Seniors from 11 Richmond County schools will proudly cross the finish line of their high school journeys this May. As our Class of 2025 graduates prepare to enter the next stage of their lives, we asked our valedictorians and salutatorians to share their memories, achievements, and advice to younger students.  

For more information about Spring 2025 commencement exercises, please visit rcboe.org/graduationschedule. 

Seniors from 11 Richmond County schools will proudly cross the finish line of their high school journeys this May. As our Class of 2025 graduates prepare to enter the next stage of their lives, we asked our valedictorians and salutatorians to share their memories, achievements, and advice to younger students.  

For more information about Spring 2025 commencement exercises, please visit rcboe.org/graduationschedule. 

Valedictorian 

Rhianna Waltower

Salutatorian

Tyra Brown

Darrion Ellison

Valedictorian

Dorian Davis

Salutatorian

Dorian Davis is graduating as the salutatorian of Glenn Hills High School’s Class of 2025. 

Davis has demonstrated strong academic achievement throughout high school, completing Advanced Placement (AP) coursework in literature and composition, English, pre-calculus, and micro- and macroeconomics. He is a member of both the National Honor Society and the National Beta Club, and was a member of the Academic Decathlon team, helping lead them to a first-place regional finish and representing Glenn Hills at the state level. 

He also participated in the Spanish Club and Aviation Club and volunteered at the Arts in the Heart Festival. Davis earned STAR Student recognition his senior year, maintained consistent honor roll status throughout high school, and received numerous academic awards, including highest averages in multiple courses.

Davis recalls one of his most memorable high school moments during his AP literature and composition class. He said, “We did a little reenactment of a scene in a play, and that was cool because it was the first time we collaborated outside of school.” 

Ms. LuTongel Few, Davis’s 10th-grade biology teacher, is who he credits as the most influential educator in his journey. "She was always readily prepared, making sure everything was organized,” he said. “But the main reason that makes me say that she’s my most impactful teacher is that she went beyond biology. She’s really fun to be around, and she likes to joke.” 

His advice to freshmen: “Always give your best effort. If you’re going to do something, do it to the fullest extent of your ability.” 

After graduation, Davis plans to take a gap year before continuing his education in computer technology and cybersecurity. 

Seniors from 11 Richmond County schools will proudly cross the finish line of their high school journeys this May. As our Class of 2025 graduates prepare to enter the next stage of their lives, we asked our valedictorians and salutatorians to share their memories, achievements, and advice with younger students.  

For more information about Spring 2025 commencement exercises, please visit rcboe.org/graduationschedule. 

Niya Janelle Hannans is graduating as the salutatorian of A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School’s Class of 2025. 

Hannans completed Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment courses while maintaining straight A’s throughout high school, an achievement she is most proud of in her high school career. She earned the highest average in physics and computer science. Outside of the classroom, Hannans participated in the Key Club and National Honor Society, was recognized with the Spanish FLAIR award, and was nominated twice for the Governor’s Honors Program. 

“The most memorable moment of my high school experience was when we had a snow day and were out of school for almost a week,” said Hannahs. “I had never played in the snow before, so it was very fun for me.” 

Hannans credits her guidance counselor, Ms. Alicia Rocker, for her support and encouragement. “She always made sure I was on the right path for success and supported me and my goals,” she said. 

“If I could give one piece of advice to incoming freshmen, I would say to manage your time wisely from the beginning,” said Hannan. “Freshman year can be a little challenging trying to adjust to, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll have fun and it’ll all go by quickly, but it’s easy to fall behind if you don’t create good habits early. Use a planner and set goals for yourself.” 

After graduation, Hannans plans to major in computer science in college and pursue business and cosmetology licenses to support her entrepreneurial goals. 

Willie James Hicks III is graduating as the valedictorian of A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School’s Class of 2025. 

Hicks balanced rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment coursework with career-focused certifications, including the AWS Academy’s Introduction to Cloud and the NOCTI Knowledge-Based Workforce Credential. He consistently made the Honor Roll, was inducted into the National Honor Society, and received both the National African American Recognition and National First-Generation Recognition Program honors. 

He served as Student Council president in 10th grade and held leadership roles in the Technology Student Association (TSA), Math Team, Key Club, and SkillsUSA. He also competed in cross country and track. Through the NSA High School Work Study Program, he gained valuable experience as an intelligence analyst and was recognized with the TSA Volunteer Award for his service. 

“Participating as the student council president was the most memorable moment for me,” Hicks said. “Navigating my failures during that time aided in my leadership skills and produced a spark in me to join more clubs.” 

Hicks credits Mr. Christopher Shears, his computer science teacher, as the educator who had the most significant impact on his life. Becoming valedictorian is the achievement he’s most proud of. 

To incoming first-year students, Hicks advises: “Take your classes seriously, even at that early time. You’ll regret bad grades. However, enjoy the freedom of high school as is. There will not be many opportunities in life like it.” 

He plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue a future in technology and business. 

Our Class of 2025 Future Educators are:  

Academy of Richmond County 

• My’leiah Adams 

• Aaliyvia Brown 

• Damian Burley 

• Kayila Carr 

• Clayton Cooper 

• Laci Hayslip

• Kennedy Parker 

• Lauren Scott 

George P. Butler Comprehensive High School 

• Raeshawn Billingslea 

• Juleah Nero 

• Joselyn Ramos-Rivera 

Westside Comprehensive High School 

• A’leeya Brown 

• Tyriona Carter 

• Timothy Crawford 

• Alexis Hartfield 

• Naimah Hasan 

• DeAndre Shine 

• Alexis Striveson 

Student Greeters:  

Glenn Hills Comprehensive High School  

• A’Yari Briggs  
• Kemaiyah Richardson  
• Kheoni Ward  

Westside Comprehensive High School  

• Dontrell Jackson  
• Lorianna Turner  

Makenzie Posey, Warren Road Elementary School   

Makenzie Posey teaches the third-grade at Warren Road Elementary School. Before joining RCSS, Posey was a full-time college student at Augusta University and joined our school system after student-teaching in the district. Posey says she grew up in our community, where she grew to love the climate, students, and supportive environment. Her most memorable experience so far has been seeing her students grow academically, socially, and emotionally since the beginning of the year. 

Ashanta Washington, Barton Chapel Elementary School    

Ashanta Washington is a fifth-grade math teacher at Barton Chapel Elementary School. Washington began her teaching career working in the United Arab Emirates as a third-grade teacher and Head of Department for Math and Science for four years. She joined our school system to have the opportunity to join a supportive team and make a difference in the lives of children. Washington plans to acquire the necessary skills to equip students for life beyond the classroom. Her most memorable moments have been witnessing her students flourish academically, building cohesive relationships, and participating in school events.    

Alaina Singleton, W.S. Hornsby Middle School  

Alaina Singleton teaches seventh-grade math at W.S. Hornsby Middle School. Singleton began her career as an intervention teacher in the School District of Philadelphia before joining the Richmond County School System to be closer to family while continuing to grow as an educator. One of her most memorable moments this year came when her students saw their scores improve on the Winter Math i-Ready diagnostic. She says that moment validated her making a positive impact by doing what she is supposed to be doing as a teacher.      

Vince Louis, Lucy C. Laney Comprehensive High School  

Vince Louis teaches science at Lucy C. Laney Comprehensive High School. Before joining our school system, Louis worked in the fitness industry as a manager, gaining valuable leadership skills to apply to leading young students. He is a product of our school system and joined because he truly has a passion for helping our youth achieve their goals. He says that his most memorable moment is every day he gets an opportunity to do what God ultimately created him to teach.   

Thirty-six Richmond County 4-H students demonstrated their skills and dedication at the Cloverleaf District Project Achievement competition on Feb. 15, 2025, at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia. An impressive 72% of these students placed in the top three, while the remaining participants received Honorable Mention honors. 

“Project Achievement empowers young people with skills for a lifetime,” said Donita Legoas, the 4H and youth development agent at the Richmond County Extension Office. “Students choose a project area of interest, research the topic, and write and present an oral presentation. Through Project Achievement, 4-H’ers develop leadership, creativity, public speaking, record keeping, and research skills.” 

The following students earned top honors at the competition: 

RCSS 4-H members were recognized at Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol on Feb. 25, 2025, where they met with Representative Karlton Howard to discuss education, finances, and the impact of 4-H before posing for a photo on the Grand Staircase. During a luncheon at the Georgia Freight Depot, Senator Max Burns spoke with Richmond County students and shared his own experiences as a former 4-H’er, while Representative Rick Jasperse acknowledged 4-H honorees who earned state and national recognition. 

Richmond County 4-H serves approximately 1,800 students with in-school and after-school lessons in agriculture, science, civic engagement, leadership, STEM, health, and wellness. 

The Richmond County School System honored its top-performing students and their most influential teachers at the annual STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program luncheon on Monday, March 3, at St. Paul's Church on the Augusta Riverwalk.   

The STAR Students and STAR Teachers for the 2025 school year are: 

The event recognized 12 high school seniors who achieved the highest SAT scores in their respective schools. Each STAR student selected a STAR teacher who had significantly impacted their academic journey.  

Westside Comprehensive High School student Taylor Delva stated, "I feel very accomplished, and I feel like this organization, like giving me recognition, and after all of my hard work and dedication, I feel appreciated.” 

Petty Officer Corey Jones, a Westside Comprehensive High School NJROTC instructor loves seeing the kids get the recognition they deserve. PO Jones message to his students is,” I want my students to believe they can achieve anything they want if they put their heart and their minds to it.” 

Hephzibah Comprehensive High School student Jamilah Busch expressed her feelings about being selected, "I feel great. It's definitely an honor just to be selected. Like, out of the many students that go to our school, it's good to be recognized and it makes me feel really good and grateful." 

Billterrenice Streetman, a Hephzibah Comprehensive High School teacher shares his thoughts on being selected as a STAR teacher, “Ms. Bush is an excellent student. I have a lot of awesome colleagues that she could have selected. To select me was humbling, and I'm just grateful to God for it.” He shared his aspirations for his students, "I want them to leave knowing that they can do anything they put their minds to. With hard work, it can be done even when obstacles come. 

Academy of Richmond County student Dickinson (Reed) Woodward acknowledges being selected as a STAR student, “It’s a prestigious accomplishment and I worked hard for it. I'm glad I was able to get it.” 

According to Academy of Richmond County teacher David Bradbury being selected as a STAR teacher is wonderful, "It's absolutely the highest honor that you can get being selected by a student and I'm thrilled.” The main goal for Bradbury is the impact on his students, "I want them to have a memorable experience. I want them to be able to think from all sides and all perspectives, not just one that they may lean toward or have been brought up around. And if I can impart that through American history, then I've done my job well.” 

The 2025 STAR Student and STAR Teacher luncheon is sponsored annually by the Augusta Kiwanis Club and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.   

Jarkevin Clark, Richmond Hill Middle School 

Jarkevin Clark teaches eighth-grade Social Studies at Richmond Hill Middle School. Clark holds a master's degree in public administration and previously worked at Amazon, where he developed patience—a key trait that has helped him in the classroom. He joined our school system to make a positive impact in his community. The transition to teaching took him outside of his comfort zone, as he knew that growth requires stepping into discomfort. His most memorable moment as a teacher so far is witnessing the growth of his students, describing it as the most beautiful experience he's ever had. 

Betsy Barber, Lake Forest Hills Elementary School 

Betsy Barber is a first-grade teacher at Lake Forest Hills Elementary School. Barber began her teaching journey as an educator in McDuffie County. Barber transitioned to RCSS because she was drawn to our school system’s sense of community and our mission to develop learners that are equipped to face challenges beyond the classroom. Her most memorable experience has been the transition into Lake Forest Hills Elementary School. She says she felt immediate love and support from not only her colleagues, but also the wonderful families in her school community. 

Joyce O'Neal, C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School 

Joyce O'Neal is a second-grade teacher at C.T. Walker Traditional Magnet School. Before joining RCSS, O’Neal managed a dance studio for 14 years and was also an active volunteer in her children's elementary schools. She began her teaching career after being approached by a principal asking if she would consider being a substitute teacher. After a year of subbing, she realized teaching was exactly where she was supposed to be. She applied for Augusta Technical College's Early Childhood Education Program to start the journey to become a certified teacher and has never looked back.  O’Neal is grateful for the opportunity to do what she loves as a C.T. Walker Wildcat and educator in Richmond County. Her greatest success is the strong, positive relationships that she has built with her students and their families.  

Sophia Hiatt, Academy of Richmond County High School  

Sophia Hiatt teaches ninth-twelfth grade Science at Academy of Richmond County.  Before Hiatt worked for RCSS, she was a missionary who mentored students at the University of Alabama’s campus ministry. She aims to introduce her high school students to college life, equipping them with the knowledge and preparation they need for life after graduation.  One of her most memorable classroom moments was the Biotechnology Debate, an idea developed by her biology colleagues. Students divided into teams, researched various biotechnologies, and debated the ethical implications—both affirmative and negative—of topics such as GMOs, HeLa cells, and designer babies. The project provided an opportunity for students who struggle with traditional test-taking to showcase their knowledge and personality in a meaningful way.