Wall of Honor
The Wall of Honor in the front foyer of the Upper/Middle School recognizes the more than 100 National Merit award recipients through USJ’s history. Each year, a ceremony adds more students to the wall. The project was funded by parents who wanted to honor the academic accomplishment of being a National Merit winner. Families contributing to the project were Tim and Jan Crossett, Jeff and Pam Kovalic, Bob and Shannon Gilroy, James and Jeanne Egan, Paul and Joanne Caudill, Bill and Sabrina DuVal, and Dwight and Joan Kaufmann.
2010 National Merit Students
Two more students were added to USJ's National Merit Wall of Honor in a special ceremony in May. The Wall of Honor, in the front lobby of the Upper School, honors all USJ students who have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Congratulations to the following two students from the Class 2010…
• Neel Patel, son of Dr. and Mrs. Nikhil Patel of Martin, who has been named a National Merit Semifinalist . He will attend Emory University in Atlanta.
• Colton Norton, who was named a Commended Student, is the son of Rebecca Norton and Max Norton of Jackson. Colton, who won the state tennis single title in 2009, will attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
2009 National Merit Students
USJ placed six more students on its National Merit Wall of Honor in a special ceremony in May. The Wall of Honor, in the front lobby of the Upper School, honors all USJ students who have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Congratulations to the following six students and 2009 graduates …
• National Achievement Student, Ashley Smith, is the daughter of Henry and Dorsetta Smith. Ashley was elected Miss USJ by the Senior Class and served as the President of National Honor Society. She will attend the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she has received a UT Volunteer Scholarship.
• Elizabeth Crowder and Thomas Head were recognized as National Merit Commended Students.
Elizabeth, the daughter of John and DeeDee Crowder, was named to the All-State Soccer Team for two consecutive years. She was the Jackson Sun’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2008 in soccer and a Wendy’s High School Heisman School Winner for 2008-2009. Elizabeth won a Golden Key Award in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. She will attend Louisiana State University, where she will receive the LSU Alumni Association Top 100 Scholarship.
Thomas, son of Thomas and Karlie Head, won first place in the Precalculus division of the TMTA mathematics competition and was selected into both the All-West Honor Choir and the All-West Honor Band. Thomas is chaplain of the National French Honor Society and a three-year member of the National Honor Society. He will attend Birmingham-Southern University, where he will receive the Presidential Scholarship.
• Receiving National Merit Finalist recognition were Connor Gilroy, Ann Marie Graham, and Andrew Wagner.
Connor, son of Robert and Shannon Gilroy, achieved a perfect score of 36 on his ACT exam and earned the perfect score of five on five different Advanced Placement exams. During his sophomore year, he placed first in the state at the TMTA Geometry contest. Conner was selected third chair flute in the senior high Blue Band in the All West Band competition and selected to play a piccolo solo. Connor plans to attend the University of Chicago.
Ann Marie, daughter of Chris and Ann Graham, earned second place in the senior division of the Scholastic Art competition and earned one Gold Key and four Silver Keys. She served as captain of the cross-country team her senior year. She will attend the University of Georgia, where she will receive an out-of-state tuition waiver and the Georgia One scholarship
Andrew, son of Richard and Debi Wagner, is the vice-president of the Student Government Association and has been active in the Theater Department at USJ. Andrew will attend Wheaton College where he will receive a Wheaton merit scholarship along with other academic scholarships.
