Mullins High School honors students at banquet

Honor students at Mullins High School enjoyed an evening of dinner and gift giving, during the 21st annual Student Incentive Program awards banquet.

The school recognized 94 students, including four young ladies named “Distinguished Scholars.” Sophomore Sammantha D. Carper, Junior Daviesha C. Floyd, Junior Jessica R. Nettles and Senior China G. Cox were awarded for their consistent academic excellence.

“I just feel like this is an honor ... you work all year to get straight A’s,” Nettles said. The students were very appreciative, they said, of the work of Spanish teacher Mary E. Roach. “We work with her selling snacks during our break at her room, and then we have some donors in the community that give money. This program used to be funded on a grant, but they cut that off, so then she had to take everything on herself,” Floyd said.

Marion School District 2 Superintendent Nathaniel Miller’s remarks highlighted the behavior of the students and pointed out how nicely dressed everyone was for the occasion.

“Parents I want to just encourage you to never give up on children. Always strive to push them, even when they don’t want to be pushed,” he said, adding that challenging themselves in school prepares them for the future. “These are some of Mullins’ finest students. They work hard all year long, they carry the school in leadership, they’re determined to stay on the honor roll and make a difference. These are the students that’s going to move the community because we have so many of them,” Miller said, adding rewarding excellence is the name of the game.

Administrator Jean Allman gave an update of the SIP activities, informing that $2,978 worth of prizes were collected for the students.

Students receive a number of incentive privileges that include free admittance to athletic events, special parking, special lunch line placement, prizes, considered for grand prize drawings and are invited to the academic banquet.

“Mullins High School has been known all over the state for it’s athletic ability, and we just want people to know that we also look to our students for their academic ability,” she said. Patrons and donors for SIP include, Shoe Fair, Allman, Wanna Brand, Jack and Mary Ellen Roach, Robin Horne and Jane Voss.

MHS Principal Theodore Greene said the school is proud of the students, which represent nearly 20 percent of the student body.

“Tonight was just another example of what we try to do for the performance of our young people,” Greene said. He and School Resource Officer Misty Lewis gave out prizes while athletic director Ron Lanham scrambled to get the names of prize winners selected in a blind draw.

“They’re the best of our best and we should have something special for them. We just need to expand what we’re doing now and give them the encouragement they deserve,” John Hughes, school board chairman, said.

 “We thank all of the community, the parents and everybody that supports this because the kids just have a ball,” Roach said, adding that she is also proud of them. “It’s so much fun. It’s a lot of work, but it’s so much fun,” she said.