Senior Honors Day

Colossians 3:17 tells us, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” While we are thankful for the unique gifts, talents, and hard work of every member of the class of 2020, Senior Honors Day historically has been our time to recognize seniors who have gone above and beyond in support of their peers, faculty, and the Wesleyan community. Although we could not gather to celebrate in person this year, we are excited to unveil this year’s award recipients as voted on by the high school faculty. Award recipients are listed below in the order they would have been presented at the traditional ceremony.

Please click on each senior’s name to listen to a brief speech describing how he or she embodied the criteria of the award.

  • Male and Female MVP Athlete Awards - The MVP Athlete Awards are given each year to a senior male and female who have contributed greatly to numerous Wesleyan sports. These athletes are nominated by and voted on by our head varsity coaches based on their consistent athletic ability and sportsmanship. The 2020 Male MVP is presented to Micah Smith by Marc Khedouri. The 2020 Female MVP is presented to Jahni Kerr by Mary Stephenson.
 
  • Wolf Player Freedom Award - The Wolf Player Freedom Award represents the foundational idea of what makes a good performer. Inspired by chapter 5 of the book of Galatians, award recipients have taken steps in perfecting the art of acting that mirror Paul’s reminders to the church. They have released themselves from physical, emotional, or even social constraints, and then use that freedom to serve their audience and fellow actors in a performance. The 2020 Wolf Player Freedom Award is presented to Adam Rogers by Steve Broyles.
  • Choral Excellence Award - The Choral Excellence Award goes to a member of the Wesleyan Choral Program who strives for the highest levels of vocal performance while working to build a collaborative community of singing. The recipient must exhibit passion, dependability, and leadership while attending to the needs of others in the program. The 2020 Choral Excellence Award is presented to Tyler Sturtevant by Brad Meyer.
  • John Philip Sousa Award - Since its inauguration in 1954, The John Philip Sousa Award has been given to thousands of outstanding high school band students across the country. Individuals receiving this award must demonstrate leadership, dependability, and loyalty in band. The 2020 John Philip Sousa Award is presented to Jacob Walton by Jeff Foster.
 
 
 
  • Jean Raney Artist of the Year Award - The Jean Raney Artist of the Year Award, created in memory of an accomplished artist and parent at Wesleyan, is given annually to a senior who has displayed outstanding achievements in the area of visual art. The Jean Raney Artist of the Year Award is presented to Charlie Neu by Meagan Brooker.
 
 
  • Jayne Burns Excellence in the Arts Award - The annual award to honor artistic excellence is named in memory of Jayne Burns, beloved Wesleyan art teacher and Director of Fine Arts from 2001 until her death in 2007. This award honors individuals who passionately share their artistic gifts in the performing and/or visual arts to create meaningful artistic experiences. The 2020 Jayne Burns Excellence in the Arts Award is presented to Lizzie Stainback by Meg Foster.
 
 
  • Servant Leadership Award – Each year, the Omicron Service Society recognizes one outstanding servant leader from the senior class. Combining service and leadership together requires both the example of humble service as well as the intentional invitation to others to participate. The 2020 Servant Leadership Award is presented to Liza Yates by Kali Sessions.
 
 
  • C.S. Lewis Award - Given by the C. S. Lewis Institute of Atlanta, this award recognizes the student who, in the view of the faculty, best demonstrates “interest and skill in articulating and defending the Christian faith” either in a theological sense, (e.g. the existence of God, the problem of evil, the origin of the universe, etc.) or in the discussion of cultural topics such as ethical issues, the arts, or media and technology. The 2020 C.S. Lewis Award is presented to Kensie Pierce by Alex Bufton.
 
 
  • Development and Initiative Award - The Development and Initiative Award is awarded annually to a member of the senior class who, in the view of the faculty, best exemplifies extraordinary progress and improvement in the areas of personal maturity and/or overall academic performance over his/her high school career. The 2020 Development and Initiative Award is presented to Skyler Williams by Adam Griffin.
 
 
  • Dean’s Awards - The Dean’s Award is presented each year to a male and female student who impacts the Wesleyan community in a positive and significant fashion. This award recognizes a student’s character, citizenship, and willingness to serve others. Each recipient clearly lives out the J.O.Y. motto of Wesleyan, placing Jesus and Others above Self. The 2020 Female Dean’s Award is presented to Emily Kelly by Mary Stephenson. The 2020 Male Dean’s Award is presented to Wyatt Copeland by Josh Smith.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


  • Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Award - The DAR Good Citizens Committee recognizes senior high school students who excel in qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. The 2020 DAR Award is presented to Aubrey DeAugustinis by Joseph Cooper.
  • Wesleyan Award - The Wesleyan Award goes to the senior who has shown the most initiative and helpfulness to both students and faculty in all phases of school life. We particularly desire to recognize a student for his or her willingness to go above and beyond what is asked, exhibiting a servant’s heart and pursuing those tasks with unusual good humor and fellowship. The 2020 Wesleyan Award is presented to Niles Boyd by Brian Krehmeyer.

  • Salutatorian and Valedictorian Awards – The salutatorian and valedictorian awards are given to the seniors with the second highest and highest weighted-numeric averages respectively. The salutatorian award for the class of 2020 is presented to Lindsey Mains by Ashley Stainback. The valedictorian award for the class of 2020 is presented to Andy Yang by Deborah Brown.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Kathy Benson Faculty Cup - Given in honor of Kathy Benson and her longtime contribution to the students of Wesleyan School, the Kathy Benson Faculty Cup is one of Wesleyan’s top honors. It is awarded to a senior who exemplifies academic prowess and a significant contribution to school life outside the classroom. The 2020 Kathy Benson Faculty Cup is presented to Meredith Mangum by Greg Lisson.
 
  • Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) Cup – The AJC Cup is the highest award given to a Wesleyan senior. The AJC describes this award in the following terms, “The AJC Cup recognizes the extra efforts put forth by high school seniors to achieve excellence in academics and their leadership in school and community activities.” The 2020 AJC Cup is presented to Braden Thorne by Jeff Foster.
 
 
Please join us in congratulating each of these seniors and their families for their extraordinary accomplishments and contributions to the Wesleyan community over the past four years.
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