Philip Simmons High is excited to recognize more than 200 graduates next Thursday at the North Charleston Coliseum.
The graduating class of 2024 includes 15 state Academic Honor recipients and 10 Palmetto Fellows. There are 90 students eligible for the Life Scholarship and 69 eligible for the Hope Scholarship. One graduate has committed to the United States Naval Academy.
This year's 215 graduates raked in an estimated total of $7,880,203 in academic scholarships and $196,000 in athletic scholarships.
Commencement exercises begin at 2 p.m. on May 30. All BCSD graduations will be livestreamed.
Valedictorian
Ava Elizabeth van Delden
Parents: Elizabeth van Delden and Sebastian van Delden
Awards: Second place in the South Carolina State Fair Art Competition (2022); First place in the South Carolina State Fair Art Competition (2023); Second place in the CAG 2024 High School Senior Art Show; Philip Simmons High School Leadership in Visual Art Award 2023-2024.
Offices held: Vice President of the National Art Honors Society; National Honors Society Historian
Extracurricular activities: Project Leader for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child; Team Leader for Water Mission; Member of the Mayorās Youth Commission; Member of the Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC), YVC Youth Advisory Board, and YVC International Youth Advisory Board; High School Varsity Cheerleading; Wolfpack Competitive Cheerleading; Church of the Holy Cross Summer Camp Counselor; Conducted scholarly research for science and presented with parents on robot that quadruped delivery of clean water in rural communities in 2023.
Scholarships earned: Colonial Scholarship; Palmetto Fellows Scholarship
Total scholarships: $133,900
College attending: College of Charleston Honors College in the Charleston Fellows Program
Intended major: Biochemistry (pre-med)
Message to the senior class: "Dream big dreams, but take one step at a time. You will stumble and fall along the way. We all do. But in time with hard work and a positive attitude, you will achieve wonders."
Salutatorian
Amelia Grace Whirrett
Parents: Elizabeth Whirrett and Brian Whirrett
Awards: South Carolina High School League Scholar-Athlete of the month of September; Seal of Biliteracy Award - Spanish; Friday Night Lights Scholar-Athlete; four-time All-Region Player; two-time All-State Player; two-time Girls Varsity Tennis State Champion; Junior Marshall; Invited and Participated in North-South All-Star Game; Beta Club Leadership Award
Offices held: Captain of Girls Varsity Tennis Team - 4 years; Beta Club President - 2 years; Recycling Club President - 2 years
Extracurricular activities: Varsity Girls Tennis Team - 6 years; Beta Club - 4 years; National Honor Society - 2 years; LTP Tennis Academy - 8 years; Spanish National Honor Society - 2 years; Recycling Club - 4 years; Iron Hearts Club - 2 years; Book Club; and Senior, Junior, Sophomore, and Freshman Class Boards
Scholarships earned: SAME Scholarship; Virginia Tech Scholars; Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, University of South Carolina STEM Scholarship; Clemson LIFE Scholarship; Clemson Merit Scholarship; Auburn True Blue Legacy Scholarship; University of South Carolina Deanās Scholarship; Gameday Scholarship
Total scholarships: $51,900
College attending: Virginia Tech
Intended major: Architecture
Message to the senior class: "I would like to tell my fellow classmates how proud I am of everyone and how much they have accomplished. I am also wishing everyone good luck in college and their future endeavors. Thank you for all the memories and for making the past four years so special."
Top 5 graduating seniors
Joining van Delden and Whirrett in the top five are the following graduates:
3. Bridgit Barron Fei
4. Andersen Kai Spina
5. Emily Ruth Wood
Philip Simmons High's graduating class of 2024
Natasha Mikaella Abril Moreira
Tyler Nissim Adorno
Dana Ellington Allen
Tonaza'ha Ronette Allen
Skylyn Nygail Alston
Guillermo Alvarado Jr.
Lilly Madelyn Anders
Keyianna Yahaira Anderson
Aidan Charles Anderson-Taylor
Markellis Jevaughn Asbury Jr.
Kathryn Regan Baker
Nolan Maximus Baldwin
Monet Elaina Ball
Addison Rose Barbuto
Penelope Rose Barrineau
Elijah Kenneth Bates
William Rogers Bearden
Carolyn Anna Braswell
Janay Atasia Brown
Ky'asia Imani Brown-Wilder
Emma Kay Bryson
Margaret Faith Bussinelli
Miller Glenn Cannon
Kain Mathias Carmain
Makhi Odell Carson
Cameron Allen Casey
Jemma Isabelle Cazabon
Tia Grace Chaney
Alexandra Gunn Caldwell
Laila Moss Clay
Brandt William Cloutier
Mia Jane Cobb
Lucy Elizabeth Cogan
Weston Howard Coggeshall
Ansley Elizabeth Cohen
Hunter Lee Cook
Samuel William Crocker
Audrey June Curcio
Stephen Martin Daniel
Jamal Edward Dawkins
Elliot Andrew Desjardins
Rernard Karij Deveaux Jr.
Kenneth A'Marion Dickerson Jr.
Russell Eugene Dickerson Jr.
Marli Grace Dingle
Reagan Leigh Donley
Bobby Earl Duell, Jr.
Colette Jacqueline Durante
Bryce Chandler Ellington
Ryan Keith Ellmers, Jr.
Sienna Kathleen Ervin
Ellie Serafina Estey
Levi Owen Evans
Aidan Patrick Farrell
Kaylee Jean Fattarusso
Bridgit Barron Fei
Elika Neyshalie Figueroa Colon
Thomas Charles Fisher
Connor Craig Fitzgerald
Liam Kenneth Floyd
Jaimey Monique Foy
Bryce Edward Franko
Grady Angelo Cole Gabriel
Wesley Richard Gallagher
Joshua Elijha James Gant
Luke Evan Gardner
Maci Allyn Gethers
Keshaun Devontay Gladney
Mckinley Ellison Goettsch
Hannah Caroline Goforth
Nicholas Dimitri Goides
Madeline Kendall Gorman
Malikah Elayna-Trinique Grant
Rayonna Akeelah Amari Grant
Avery Kendall Gray
Walter Boyd Gregg IV
Alexander Joseph Gunnels
William Alexander Hamilton V
Elizabeth May Zhaoxia Hamlin
Emmeline Elissa Hamlin
Isabella Amanda Havens-Salas
Charles Maverick Heater
Sydney Elizabeth Hebebrand
Ryan Thomas Heineck
Chance Michael Henderson
Andrew James Hoftiezer
Valencia Christina Hood-Mulleitner
Wesley Roy Hudson-Jacoby
Harrison Scott Hughes
Parker Joseph Hughes
Margaret Mary Hurley
Trimaine Kenny Irving Jr.
Alexis Jasso
Carlio Jermaine Jenkins
Owen Davis Jenkins
Riley Crawford Jenkins
Hayden Emily Jennings
Robert Bodkins Jimenez
Colton Matthew Johns
Alexandra Hannon Keffer
Eve Elizabeth Kelly
Rhys Thomas Kerns
Kelsey Lynn Kiefer
Anders Daniel King
Mitchell James LaBrie
Lucas Thomas Labarca
Hollyn Grace Lambert
Veera Vieno Vilhelmiina Lammi
Taylor Zamareah Lawrence
Sam Eve McGrew Lemon
Nicholas Lebron Lockwood
Angelina Legacy Longo
Maliaka Joel Mack
Micah Wah-Ya Mack
Ty'Sun Daquan Mack-Davis
Parks Hawthorne MacNicholas
Adyson Grace Manocchio
Nicholas Manuel Marin
Sarah Sophia Marin
Emma Dorothy Marley
Crisleni Martinez Valdez
Madeleine McDaniel Maxwell
Josephine Bright May
Nyia Grace McDonald
Gavin Lyrik McDonough
Megan Elizabeth McQuade
Liam Everett Mendetzki
Addison Grace Meyers
Hailey Elizabeth Meyers
Kameron Robert Mingo
Kinsey Marie Mitchum
Anastasia Magdalena Mitten Aleksejeva
Dalaina Jaidan Monarca
Kenneth Baine Moore
Ian Michael Mullaney
Tess Trotter Neary
William Joseph O'Neill
Madison Lucienne Oswald
Quinn James Panaia
Skylor Ann Pannell
Olivia Ann Park
Jessica Nicole Parsley
Alejandro Leyva Peredia
Sahrah Ruth Peters
Gianna Giorgianni Phillips
Gianna Isabella Piscopo
Evelyn Marie Poch
Edward Wes Porter
Madalyn Grace Preston
Troy Ryan Propes
Daniel Steven Prosper
Patrick Anthony Quinlan
Lily Hannah Radaker
Henley Rath
Johan Reyes Santiago
Caroline Elizabeth Roberts
Tyler Andrew Roberts
Madison Olivia Roper
Blake Durst Rose
Edward Ace Rosenlieb
Christina Marie Rosenquist
Reagan Nicole Roush
Ryan Philip Rousseau
Jonathan Tyler Ryan
Alan Santiago Avila
Paige Renee Schroeder
Cole Alexander Settar
Samuel Loren Sheffield
Parker Olivia Sherwood
Sophia Grace Shulse
Brenna Lynn Shultz
Bryce Giovanni Smalls
Danielle Alez Smalls
Daniya Aneesha Smalls
Bianca Nycole Smith
Grace Isabel Smith
Raven Ta'Leyah Smith
Tanner Jacob Smith
Jaylah Elizabeth Snider
Michael Ernest Spignardo
Andersen Kai Spina
London Elizabeth Stanley
Schoene Cooper Stechmesser
Troy Stevenson IV
Ethan Phillip Sullivan
Austin Wright Sweeney
Landon Marshall Swords-Hendricks
Mackenzie Ann Taylor
Marcey Lee Taylor
Motrenian Jabarie Taylor
Triniti A'moni Taylor
Damya Dominuque Thompson
London Olivia Toperzer
Marcus Jabaurie Townsend
Peyton Noelle Tribolet
Catherine Grace Tunesi
Dylan Martin Turner
Sergio Adrian Valdez
Layla Jean Valipour
Ava Elizabeth Van Delden
Veronica Jean Van Diest
Yahir Villavisencio Sanchez
Benjamin Travis Villeponteaux
Lauren Lane Wall
Grace Elizabeth Ward
Danearis Ja'quez Washington
Alex Edward Watson Jr.
Robert Amarii Watson
Patrick Boykin West
Amelia Grace Whirrett
Sharod Edward Williams Jr.
Emily Ruth Wood
Gunnar Edward Yocum
Harper Elise Youngman
Victoria Noelle Zimmerman