Charles Co. Class of 2020 earns highest scholarship amount in a decade, seniors celebrated in virtual graduations

The Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2020 will be honored during in-person celebrations and virtual graduations to air starting June 11. This year’s ceremonies may be different for the more than 2,075 graduating seniors, but the accomplishments of this class are historical. The Class of 2020 earned a record number of scholarship offers totaling $124,840,988. This is the highest amount for a CCPS graduating class in at least a decade. These students not only completed their senior year virtually, but also broke records along the way.

Seniors will be honored June 1-4 at optional in-person recognition events, and in virtual graduation ceremonies set to air starting June 11. This year’s graduating class features 2,079 students receiving either a diploma or certificate, and a record number of scholarship offers totaling nearly $125 million. A schedule of events is posted on the CCPS website at https://www.ccboe.com/index.php/graduation-class-of-2020.

Class of 2020 valedictorians and salutatorians were announced this week and represent the top academic achievers among graduates at each school. These positions are determined by student grade-point averages.

Leading the Henry E. Lackey High School graduating class are Annie Landgraf as valedictorian and Jemila Macauley as salutatorian. Landgraf will attend Virginia Tech in the fall to study computer and electrical engineering. Macauley plans to study biomedical sciences in the fall at the University of South Florida.

La Plata High School Class of 2020 leaders include valedictorian Brandon Luton and salutatorian Tanner Wyant. Luton will attend the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in the fall and plans to study engineering. Wyant heads to Georgetown University in the fall and plans to study math, psychics or political science.

The Maurice J. McDonough High School Class of 2020 is led by co-valedictorians Haley Arnold and Jake Burgess. Class salutatorian is Olivia Johnson. Arnold will attend McDaniel College and plans to major in psychology and minor in neuroscience. Burgess is attending the Honors College at the University of Maryland, College Park. He will major in operations management and business analytics. Johnson heads out of state in the fall to attend the University of Chicago. She plans to double major in mathematics and psychology.

Valedictorian for the Class of 2020 at North Point High School is Maxwell Stine. Kai Ko is the class salutatorian at North Point. Stine will attend the University of Maryland, College Park in the fall to study computer engineering. Ko will study computer science at Johns Hopkins University.

St. Charles High School senior Faith Washington leads the Class of 2020 as valedictorian. Washington will attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall to study Biology. Joe Mike Christopher Trespeces is class salutatorian at St. Charles. He plans to study computer science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Valedictorian for the Class of 2020 at Thomas Stone High School is Elizabeth Daniel and class salutatorian is Ashani Davis. Daniel heads out of state to the University of Florida in the fall. She will major in engineering. Davis also heads out of state in the fall to North Carolina where she will attend Wake Forest University. She plans to major in history.

The graduating class from Westlake High School is led by valedictorian Nimer Pannu and salutatorian Kathleen Martinez. Pannu has not finalized her plans for the fall. She is interested in studying abroad, but is waiting to hear back from schools she was wait listed. Her top choice would be Bryn Mawr College and she is undecided on a major. Martinez was accepted into the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She plans to study computer science.

2020 graduation numbers by school (scholarship totals may increase as offers are received)

Henry E. Lackey High School

  • Total graduates: 246
  • Scholarship offers: $14,810,408

La Plata High School

  • Total graduates: 288
  • Scholarship offers: $17,584,900

Maurice J. McDonough High School

  • Total graduates: 198
  • Scholarship offers: $12,156,245

North Point High School

  • Total graduates: 433
  • Scholarship offers: $20,861,429

St. Charles High School

  • Total graduates: 358
  • Scholarship offers: $19,589,921

Thomas Stone High School

  • Total graduates: 270
  • Scholarship offers: $23,433,700

Westlake High School

  • Total graduates: 286
  • Scholarship offers: $16,404,385

Total graduates: 2,079

Total scholarship offers: $124,840,988

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,521 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
 
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