Hall of Fame
Landon Bello Lindy Callahan Scholar Athlete
Lacey Buckley
Candice Buford
Alexandria Edwards Valedictorian
Carson Ewing STAR Student
Reagan Green
Tucker Henley Lindy Callahan Scholar Athlete
Katelyn Moss
History Making Valedictorian
Alexandra Snyder Salutatorian
Tyreahnna Tillman
Hall of Fame photos by CHHS Yearbook, Courtney Young Photography and Holland Studio. Cover photo of Katie Huey by Makiya Lowman. Cover design by Brandon Mayse.
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Photo by Roben Nobles/CHHS Yearbook Alexandria Edwards, pictured with 11th- and 12th-grade counselor Danielle Brown, is the first African American valedictorian at CHHS as well as the first Mustang to attend Duke University. Edwards plans to major in accounting and business management.
Graduation
The Pony Express The Pony Express is a student-run newspaper produced by and for the students of Center Hill High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Operated as a club, The Pony Express is supplemented by members of the Foundations of Journalism class and the staffs of Mustang Television and the CHHS Yearbook. The online news site is chhsponyexpress.com. Editor Shelby Parsons Contributing Staff for Issue 5 Makiya Lowman, Brandon Mayse, Dylon Melton Advisers Ginny Shikle and Michelle Jones
Photos by Roben Nobles/CHHS Yearbook Wesley Wilson, above, shares a laugh with his friends before graduation May 22 at the Landers Center. In photo at left, Alex Edwards, left, and Maggie Clifton fist bump as the Class of 2021 processes.
Who’s Who Mr. and Miss CHHS
Funniest: Candice Buford Darryen Hobbs Best Dressed: Ada Vu Asa Ross Friendliest: Paulina Martinez Micheal Feild Loudest: Bryaunna Pearson Anthony Day Most School Spirit: Tyreahnna Tillman Kaeden Laws Quietest: Noor Herzallah Hayden Price Most Dependable: Allie Plank Theo Dorian Most Likely to Succeed: Alexandria Edwards Carson Ewing
The mission of The Pony Express is to provide quality, thought-provoking student work focused on the events and issues that affect the CHHS community. As student writers, we try to reflect the thoughts of our most important readers – the students of CHHS. Because of this, we attempt to approach many issues, some more controversial than others. The newspaper staff hopes to inform, to educate, to entertain and to question for the betterment of CHHS, its students and faculty. Editorial Policy The editorial section of The Pony Express, including editorial cartoons, serves as a forum for well-written, thoughtful, longer forms of expression. Signed editorials represent the opinions of the author. Unsigned editorials reflect the consensus of The Pony Express staff. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the CHHS student body, faculty, administration or DeSoto County Schools. Letters to the Editor Policy Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions in the Opinion section for the expression of varying viewpoints on relevant topics. The Pony Express will print as many letters as space allows. Letters must include the author’s name, signature, and class or position relative to the letter. Typed or legible, hand-written letters are acceptable, but should not exceed 200 words. The Pony Express will edit all letters for accuracy, spelling and grammar. We reserve the right to refuse to print any letter. Submit questions, comments or letters to the editor to ponyexpresschhs@gmail.com or 13250 Kirk Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Advertising Policy The Pony Express will not accept any advertising that deems to be: factually inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for teenagers to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; creating imminent danger or disruption to school. The Pony Express reserves the right to refuse any advertising, solicited or unsolicited. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of The Pony Express staff, student body, faculty, administration or school board. To advertise, contact Ginny Shikle at ginny.shikle@dcsms. org. Member Organizations The Pony Express is a member of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association. Our publication was named Most Improved High School Newspaper by MSPA for 2017-2018, and in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 The Pony Express was a Top 5 finalist for Mississippi’s High School Newspaper of the Year.
Best All-Around: Kenzie Sandridge Tucker Henley Most Likely to be Remembered: Kaitlyn Wilty Brayden Bowden Most Changed Since Freshman Year: Reed Simmons Tylan Payne Photo by Roben Nobles/CHHS Yearbook Carson Ewing and Candice Buford are this year’s Mr. and Miss CHHS.
Most Athletic: Candice Buford Darryen Hobbs
The Pony Express 3
A Salute to the Rama Abderrahim
Pedro Alta
Lamaurice Ball
Lauren Ballard
Nathan Beach
Lucas Bennett
Trey Bertin
Cassidy Bishop
Lauren Bolding
Brayden Bowden
Alex Bowles
Billie Boyd
Dallis Bryant
Lacey Buckley
Candice Buford
Akeila Burgess
Chris Burks
Kassidy Burrage
Tyler Cupp
Lilly Dannatt
Anthony Day
Brooke Delaney
LaTerriya Delbridge
Calvin Dockery
Theo Dorian
Michael Dykes
John Fiveash
Alyssa Fletcher
Brooklyn Fletcher
Iris Flores
Michael Floyd
Piercen French
Ernest Gaines
Kayla Gale
Dylan Gavrock
Ellie Gevers
Sanabell Ghanem
Ivan Gonzalez
Kevin Gonzalez
Callie Goodwin
Conner Green
Camron Holts
Katie Huey
Shea Johnson
Chandler Jones
Marquavius Jones
Austin Joyner
Jackie Karst
Khaliah Kelley
Emilee Kellick
September King
Ragan Knight
Zowie Lavelle
Kaeden Laws
Ana Le
Adriana Love
Landon Mix
Logan Mix
Lillian Moore
Qualinda Moore
Katelyn Moss
Kymoria Mottley
Otha Muskin
Preston Newson
Taqiyyah Newson
Terricke Newson
Victor O’Bryant
Kayla Otten
Katelyn Pace
William Pass
Xzavier Paylor
Dakotah Sandlin
Makenzie Sandridge
Annie Shelly
Reese Shumway
Reed Simmons
Dylan Singleton
Connor Smitherman
Alexandra Snyder
Madison Spivey
Brinley Steed
Chloe Steen
Prentis Stotts
Cynthia Bobo
Danielle Brown
Senior Sponsor
Senior Sponsor
Toni Coleman
Devra Hampton
Senior Sponsor
Senior Sponsor
Brenda Case Assistant Principal
Tyreahnna Logan Tillman Vandevender
Not Pictured: Ricky Alston, Rasheed Ambrose, Joshua Arms Hannah Caradine, Joshua Carroll, Travis Dockery, Marques Dylan Gibson, Abigail Grisham, Zandon Haralson, Joseph H JiaYao Lin, Micah Logan, Kierra Marion, Jocelyn Martinez, Destiny Pettigrew, Seth Pickler, Hayden Price, Joshua Richa Dalton Turner, Dustin Van, Alexandria Wadlington, Trinity
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e Class of 2021 Doug Payne Principal
Sharon Reed Assistant Principal
Zack Sims
Assistant Principal
Charletta Hutchins Senior Sponsor
Roben Nobles Senior Sponsor
Leslie Alvarado
Kailyn Askew
McKayla Beckmann
Landon Bello
Ethan Bender
Jacob Black
Zackery Blaisdell
Jaedin Bobo
Nathan Brawley
Dewitt Brewer
William Brightman
Caleb Bryan
Jacqueline Wooten Senior Sponsor
Josh Castleman
Brianna Causey
Cayden Clarkson
Maggie Clifton
Deandria Coleman
Kayla Culver
Joseangel Esquivel
Ashia Eubanks
Carson Ewing
Alexander Feild
Micheal Feild
Tucker Henley
Noor Herzallah
Paige Hill
Darryen Hobbs
Tyler Holmes
Alyssa Edge
Alex Edwards
Arissa Elion
Shadajua Guy
Cooper Haney
Marissa Heath
Kaleb Hendrix
Reagan Green
Daveion Greenlee
Lauren Gregory
Joseph Griffin
Baylee Grisham
Jordan Love
Maggie Lunz
Laila Malone
Paulina Martinez
Andrew McClarty
Grant McNeer
Christian Meadors
Hope Mealer
Cristian Medina
Makenly Medlock
Tyler Meriwether
Tianna Milam
Braxton Miller
Sarah Claire Miller
Carlie Minott
Jaden Payne
Tylan Payne
Bryauna Pearson
Luke Penfield
Allie Pike
Allison Plank
Taylor Pruitt
Kristen Randle
Michelle Rea
Zack Rickman
Jazmine Riley
Bradley Rogers
Asa Ross
Brody Rushing
Omar Salem
Ada Vu
Rovanda Ware
Nevaeh Watkins
Sierra Webb
Katie Whitaker
Jill Wiggins
Jason Wilkerson
Layla Williams
TaSheena Williams
Andrianna Wilson
Wesley Wilson
Kaitlyn Wilty
Devin Wright
Rebekah Wright
Jhoselin Gudino
strong, James Baldwin, Gavin Bashaw, Qwali Brown, s Edwards, Rudis Flores, Arman Ghoston, Hopper, Jeremiah Jackson, Wilfredo Lazo, Jeffalyn Lee, , Kaleb Mohundro, Kameron Newsom, Christo Peeks, ardson, Gwen Riecke, Destiny Shown, Kyle Spencer, Waldrip, Thomas Wallace, Nic Wright
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To: Class of 2021 From: Ms. A. Smith Congratulations guys! I wish you all good luck in your future!
To: Kayla Culver From: Mrs. Lantrip Congratulations, I am proud of you!!! Best of luck to you in the future!
To: Ernest Gaines Jr. From: Mrs. Henderson, Ms. Bobo, Mrs. Felicia and Mrs. Bonney-Smith We are so proud of you!! We love you!! Thumbs up!!
To: Kristen Randle From: Mrs. Lantrip Congratulations, so proud of you! It was great teaching you over the past 4 years and I wish you the best!
To: Jaedin Bobo From: Ms. Bobo Jaedin, I’m so proud of you! Remember, you’re destined for greatness! Never give up on your dreams! Love, Mom
To: Lacey Buckley From: Mrs. Lantrip Congratulations! I have enjoyed watching you grow into an amazing artist and am so proud of you. Best wishes!
To: Sarah Claire Miller From: Mrs. Shikle No matter what life has thrown at you, you’ve never given up. I’m so proud of you! Love, Mother Goose
To: Trey Bertin From: Mrs. Lantrip I am so proud of you and wish you the best! Congratulations! To: Class of 2021 From: Mrs. Wooten Congratulations and best wishes!
Grad Walk
To: My 12th-grade math students From: Mrs. Wooten You rock! To: Class of 2021 From: Mr. Hatch Congratulations! You made it! To: My graduating former students From: Mama Moore Congratulations on such an incredible achievement. I am so proud of each and every one of you! Always remember that baby steps are still steps! To: Candice Buford From: Coach Owens Go take the world by storm because I know you are going to do great things! I am so lucky to have been a part of this small portion of your life. Thank you for being awesome. I’m so proud of you!
To: Hope Mealer From: Coach Owens Dance like no one is watching .... or maybe not!! I am so lucky to have gotten to coach you and I cannot wait to see all you accomplish in your next journey. Thank you for allowing me to have a small part in your life. I’m so proud of you! To: Jazmine Riley From: Coach Owens Keep making the world a better place by being such a good human! It has been a joy to have a small part in your life and I can’t wait to see what you conquer in your next journey. I’m so proud of you! To: Class of 2021 From: Mrs. Shikle I want you to have the best life that you can have! May God guide your decisions and footsteps each day.
To: Class of 2021 From: Mrs. Wilder Don’t give up and good luck! To: Class of 2021 From: Mrs. Denham The secret of getting ahead is getting started. (Mark Twain) To: Hope Mealer From: Coach Mealer I am blessed to be your dad. I am thankful I could be at Center Hill with you, and I will always cherish the memories. Continue to be a great young lady. Congrats on signing to play college basketball. Daddy loves you and is proud of you! To: Class of 2021 From: Mrs. Pilcher Congratulations and good luck!
The Mustang Creed As a Mustang, I know I belong to a special breed. I will be courteous to all, and give help to those in need. I will be sure to keep my thoughts only to the best, Keeping in mind my values, not following the rest. Within my own wisdom, is opportunity, And in my own thoughts and actions I control my destiny. So with these thoughts in mind, My values and beliefs deep inside, I’ll never forget who I am, Or to show my Mustang pride.
Photos by Makiya Lowman After a Senior Breakfast Social in the cafeteria and a graduation practice in the gym, on May 19 the Class of 2021 participated in the annual Grad Walk at Overpark and Center Hill elementary schools. Shown above, from left, are Dallis Bryant, Michelle Rea, Jill Wiggins and Akeila Burgess. At right, Rebekah Wright, Leslie Alvarado, Brinley Steed and Kassidy Burrage walk past elementary students in the halls.
6 The Pony Express
Senior Breakfast
Photo by Dylon Melton The Class of 2021 had a Senior Breakfast Social in the cafeteria May 19 before graduation practice in the gym. Shown from left to right are Makenly Medlock, Kayla Gale and Alyssa Fletcher.