Valley Students Presented Royal Medals
Tyler Jones, son of Kim and Greg Jones, was one of 23 Water Valley students honored for their participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Young American’s Challenge. Jones is shown with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, First Lady Marsha Barbour and His Royal Highness the Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex . – Photo by Rebekah Staples
Water Valley was one of three Mississippi schools participating in the program this year along with Oxford and Lafayette High Schools.
The awards program, which promotes individual achievement in youth ages 14-25, began in 1956 in the United Kingdom and has expanded to more than 120 countries with about 600,000 participants worldwide.
Presenting the award medals was Britain’s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, a member of the royal family. Also participating in the program was Gov. Haley Barbour, Mrs. Barbour, and Miss Mississippi, Kimberly Morgan.
Sam Haskell, a native of Amory who is a former television executive of the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles, brought the program to the United States two years ago.
In the program’s first year, 76 students in California – including Haskell’s daughter Mary Lane – earned the award. This year Mississippi is one of only four states to offer the program.
Water Valley’s Bronze Award participants are: Shanquayle Jenkins, Tim Taylor, Drew Pratt, Hunter Edwards, Dillon LaCook, Torrey Horton, Dillon Dicky, Santana Hervey, Quita Woodard, Lizzy Shawk, Jennifer Chapman, Shelby Hernandez, Adrian Tallent, Yosheka Conard, Rashida Rogers, Aggie Bethel, Daimion Pollard, Derron Hairston, J.D. Fondon, Tyler Jones, Michael Phillips, Jillian Harris, and Ryan Bain.
Coordinators for the program are Anna Koshenina, Lead Coordinator, Mario Weekly, Steve Ford, and JoAnn King.
Here is a link to more photos on the Clarion-Ledger site (click here).
