WIXLIB

HEAD STARTGetting a jump on jobsGraduation 2019The Anniston StarFriends & Family DaySALE MON DAY - SATU R DAY 39Register to Win aMONOGRAMGRADUATION GIFT!Comfort Color Shirt or Graduation GlassAlways a perfect fit . . .SelectVera Bradley& BrightonWhile Quantities LastCostumeJewelry.9950 x 70Plush Throwsw/Embroidered InitialsMONDAY 10-620% offYOUR PURCHASEMonday, May 20, 2019. Excludes priorpurchases, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Fragrances,Brighton, Vera Bradley, Circle of Values, GiftCards, Birkenstock, Chacos, Employees.Other exclusions may apply.Cashier Use #449894000404

The Anniston StarPage 2 Friday, May 17, 2019The Anniston StarGraduation2019TABLE OF CONTENTSCOUNTY SCHOOLSAlexandria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Anniston Christian Academy . . . . . . . . 4Anniston. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The Donoho School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Faith Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Iqra Math and Science Academy . . . . 7Jacksonville Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Jacksonville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Ohatchee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Oxford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Piedmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Pleasant Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Sacred Heart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Saks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Trinity Christian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Walter Wellborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16White Plains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16AREA SCHOOLSCentral High School of Clay County .Cherokee County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cleburne County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Handley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harvest Christian Academy . . . . . . . .Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Munford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ranburne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Randolph County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spring Garden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wadley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Woodland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171819202121222223232526SPECIAL THANKSSue Magouirk, Debbie Reaves,Ben Cunningham, Jessica AkridgeCover photo by Stephen GrossCheck out the digitaledition online atAnnistonStar.com/grad2019Stephen Gross / The Anniston StarCOVER AND ABOVE: Michael Reaves working in the machine shop at the Calhoun County Career Academy in Jacksonville.HEAD STARTStudents get jump on jobs with career techBY BEN NUNNALLYbnunnally@annistonstar.comFew teens have jobs building missileslined up after graduation.That’s what Michael Reaves, a soonto-be-graduate of Pleasant Valley HighSchool and the Calhoun County CareerAcademy, plans to do after he doffs hiscap and gown this month, working atGeneral Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Anniston. Career Academy director Kevin Lockridge said thecompany called the school looking forstudents in precision machining classeswith experience and drive; Lockridgesaid Reaves has both.As a new employee, Reaves will workas a lathe operator in the evening, whilehe goes to school at Gadsden StateCommunity College during the day.He said he likes to work with his handsand doesn’t mind getting dirty, so thework suits him. So does the paycheck.The Bureau of Labor Statistics put themedian hourly wage for Anniston-areamachinists at 23.52 in 2017.“I want to buy a house, a car, all ofthat kind of stuff,” Reaves said. “I wantto make sure everything is paid off andhave enough money to take my familyout when I have kids, take my wife out.”Reaves said he’ll fabricate hydraulicsthat screw into the end of missiles thatstretch 4 or 5 feet long, part of the rocket system that will drive the devices totheir targets. Once he’s proven himselfby working the lathe, he can move up toprogramming the machine. Eventuallyhe wants to be what he called a “setuptechnician,” who can program multiplemachines at the facility.Reaves is one of a handful of studentsin local career tech programs with jobsalready waiting after graduation.A’Liebia Morris, who graduatesfrom Anniston High School this month,expects to join Anniston assisted livingfacility NHC Place, where she’ll work asa certified nursing assistant. She com-pleted clinical trials there as part of thehigh school’s career tech program, andsaid she can start work once she passesher CNA certification exam this month.She said her everyday tasks will includetaking patients’ blood pressure and heartrates, helping them change and keepingup with their everyday health needs.Morris said she’s wanted to be a nursesince the sixth grade, when emergencyservices workers responded to a callabout her grandmother. Though hergrandmother died, she said, watchingresponders work “sparked something”inside her.“She needed help I couldn’t providefor her, but maybe one day I could dothat for someone. Old, young, anything;someone always needs help,” she said.Lockridge said college might notbe the answer for every student, asevidenced by graduates like Reavesand Morris. Though both do plan toPlease see TECH Page 5

The Anniston StarFriday, May 17, 2019 Page 3ALEXANDRIA HIGH SCHOOLClass: 166 Commencement: 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Lou Scales Stadium Baccalaureate: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19, Leatherwood Baptist ChurchVALEDICTORIANRobert Clay RawlinsSALUTATORIANChloe Elizabeth OwenHISTORIANJared Keith PonderPARENTS: Kaytrina Usrey of AlexandriaGRANDPARENTS: Gwendolyn Reynoldsof Argo and the late Raymond Gardener,formerly of Pell CityACTIVITIES: Principal’s Club, Scholar’sBowl, master certification in MicrosoftOffice, voted “Most Likely to Succeed,”Calhoun County Math Tournament First Placewinner, member of Bear Book Club and theNational Honor Society.COLLEGE: Plans to attend the Universityof Alabama at Birmingham on a PresidentialRecognition Scholarship and major in neuroscience and pursue acareer as a neurologist.PARENTS: Liane Newman of Weaver andJeff Owen of AlexandriaGRANDPARENTS: Gisela and Theo Rödelof Germany and the late Sarah and CrandleOwen, formerly of AnnistonACTIVITIES: Best Pre-AP History StudentAward, Best Psychology Student Award,member of the 2018 Second Place CalhounCounty Scholars’ Bowl team, Best MiddleSchool Family and Consumer Sciences student, voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” HonorSociety, Principal’s Club, Bear Book Club,Scholars’ Bowl and Key Club.COLLEGE: Plans to attend Auburn University on an AuburnUniversity Alumni Association Endowment Scholarship and aSpirit of Auburn Foundation Scholarship and pursue a degree incomputer science.PARENTS: Michelle and Keith Ponder ofAlexandriaGRANDPARENTS: Pat Trego and Lou andSandra Trego, all of Oxford and Neita Ponderof JacksonvilleACTIVITIES: Middle school Student ofthe Year, Boys All State representative, YouthLeadership of the Chamber of Commerce,Honor Society, Principal’s Club, SGA VicePresident, varsity football, basketball andbaseball.COLLEGE: Plans to attend the Universityof Alabama on an A & S Opportunity Scholarship, a CollegiateScholar Scholarship, a Supply Store Book Scholarship and theJoe and Christine Callahan Scholarship and pursue a career as aphysical therapist.CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATIONA-FAaron Christopher Allen, Donyell DeMarkusAnthony, Jeremiah Jacob Bailey, Adam Craig Baird,Connor Grayson Beck, Christopher Ryan Blalock,Krystyan Kylar Eugene Boles, Jalen Cole Borders,Caleb Brian Boyd, Alierra Blessen Antoneejaa’Bradford, Joseph Patrick Breunig, Bailey LaineBrewer, Peyton Riley Broadwell, John HoustonBrooks, Alyssa Desarae Broughton, Adam Christopher Brown, Brennan Patrick Brown, Jacob MichaelBrown, Megan Bonita Ann Bumpers, Kendal ErinBumpus, Chloe Layne Burt, Sierra Jade Butner, MaryElizabeth Byrd, Kaitlyn Marie Canada, Kaleb LeeCargal, Yaziel Marie Cervantez, Mikayla Marie Charl-ton, Madison Elizabeth Chastain, Destynee ElizabethCheshire, Gaven Lynn Childers, Sebastin Gage Christopher, Destanee Rayne Coffee, Justin Earl Collins,Jordan Ray Cook, Stephen Blaine Cooper, CatherineMarie Copeland, Bethany Ann Corriveau, SelenaMaria Craft, Makenah Elizabeth Crawford, HeatherLeighann Cryder, Meghan R Dunaway, RoderickDemetrius Dye Jr, Ethan Cole Edmondson, GavinReed Endsley, LaDasia Unique English, Austin DaleErdman, Camille Leigh Estes, Eric Paul Farlow, LucasAlexander Feazell, Blakely Lane Folds, Kahlil EricFrancis, Jacob Lane Frazier, Sarah Clarice FreemanPlease see ALEXANDRIA Page 4