The Henry County School Board recognized student-athletes, coaches, scholarship recipients and educators during its June 16 meeting.
Among the honorees were recipients of the William Crosby Hairston Award for Excellence, presented by the Town of Ridgeway to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the community. This year’s recipients were Amber Adkins of Drewry Mason Elementary School, Melissa Bowers of Laurel Park Middle School and Crystal Lane of Magna Vista High School.
The board also recognized the Laurel Park Middle School girls soccer team for its accomplishments this season. Team members honored were Treasure Lampkins, Rylee Emerson, Maddie Dowling, Peyton Duncan, Morgan Dowling, Avery Kovack, Azariah Flood, Josie Favero, Brianna Finley, Yazmin Garcia-Hernandez, Keegan Redd, Estefany Perez Sanchez, Grace Wade, Payton Johnson, Kaylie Hurd, Emma Adkins, Amalia Rodriguez and Avery Bateman.
Several Magna Vista High School girls soccer players were recognized for all-district honors. Camdyn Shelbourne, Ella Frye and Arianna Bokman earned first-team selections, while Cadance Dillard and Eleanor Favero were named to the second team. Allison Platero Batres and Diem Forestier received honorable mention recognition.
The board recognized four students who received Presidential Scholarships from Virginia Tech: Jorge Ruiz Tamayo, Brianna Rivera-Jimenez, Nathan Tollison and Jerelle Carter Jr.
Magna Vista scholarship recipients also were recognized. Jimmy Dong earned $10,550.07 in scholarships, while Myssia Hairston-France earned $11,200.
Carter was honored for achievements in football, wrestling and track and field. His accomplishments included all-district, all-region and all-state honors in football, a Class 3 state heavyweight wrestling championship, and all-district and all-region recognition in shot put.
Magna Vista softball players recognized for all-district honors were Kaylee Barrow, Saige McBride, Kenzie Newcomb and Morgan Smith, who earned first-team selections. Faith Fuller and Alina Moyer were named to the second team, while Lilly Secrest and Chloe Wilson received honorable mention recognition.
Smith also was named Piedmont District Player of the Year and earned first-team all-region honors as a pitcher, along with all-region player of the year recognition. Newcomb earned first-team all-region honors, while McBride received honorable mention.
Magna Vista track and field athletes recognized for district honors included Jaythan Eggleston, Timaris Harris, Jackson Gunter, Eli Penn, MJ Jeffress, Tyler Tanner, Jerelle Carter Jr., Serenity Whalen and Kaitlyn Dalton.
Athletes receiving all-state recognition were Eggleston, Asantae Scott, Harris, Ethan Dukes, Carter, William Mabe, Dalton, Sa’Leah Preston, Jaydah Carter, McKenzie Hairston and Jaleah Garnes.
The Magna Vista boys soccer team also had several players earn district and regional honors. First-team all-district selections were Josue Garcia, Reese Starnes and Alfredo Carillo. Ian Stockton and Sam Walker earned second-team honors, while Kaden Mellott, William Del Cid-Contreras and Colby Favero-Wylie received honorable mention recognition.
At the regional level, Carillo and Garcia earned first-team honors. Starnes and Favero-Wylie were second-team selections, while Stockton and Walker received honorable mention recognition.
Bassett High School softball players Alyna Moore and Cailee Hairston were recognized for district and regional honors.
Several Magna Vista baseball players also were honored. JC Millner earned first-team all-district and all-region recognition at first base, while Jaylen Frazier earned first-team honors at shortstop. Camden Meadows received second-team all-district recognition. Coach Samuel Suite was named Piedmont District Coach of the Year.
The Bassett High School boys outdoor track team was recognized for winning the 2026 Piedmont District championship. Coach Kevin Underwood was named Piedmont District Coach of the Year.
Among the individual honorees were Thomas Fulcher, Austin Ratcliffe, Caiden Snider and AJ Webster, who earned district, regional and state qualifications in multiple events.
Additional track athletes recognized included Marquez Duvernay, Caleb Coles, Marquez Tatum, Giovanny Saligan-Medel, David Berent, Travian Canty, Jeddin Delgado-Gomez, Colton Kuczinski and Andrew Hundley.
Girls track athletes recognized included Ilenia Norman, Reniyah Dawson, Vanessa Medrano and Nyasia Herndon, who qualified for state competition in the long jump.
The board also recognized members of the Bassett High School tennis team, including Payton Horsley, Emily Whitlow, Ella Santoemma, Lauryn Phillips, Reese Jones and Sydney Minter.
Note: Because of the large number of names and honors, this works best as a sidebar or “recognitions” story accompanying the main school board article rather than as a traditional narrative feature.
