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Students from Magee High School, Mendenhall High School, and Simpson County Academy were recognized as Mississippi Scholars on Tuesday, April 29th , 2025, in the Magee High School Auditorium. To become a Mississippi Scholar, students were required to take a set number of courses, complete 80 hours of community service, have an ACT score of 19 or higher, a GPA of 2.5 or higher, 95% attendance during all four years of high school, and no out-of-school suspension.

Simpson County Academy, and the Simpson County Technical Center were honored at the 21st Annual Mississippi Scholars Recognition Reception.Commissioner Rhoshunda Kelly of the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance delivered a powerful message, reminding students that while success may not always follow a straight path, qualities like resilience, humility, and courage will guide them forward. She left students with this well-known quote: “You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.”

SIMPSON ACADEMY – 2025 MISSISSIPPI SCHOLARS (24 total) Hayes Berry Anna Joy Blain Brody Blakeney Lauren Brown Connor Cone Avery Daughdrill Braden Duncan Ava Dunn Brayden Ellis Talan Ferguson Natalie Hathorn Johnna Jones Ben Kennedy Caroline McAlpin Avery McNair Addison McWilliams Peyton Mitchell Braden Overby Walker Polk Emma Scoggins Calvin Smith Avery Vanderford Emma Grace Wallace Bryce Williams SIMPSON
SIMPSON ACADEMY – 2025 MS TECH MASTER SCHOLARS (5 total) Jami Bishop Brayden Ellis Talan Ferguson Eli Jordan Kade Walker

Mississippi Scholars: Addison Gray, Carson Harper, Hayden Huffman, Gage Kemp, Kendall Middleton, Lauren Rankin, David Shows, Talea Williams, Miriam Wright, and Ashleigh Wyatt.

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