academic standards, with Summa Cum Laude the highest recognition based on GPA and class ranking.)

Lenoir County Early College High School – Summa Cum Laude: Kurt Nguyen, Jessica Riggs, Amelia Verduzco-Medina, Hannah Willis

Magna Cum Laude: Heidy Alvarez-Salas, Elizabeth Gandee, Macy Humphrey, JaKarrie Miller, Kaylin Mills, Andrea Sanchez-Roman

Cum Laude: J’Miyah Dupree, Kimberly Gonzalez, Diana Leon-Lara, LeTeiacesa Lewis, Ricardo Rodriguez, Jordan Speller

North Lenoir High School – Summa Cum Laude: Anna Rayne Rouse, Kennedy Nicole Sullivan, Kimberly Vazquez-Marin, Shane Arendell Swindell

Magna Cum Laude: Brianna Nichole Creech, Sydney Grace Sasser, Reena Jaye Parris, Trevor Austin Sears, Vraj Urvil Shah, Sara Elizabeth Jones

Cum Laude: Beecham Nicholas Hartsell, Stephen Alexander Marshall, Jacob Landon Gates, TeDavion Rajadest Mekel Jenkins, Yahir Abraham Hernandez-Aguilar, Khaliyah Davaughnya Moore, Brianna Mackenzie Williams, Daniel Harrison Potter, Michaela Rose Williams, Madelyn Paige Sasser

South Lenoir High School – Summa Cum Laude: Matthew Heath, Daniel Sykes, Brian Martinez-Gonzalez, Callie Eason

Magna Cum Laude: Ashlynn Holloman, Holly Bruner, Tiffany Croom, Lydia Walston, Shayla Nguyen, Luke Yarber, MyAsia Jackson

Cum Laude: Miranda Sanders, Reagan Dawson, Savannah Tyndall, Giovani Maldonado, Hannah Thrower, Dylan Ward, Lizbeth Corona-Pinera, Gracie Reavis, Israel Haro

Kinston High School – Summa Cum Laude: Yasmine Perry, Jazmyne Harris, Italia Hargett

Magna Cum Laude: Jamyracle Parker, Aaliyah Mercer, Hailey Bobo, Ericka Fields, Orondé Whitfield

Cum Laude: Kahlia Hargett, MaKaylind Kilpatrick, Jasiah Edwards, Nya Peoples, Nykel Perry, Indhia Fraser, Dontrez Styles, Brianna Clark-Evans

International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidates: Jamyracle Parker, Diego Patino-Guardiola, Orondé Whitfield.

IB Course Candidates: LaGeana Bethea, Abria Brewer, Kylasia Cannon, Jordan Crouell, Ericka Fields, Indhia Fraser, Shakur Hardy, Italia Hargett, Jazmyne Harris, Derious Jerkins-Dempsey, MeKaylind Kilpatrick, Tiana Knox, Aaliyah Mercer, Nykel Perry, Yasmine Perry, Zy'Nia Pittman, Emoni Simmons, Roselyn Uriarte, Andrea Williams, Juleah Williams.

(An IB Diploma Candidate completes six IB Courses in the two-year program along with several core requirements. IB Course Candidates take one or more IB courses during the program, but do not complete the core requirements.  IB Course Candidates make course selections based on their areas of strength and interest. All IB students participate in the IB International Exams.)

Additionally, Kinston High honored the graduating class’ top two students with awards based on GPA and presented annually.

The Kinston High School Viking Scholar trophy, awarded to the student who has earned the second highest GPA in her graduating class, went to Jazmyne Harris. The Kinston High School Academic Scholar trophy, recognizing the student who has earned the highest GPA in her graduating class, went to Yasmine Perry.

Lenoir County Learning Academy recognized Anthony Blow, a graduating senior who earned advanced certification from Lenoir Community College, as an honor graduate.

Seventy-one students in the class were named North Carolina Academic Scholars, a designation of the N.C. Department of Public Instruction that attests to the academic rigor of the high school program completed by the students.