CHS Graduation 2024
May 20, 2024
It was a memorable day as 763 seniors officially graduated from Cabot High School!
Students graduated on campus in three different ceremonies at Panther Arena on Saturday, May 18th. During the ceremonies, Superintendent Dr. Tony Thurman and CHS Principal Henry Hawkins welcomed everyone and congratulated the Class of 2024.
Included in this class are 50 Distinguished Honor Graduates, 69 High Honor graduates, and 65 Honor Graduates. These students met this distinction by maintaining a high GPA while taking rigorous academic classes.
This class is also made up of six National Merit Scholars, 29 Governor’s Distinguished Scholars, 7 military academy appointments (these scholarships are valued at over $500,000 each) and over $150,0000 in scholarships given by businesses, organizations, and individuals in our local community.
Out of the 763 graduates, 72 of these have a 4.0 GPA or higher. Also included is well over half-a-million dollars given in band, choir, and athletic scholarships.
In this senior class, 4% of our students have committed to a military branch, 68% are comitted to a college or university, 11% are headed to vocational or technical traning programs, and 17% are entering the workforce. Sixty-one-percent of our seniors have held a job while finishing their education. The number one career choice for this group of seniors is the medical field.
The Class of 2024 Cabot High School Co-Valedictorian is Bailey Thi Van. Bailey is the daughter of Kha Van and Be’ Ton. Bailey has been a member of the Cabot High School AP Academy, National Honor Society, STEM Club, Key Club, Literature Club, and Mu Alpha Theta. She has been President of Rho Kappa, an Event Coordinator for the National English Honor Society and Secretary of the National Science Honor Society. Bailey is a Research Scholar for the Stanford iGEM Bioengineering Research Program and during that time co-authored a paper studying variants of priming agents to find possible cures to MRSA. She is also a Research Team Member for Passion4Med, a biology tutor for Youth Pioneers in STEM and a policy committee member for the Youth Climate Action Team.
Bailey was a part of the Cabot Debate Team for two years and has earned multiple awards including first place in the Arkansas Regional 3 Novice Lincoln Douglas event. Bailey has accepted a full-ride QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship worth over $350k as well as the First Community Bank Scholarship and JC Goffe Foundation Scholarship. She will continue her studies at Columbia University in New York. She is interested in epithelial diseases and plans to become a surgical dermatologist and open her own clinic in the future.
Our next Class of 2024 Cabot High School Co-Valedictorian is Keely Elizabeth Witt. Keely is the daughter of Kenneth and Jennifer Witt. Keely has been a member of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, the CHS Youth Leadership Council and Student Council. She has served as Historian of the National Honor Society. Bailey has accepted a University of Arkansas Chancellor Merit Scholarship, as well as the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship, National Guard Association of Arkansas Scholarship and a Cabot Panther Foundation Scholarship. She plans to continue her studies at the University of Arkansas with plans to enroll in medical school and become a plastic surgeon.
Our Salutatorian for the Class of 2024 is Bruce Warren Smith, Jr. Warren is the son of Brandi Smith and Bruce Warren Smith, Sr. He has served as President and Vice President of the Young Democrats Club and Secretary of the French Club. He is a member of the National English Honor Society, the National Social Studies Honor Society, Poets’ Society, the French Club, and Young Democrats Club. Warren is one of three students from Cabot High School to receive the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program scholarship at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. This scholarship provides students with a generous financial package, interdisciplinary core curriculum, study abroad opportunities, and a supportive community. He plans to study Environmental Biology, English, and Education.
Mr. Hawkins along with his assistant principals called students on stage while Cabot School Board President Joe Trusty presented students with their diplomas.
The changing of the tassel was conducted by a very special member of the Cabot High School Class of 1954. The Class of ‘54 is celebrating their 70th anniversary as alumni of Cabot High School. Our distinguished alumna is retired from the Cabot School District after a long, illustrious career in education. We were honored for Miss Margaret Kinley to take part in our ceremonies.
Following the changing of the tassel and alma mater, Mr. Hawkins presented the Class of 2024! Congratulations!