2 minute read
Students and Graduates in the News
Noble Wilkinson: 2021 Poetry Out Loud Title Returns to Jackson Prep
In November, Prep’s school-wide Poetry Out Loud competition was held in Lindsay Hall. Noble Wilkinson (Class of 2025) was named school champion. This was his first attempt at competing in Poetry Out Loud, but he was no stranger to the competition. His sister Belle Grace (Class of 2021) was a state finalist twice. After the school competition, Noble worked with his coach, teacher, and mom Jessica Wilkinson, to prepare for the preliminaries, which took place virtually on January 31. Noble recited two poems during preliminaries via recording and scored first place, moving him on to the state competition. After the preliminary competition was finished, the nine finalists from around the state had virtual clinics from February 14 through February 18. These clinics were conducted with official clinicians hired by the Poetry Out Loud organization. Finalists had to recite three poems, which included one pre-20th century poem, one poem consisting of 25 lines or fewer, and one last poem with no particular requirement.
On February 26, Noble visited the Mississippi Public Broadcasting studio to record and perform his three poems to be judged and aired at a later date. The results of the state competition were announced in March. Noble came away with the state champion title and competed virtually in May at nationals with the state winners from all over the country, representing Jackson Prep and the state of Mississippi well.
Lila Murphy: 2022 Miss Dixie National
Congratulations to Prep alum Lila Murphy (Class of 2022), named Miss Dixie National 2022. Lila represented The Dixie National Rodeo by riding in rodeo performances, appearing in the February 12, 2022, parade and visiting schools and other groups in the Jackson area to teach students about the sport of rodeo and to promote the Dixie National Rodeo.
Alex Reichle:
Update on a Sarah Elizabeth Shelton Scholar A Letter to the Sheltons
My name is Holly Mason and my daughter, Alex Reichle (Class of 2018), was the 2017 recipient of the Sarah Elizabeth Shelton Scholarship. I just wanted to send you my heartfelt gratitude for selecting her and opening up some amazing possibilities in her life. I wanted you to know that Alex graduated this May from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with an undergrad degree in neuroscience. Two weeks before graduation, she was nominated and selected for membership in Sigma Xi to recognize her achievements in scientific research. Alex is taking a gap year this year to work in a hospital to accrue clinical hours required for medical school (due to COVID and the many restrictions she could not volunteer or shadow during her junior and senior years). She is living in Pontotoc, Mississippi, and is already hard at work volunteering at a free clinic in Tupelo. Her dream is to become a neurosurgeon and thanks to Sarah Elizabeth, that dream can become a reality. Your precious daughter is still influencing the medical world today.
With much love and gratitude, Holly Mason