Blue Ridge School and Early College celebrated graduating seniors awarded scholarships and recognized other Bobcats for academic success at their May 8 scholarship dinner.
Scholarships were awarded by Blue Ridge School Foundation, Cedar Creek Club, Cashiers United Methodist Church, Highlands-Cashiers Board of Realtors, Glenville Community Development Center, Church of the Good Shepherd, NC Farm Bureau, and Friends of Lake Glenville.
Ethan Henson, Journi Jaynes, Kaylee Kern, Gabriella Martinez, Paige McCall, and Stella Wilson all received scholarships.
The top ten percent of seventh graders through seniors by GPA were recognized for their academic achievement. This list included 17 students, two honorees in seventh, tenth, and eleventh grades, three honorees in eighth and twelfth grades, and five in ninth grade.
The scholarship dinner began with remarks from Dr. Lynn Dillard who represents district five of the Jackson County Board of Education and Southwestern Community College President Don Thomas.
Dillard congratulated students for their proper uses of their intellectual talents and abilities, while Thomas encouraged students to be vigilant and remain accountable about their education. Thomas also said that being good may not be good enough.
“Those who excel in their career don’t settle for being merely good,” Thomas said. “The world needs individuals who are not content with mediocrity but are driven by an endless pursuit to excellence.”
Various people awarded the scholarships and congratulated the students, and then Blue Ridge Early College principal, Dr. Nathan Frizzell, spoke. He encouraged students to live their lives, choose their own paths, and be the best that they can be.
“Sure, good may not be good enough,” Frizzell said, “but if you’re being the best you that you can be, that is good enough.”
He continued with an excerpt from Robert Frost’s iconic poem, “The Road Not Taken.” Frizzell changed the ending, though. Frizzell said students may not always know what decision is best, but they should go forth in decisions with confidence still, using learning and observational abilities, as well as other people, to determine whatever path may be best for them. Frizzell said that just because the path may be common doesn’t mean it is wrong for you, but similarly, sometimes the less traveled path may fit your shoes.