Top Five Banquet Held

The Toccoa Rotary Club again honors the top students at Stephens County High School and Stephens County Middle School.

Thursday, the club held its annual Top Five banquet at the high school.

Each year, the Top Five banquet honors the top five percent of the graduating class at Stephens County High School and this year, each of those seniors received a $1,000 scholarship.

The banquet also honors the top five students in each grade from grade 6 to grade 11.

Toccoa Rotary Club President Phil Hobbs said the club is proud to host this banquet each year and honor these students for their academic achievements.

“It is just an exciting thing for the Rotary Club to be a part of and it takes a lot of work throughout the year to raise money for scholarships like this, but we appreciate so much the businesses like 1st Franklin Financial and Toccoa Clinic that help as well as all the different businesses around the community that help with activities like the auction and different activities that Rotary participates in to support this program,” said Hobbs. “It is just so exciting to recognize these students and their parents over the years.”

This year’s guest speaker was 1st Franklin Financial President and CEO Ginger Herring.

She said that while some of the graduating seniors’ ambitions will take them from Toccoa, she encourages them to remember their roots and consider staying or returning home and investing back into Stephens County.

“Whether that be to work with an established business that is in town, work with our local government, or maybe even start your own business and establish roots for your family within the walls of Stephens County,” said Herring. “If there are things you wish were different about Toccoa, spend time, invest, and make them different.”

This year’s Top Five seniors at Stephens County High School are Ellen Mae Brock, Allison Renee Frazier, Carli Madison Gastley, Tiffany Denise Haddock, Kaitlan Elizabeth Knight, Grayson Melea Mitchell, Emily Grace Morgan, Sadie Raine Pruitt, Casey Dale Ramsey, Natalie Elise Simmons, and Haylee Elizabeth Walker.

Also assisting to put on this year’s Top Five Banquet were the Pilot Club of Toccoa and the Toccoa Junior Women’s Club.