News: Austin Walker and Students Recognized by State Legislature
Reprinted from a 5/13/09 article in the Delta Democrat Times about Mississippi Teacher Corps Class of 2007 (MTC designates classes by year entered, not completed) participant Austin Walker. Watch a video profile of Austin here:
SHS Latin class students feted by Representatives
JACKSON – Simmons High School students and teacher Austin Walker were commended by legislators on their accomplishments at the National Junior Classical League State Convention and the National Latin Exam.
Walker teaches the first Latin program at Simmons High School and led the class to perform at a level equal to or greater than all other Latin programs in Mississippi.
Reps. Johns Hines, D-Greenville, Willie Bailey, D-Greenville, Linda Whittington, D-Schlater and Rufus Straughter, D-Belzoni, honored the students of at the State Capitol Friday.
“I have always said students from the Mississippi Delta have always shined when given the opportunity. This is an example where hard work and dedication from the students and their instructor have paid off,” said Hines. “I have always emphasized a true investment must be made in our public schools in the Mississippi Delta if we are serious about revitalizing this region.”
Students from Simmons High School included Ulysses Aldridge, Tempestt Atkins, Xavier Clay, Alexis Hicks, Bianca Johnson, Briana Mosely, Kayla Patterson, Bobby Sims and Horace Willis.
In the National Junior Classical League state convention, Alexis Hicks placed first and Xavier Clay placed third in the Latin I grammar and translation test taken by more than 60 students
In the National Latin Exam, a test administered to more than 160,000 students nationwide, six Simmons students won national awards: Xavier Clay won a gold medal and a summa cum laude certificate; Bianca Johnson won a silver medal and a maxima cum laude certificate; Ulysses Aldridge, Alexis Hicks and Horace Willis won magna cum laude certificates; and Kayla Patterson won a cum laude certificate.
Final results on the National Latin Exam placed Simmons High School in a tie with Clinton High School for the highest award rate in the state, 66.67 percent.