On Thursday, January 30, 2025, Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) hosted its Fall Special Recognition Celebration at West Johnston High.
During the event, students and staff were recognized for academic, athletic, extracurricular, and extraordinary achievements. Parents, families, community members, and members of the Johnston County Board of Education attended the celebration.
FINE ARTS:
JCPS High School All-County Honors Art Gallery - 1st Place Recipients
Smithfield-Selma High: Luis Perez Gonzales (Beginning Proficiency)
West Johnston High: Naomi Proctor (Intermediate Proficiency), Keanu Guadalupe (Advanced Proficiency)
South Johnston High: Kira O'Hara (Proficient Proficiency)
NC State Fair Art Competition Place Holders - Art Public, Private, Home Schools Division - High School:
Smithfield-Selma High: (6th Place) Sarah Baker, Kiara Ballantini, Kyle Bell, Rylan Hellis, Secia Jimenez, Hayden Perez
JCPS High School All-County Honor Choir - Highest Score
Clayton High: Ella Selah (Soprano 1)
Cleveland High: Raleigh Farrar (Alto 2), Piersen Bartlett (Bass 1), Haoyang Kuang (Bass 2);
Corinth Holders High: Kayla Tripp (Alto 1)
North Johnston High: Hannah Arant (Soprano 2)
Smithfield-Selma High: Wilmond Barnes (Tenor 1)
West Johnston High: Cassidy Weal (Tenor 2)
JCPS High School All-County Honor Choir - Soloists
Clayton High: Ella Selah, Jaidon Tucker, Keileen Urena, Brayan Vigil-Lara
Cleveland High: David Bernardino, Ashley Quintana
Corinth Holders High: Mak Peterson, Zoey Pridgen
South Johnston High: Kaitlynn Perrin
West Johnston High: Ava Wilson
NCMEA North Carolina State High School Honors Chorus Participants
Clayton High: Ella Selah (Soprano 1)
NCMEA North Carolina State Middle School Honors Chorus Participants
North Johnston Middle: Maxwell Cuddington, Finley Barnes, Robert Woods, Sophia Zenobi
Riverwood Middle: Barrett Long, Carson McIntosh, Lillianne Miller, Cameron Spain, Selma Bravo
NCMEA North Carolina State Elementary School Honors Chorus Participants
Cleveland Elementary: Ella Bottomley, Sophia Kendall, Isla Schaub
JCPS High School All-County Honors Concert Band - 1st Chair Recipients
Clayton High: Andrew West (Bass Clarinet), Dyson Blackmon (Trombone), Gabriel Starling (Timpani)
Cleveland High: Ailey Simmons (Flute), Aavin Hicks (Alto Saxophone), Joshua Rudisill (Trumpet), Gabriel Jones (Baritone)
Corinth Holders High: Avery Hanna (Clarinet), Gian DiGiacomo (Tuba)
Smithfield-Selma High: Liz Kennemur (Tenor Saxophone), Eli Spottswood (French Horn), Elle Stephenson (Mallets);
South Johnston High: Israel Martinez Hernandez (Baritone Saxophone)
Princeton High: Abba Carl (ContraBass Clarinet)
West Johnston High: Ariella Powell (Section Percussion)
JCPS High School All-County Honors Symphonic Band - 1st Chair Recipients
Clayton High: Cadence Mercer (Flute), Daniel Nguyen (Oboe), David Germain (Timpani);
Cleveland High: Cameron Ayscue (Bassoon), Connor Davis (Trumpet), Jackson Meshaw (French Horn), Owen Kumpf (Tuba), Cole Pakkala (Section Percussion), Xander Monserrate (Mallets); Corinth Holders High: Kaylene Jimenez (Alto Saxophone), Jackson Rhodes (Trombone); Smithfield-Selma High: Lilly McDonald (Clarinet), Rory Martin (Tenor Saxophone), Parker Allen (Baritone Saxophone), Emmanuel Velasquez (Baritone); West Johnston High: Kali Cipolla (Bass Clarinet)
BOA Regional Championship First Place Recipients
Cleveland High: Cassius Barbosa, Cardin Brown, Karina Cardona, Emily Cavanaugh, Nicholas Choto, Carolina Choto, Jordyn Collins, Isaias De La Cruz, Mackenzie Donastorg, Klavdiia Dmytriuk, Simon Dooley, Juliana Dumas, Evey Eaton, Yamileth Femat, Joanna Flores Nava, Bailey Frey, Heather Hilton, Logan Jackson, Gabriel Jones, Logan Keenan, Ryan McKoy, Xander Monserrate, Cole Pakkala, Taylor Poole, Danielle Roberts, Joshua Rudisill, Ailey Simmons, Martin Smith, Graham Therriault, Johana Zarate
ATHLETICS:
East-West All-Star Football Game Participant
Clayton High: Codey Larkins
4A All-State Men’s Soccer Team
Clayton High: Chris Serrano
Shrine Bowl Participant
Cleveland High: Ronalon Renwick
East-West All-Star Volleyball Game Participant
Cleveland High: Sadie Johnston
South Johnston High: Lannah Price
2A All-State Men’s Soccer Team
Princeton High: Josh Coley
Carolina Classic - All-Star Basketball Games - Women’s Head Coach
North Johnston High: Jay Poole
NCHSAA State Cheer Invitational Divisional Champion
North Johnston High: Gracen Astoske, Riley Austin, Talia Bethea, Abigail Black, Taylor Braswell, Malaya Durant, Chyler Grice, Katelin Gronendyke, Rhian Hamilton, Lacie Holmes, Chloe Howell, Samantha Johnson, Addison Long, Ashlyn Overton, Mikylie Parrish, Chloe Peedin, Alayna Phillips, Peyton Price, Ella Rabil, and Kyndall Wall.
Princeton High: Macie Allison, Catey Arnold, Madison Baker, Paige Bizzell, Emily Bronner, Anna Cook, Finley Gardner, Chloe Herring, Madison Herring, Avery Hester, Kaniyah Hill, Allie Holmes, Gabriella Howell, Isabella Howell, Karsyn King, Taylor Massey, Gracyn Oliver, Samantha Philyaw, DViyah Ruffin, Lexi Grace Sullivan, Ryleigh Ward, and Heaven Whitman.
2024-2025 ELEMENTARY DISTRICT SPELLING BEE:
1st Place Overall - Benjamin Foxworth (Pine Level Elementary)
2nd Place Overall - Jhoel Franklin (Dixon Road Elementary)
3rd Place Overall - Jaxson Lampman (Glendale-Kenly Elementary)
2024-25 MATHCOUNTS DISTRICT COMPETITION:
Individual Winners:
1st Place Overall - Sam McLeod (Innovation Academy)
2nd Place Overall - Aiden Ernst (North Johnston Middle)
3rd Place Overall - Edgar Cordon Juarez (McGee’s Crossroads)
4th Place Overall Individual - Avery Scott (Princeton Middle/High).
Team Winners:
1st Place Overall - “The Brainy Bunch” - Grayden Foster, Sophia Zenobi, Aiden Ernst, and Claire Kornegay (North Johnston Middle)
2nd Place Overall - “The 𝛑ioneers” - David Peace, Sam McLeod, Jozzy Nicolas, and Evelyn Buckner (Innovation Academy)
3rd Place Overall - “The Bulldogs” - Avery Scott, Connor Bunn, Ryan Chen, and Thomas Crews (Princeton Middle/High)
PRINCIPAL and ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR:
2024-2025 Principal of the Year - Melissa Hurst, Corinth Holders High
2023-2024 Assistant Principal of the Year - Shannon Pawlak, Riverwood Elementary