Racine, Ohio: Southern Local Schools celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during the Southern High School Awards Assembly held Thursday morning, May 21, in the high school gymnasium. The ceremony recognized academic excellence, leadership, athletics, service, career readiness, and scholarship accomplishments earned by graduating seniors.
Principal Mr. Otto welcomed students, families, staff, and community members to the annual program, while Student Council President Audrey Riffle led the Pledge of Allegiance.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the recognition of students earning Honors Diplomas. Those honored included Murphy Dunfee, Jaylynn Hupp, Noah Leachman, Kiersten Rose, and Nathan Shuster.
Southern Local also recognized students earning distinction through the school’s Latin graduation system. Merit graduates included Lauren Allen, Payton Barber, Laynee Hill, Hunter Jarrell, Mia Little, Hunter Moore, Kallie Jo Roush, Kianna Rose, William Smith, Wyatt Smith, and Jacob Wickline. Magna Cum Laude graduates were Murphy Dunfee, Audrey Riffle, and Taylor Roberts, while Summa Cum Laude honors went to Jaylynn Hupp, Noah Leachman, Kiersten Rose, and Nathan Shuster.
Numerous departmental and organizational awards were presented throughout the ceremony. Jaylynn Hupp earned the Citizenship Key, Science Key, Holzer Science Award, and the Larry R. Morrison Female Athlete of the Year Award. Noah Leachman received the Activities Key, Citizenship Key, Math Key, Social Studies Key, Spanish Key, the WSAZ “Best of the Class” Award, and the OHSAA Scholar Athlete Award.
Additional major honors included the NFHS Award of Excellence presented to Kiersten Rose, the OHSAA Courageous Student Award presented to Andre Chandler, and OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Awards presented to Mia Little and Nathan Shuster. Jacob Wickline was named Larry R. Morrison Male Athlete of the Year.
Several students were also recognized for achievements in agriculture, career technical education, and leadership programs. Wyatt Smith received the Outstanding FFA Senior Award and recognition from the Ohio Agribusiness Association. Multiple students earned Agribusiness and Production Systems Certifications, OSHA 10 certifications, and American Welding Society certifications through Meigs Career and Technology Center programming.
Scholarships made up another major portion of the awards assembly, with Southern seniors receiving thousands of dollars in local and regional scholarship support. Among the largest awards announced were the Rio Grande Thrive Scholarship awarded to Andre Chandler for $22,000, the Jake Bapst Scholarship awarded to Taylor Roberts for $10,500, and the Horatio Alger Ohio Scholar Award earned by Taylor Tucker worth $10,000.
Noah Leachman was among the top scholarship recipients, earning awards including the Governor’s Merit Scholarship, Kyger Creek Scholarship, Jim Adams Memorial Scholarship, and multiple Racine-Southern Scholarship Association scholarships. Andre Chandler, Audrey Riffle, Jaylynn Hupp, Hunter Jarrell, Kiersten Rose, Kianna Rose, Nathan Shuster, Mia Little, and several others were also recognized repeatedly throughout the ceremony for their academic performance and community involvement.
The program concluded with appreciation expressed to the many local organizations, churches, businesses, scholarship committees, and community members whose continued support helps Southern Local graduates pursue higher education and career opportunities after high school.
School officials also shared their appreciation to the community for their support and contributions to the class of 2026. Southern Local will hold their graduation ceremony tonight at 8pm in the James R Adams Gymnasium.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026.