Helena High School

313 graduates 1310 Hillsboro Parkway • Helena, AL 35080 Huskies • 1,281 students • Ranked the 16th best high school in Alabama

Janey Ann Acton Thomas Edward Adair Jaycee Meagan Adams Alyssa Camille Adley Luis Anthony Alcantara Muhammad Barraq Alqaza

Craig Blake Anderson Griffin Robert Anderson Alexander Lanier Angle

Torey Dion Ashley Chandlar Alexus Atkins Tracey Cedella Bailey Maxwell Neil Ballard Kelsi Christine Bargman Miranda Lynn Batchelor Owen Matthew Beagle Haleigh Renee’ Beard Clayton Sloan Beech Racqueal Marie Bivins Katelyn Dawn Blackmon Thomas Edward Bolen William Carter Borst Jordan Anthony Boykin Ashlee Fayth Braswell Madelyn Grace Bright Bailey Elizabeth Brophy

Bridget Leigh Buffington Maxwell Timothy Burch Logan Alexander Burnett

Connor Richard Burton Nicholas Rhett Butts Caleb Thornton Byers Jayanna Alexis Cameron Mallory Paige Carroll Caroline Grace Carter Daunte Ice Cave Collin Joe Cerwick Olivia Madison Chapman Noah Samer Charif Blake Warren Childers Alexandra Bennett Chuang Haley Louise Coldren Sarah Elizabeth Collins Caroline Kelley Cook Jeremiah Christopher Cope Madison Irene Corley Jacob Thomas Cox Davis Lillard Cummings Tillman Harold Dabbs Garrison Tyler Darden

Jillian Alexa Daugherty Madison Nicole Davenport Everett Lee Dawson

Jacob Connor Dees Audrey Lee Deifenderfer Wyatt Benjamin Devers Kylee Marie Dewing Carmelina Ann Dichiara Jack William Dickerson Christopher William Diehl Molly Rhea Dillahunty Luke Bradford Dixon Bailey Wilton Doriety Bowman Chrystian Downey Logan Michael Dramer Olivia Ann Dufour Christopher Nathan Dunaway Lauren Elizabeth Eads Collin Ramsey Earley Lydia Michelle Edwards Marina Paige Etheredge Abigail Leland Ford Rachel Grace Forrester Andrew Walker Fortson Cody Alexander Foster Jermya Alvon Foster Tanner Douglas Freels Gracie Jon Frost

Dominic Samuel Fuller Stanley Terrell Funches, Jr. Blake Ray Garner Robert Alan Garner, Jr. Savannah Jordan Garner Steven Jackson Gay Jillian Grace Gholson Michael Grant Gholson Zachary Ryan Gillen Trinity Dawn Glover Matthew Gonzalez Salazar Cooper Arnold Goodwin Zachary Alexander Goodwin Alyssa Jade Gossett Mariana Valeria Granados Ramirez Cayleigh Brooke Granger

Amy Claire Gray Cori Leigh Green William Carter Griffith

Matthew Gudino Benjamin Cole Gulledge Quinton Jacob Guthrie Zachary Cole Haithcock Joseph Michael Haley Keri Elizabeth Hankins Holly Larein Hanzich

Jonathan Ryan Hartly William Lawrence Hawes Sarah Ann Haynes Rylie Gwen Helberg Traviyon Kortece Hendrix Tania Hernandez Gabrielle Anne Hervig Abigail Elizabeth Hess Samuel Linton Higginbotham Jabe Samuel Hildreth Dalton Michael Hillman Andy Thien Hoang Brandy Nicole Hobson Brooke Michelle Hopton-Jones Jake Brian Albert Horn Zachary Kyle Horton Robin Kendell Hosey Kameron O’Brian Crowder Houser Olivia Grace Hudson David Colson Huff II Alexandra Roselynn Hughes Kirsten Ayana Hughley Jacob June Cade Hulsey Davis Alexander Humphrey Jeremy William Hunter Callie Virginia Jackson Hannah Christine Jackson Tyler Nicholas Jackson Jordan Darius James Jakob Levi Johnson Kelcey Mychel Johnson Brodie Lee Jones Damian Tyler Jones Ervin Lee Jones Maddie Kae Jones Mechelle Taylor Princess Jones James Kyler Jordan Megan Brooke Kallaher Caleb Stanton Kelley Jackson Warren Kelley David Scott Key III Colby Alan Kiley Mackenzie Marie Kirchler Jacob Ascher Knight Samuel Thomas Knight Tucker Paul Knight Noel Johnson Koshy Noah Chai Lagle Lauren Olivia Lancaster Malea Isabel Lane Mary Katelyn Latham Trent Matthew LaVercombe Ian Jackson Lee Eliana Grace Leonard Mingshu Grace Li Elise Caroline Lovoy Lillian Jean Lowery Hannah Reese Macon

ABIGAIL LELAND FORD

Valedictorian

Isaiah Anthony Maldonado Logan Erik Maloney Baylee Ellise Marek Riley Dale Marks Kaleb James Martin Cameron Porter Maxwell Caleb Mark May Daryl Alexander May Logan Daniel May Justinian Othniel Mayo Dylan Tyler Mays Cassidy Elise Mazzola Jace Brandon McBride Samuel Brooks McCourt Riley Catherine McHugh Sarah Kaley McKenzie Myles David Medeiros Payton Elizabeth Medeiros Aliyah Merchant Christopher Ryan Miller Joshua Andrew Miller Jada Michelle Mims Jasmine Denise Mims Drake Lyon Minshew Adamari Miranda-Martinez Ian Thomas Moeller Kelsey Nicole Mooney Leon Olanders Moore, Jr. Michael Joseph Moran Marisa Danielle Morris Lauren Mackenzie Murphy

Bailey Nicole Nahrgang Brandon Hong Nguyen Sheamaya Edrielle Norfleet William Othel North IV

Megan Leigh Oakes Ally Elise O’Dell Brooklyn Sade’ Oden Michelle Ortiz Darius Howard Owens Caitlin Nicole Pannell Cameron Ashley Pannell Alyssa Grace Parker William Terney Parker Reed Austin Parrish Jordan Rae Payne

CHRISTIAN SCHILLECI VANZANT

Valedictorian

Jaheim DeAnthony Peak Hunter Aaron Pennington Anna Leigh Peoples Theran Chase Perry Gabrielle Noel Pickett Caden William Pierce Alaina Mackenzie Pitts Travis Joseph Porter Zhanya Tanis Powell Talon Reed Pritchard Lauren Jewell Pritchett Cole Christian Pugh Tilyr Dayne Pugh Denisha Nicole Ramirez Joseph Michael Randall Richard James Randall Josiah Nirese Ransom Zain Harrison Rashid John Miles Ratley Dawson Andrew Ray Samuel Joseph Regina LaDarrius Taiwan Rice IV Watson Earl Piland Rice Elijah Shane Richardson Alexandria Renee Ricketts Chloe Morgan Risch Samantha Marie Robinson Kimiko Loraine Robison William Evan Rogers Anna Grace Rosenow Benjamen Daniel Roy Antonio Roberto Ruiz Caylee Lauren Rutland Samuel David Santos Giavanna Rose Sarris Robert Ashurst Saville Abigail Gwynne Schifanella Katelyn Ann Schlotzhauer Kierra Jo Schulz Alyssa Marie Scott Lauren Camille Scott Hope McKenzie Seitz Lauren Kathleen Self Anna Kathryn Sharp Amber Renee Sides

Haley McCann Sides Colin Cameron Simpson Michaela Annalise Singer

Amber Marie Sisson Chase Alan Smith DeMarcus Jelani Smith Hanna Christine Smith Natalie Yvonne Smith Robert Luke Stamba Kaylyn Nicole Stringfellow James Hunter Sullivan Ryan Gregory Sumner Davis Carmichael Syx Allison Joy Tanner Evelyn Christina Terry Hannah Elyse Tidwell Elijah Harris Tilton Hudson Christopher Tinnell Abigail Allen Traweek William Davis Traweek Ethan Tyler Trimm Nea Nichelle Reana Tripplett KaLeigh Jordan Tucker Madelynn Grace Tuech Cathryne Parker Vanderkamp Christian Schilleci Vanzant Claire Marie Vonderau Toren Marquell Wade Riley Nicole Wagar Mallory Paige Ware Adaia Dorieva Washington Jackson Luke Waters Jarvis Terrell Watkins Kellen Reed Watkins Anastasia Victoria Watters John Gaines Watts Taelor Alyse Watts Alexis Faith Webb Ashley Jane Weidler Hayley Amber Weidler Jordan Aaron Wheeler Michael Garrett Wheeler Torie Shea White Kiersten Savannah Widner John Calvin Wilburn III Peyton Lane Wilkins Gary Jonathan Williams Madison Elaine Williams Shyla Alece Williams Noah Williamson Charles Earnest Wilson Christopher James Wilson Laura Gray Wilson Ryan William Winston Jenna Catherine Winter Connor Scott Wolf Mackenzie Shaye Wolf Nicholas Alexander Wood

Ryan Alexander Yates Hannah Renea Zmyslowski Helena High School

Many of Elijah Tilton’s favorite memories from his time at Helena High School involve the school’s theatre department.

“I have been very involved both onstage and backstage since my freshman year,” Tilton said. “Our most recent production, ‘Footloose,’ was my favorite, even though it did get cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I was cast in the role of Willard Hewitt, who was probably my favorite character to portray. I also was the technical director and scene designer for the production. The atmosphere in the theater department is quirky and accepting and it was a place where I always felt at home.”

During his time at Helena High School, Tilton was a member of the National Honor Society; president of the National English Honor Society; member of the International Thespian

Honor Society; member of the National Science Honor Society; member of the National Math Honor Society; member of the National History Honor Society; member of the National Technical Honor Society; member of the Helena Teen Council; he placed second in the state for Automotive Services Marketing in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America); he received the Character in Action Award for Helena High School (2020); he received the spirit of Auburn presidential scholarship; he was part of the Shelby County Showcase (2020); he received a superior at District Trumbauer in the fall of 2015; he was part of the All-Star Cast at District Trumbauer 2018; he received best actor in a One Act at District Trumbauer 2019; and he received the best scene design at both District and State Trumbauer 2019 (both received a perfect score of 50/50). Tilton said he really enjoys the subject

of calculus because many of the problems are like puzzles and he likes to solve them.

“Calculus requires you to use many parts of math that you have learned through the years,” Tilton said. “Some problems may be complex, but the harder they are, the bigger the payoff when you get the right answer.”

Due to Tilton’s senior year being cut short thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, he describes the ending to his senior year as “anticlimactic.”

“We were all looking forward to milestone events that occur during the peak of senior year like banquets, senior prom, awards day, and graduation,” Tilton said. “Events were canceled and the graduation announcement came in an email. Twelve years of school ended in an instant, rather than over two or three months like we expected. Once it was confirmed that we would not be returning, I decided to keep myself busy by working for a landscaper. The work keeps me outside and active, while I prepare for the next chapter.”

Tilton said he will take the memory of his last day of high school on March 12 with him as moves forward to the next chapter of his life.

“It was the opening night of ‘Foot

Helena High School loose,’ and we were all excited,” Tilton said. “The show really came together for that first performance and we all left that night feeling proud of ourselves. Over the next few days, we learned that that was our last day of school for the year. This is not how any of us thought senior year would end at Helena, but for myself and my fellow seniors in the cast, crew, and orchestra, we were fortunate to end our year on a high note.”

Tilton’s future plans are to attend Auburn University where he will study mechanical engineering.

Tilton is the son of Dana and Jesse Tilton.

Dear Class of 2020,

We are a special class—we always have been. Most of us were born around the time that the world was rocked by the major tragedy of 9/11 in 2001, and our country was changing rapidly when we were infants. And now, as we approach one of the largest milestones in our lives so far, our world is experiencing a pandemic, as if our lives are bookmarked with worldwide events. It breaks my heart to think about the things we are missing out on: senior prom, college decision day, awards ceremonies, a normal graduation, spring sports and senior nights, senior picnic, and even just signing one another’s yearbooks; however, if any group of students could handle these losses, it has always been us.

Since we started kindergarten in 2007, we have been different from any other group. We’ve seen unparalleled success in sports, produced the most honor graduates in the history of the school, led incredible theater productions, signed multiple athletes to competitive colleges, marched the band to high honors both on the stage and the field, seen individual seniors achieve some of the highest academic honors possible, and initiated traditions at Helena that will continue for years to come. It’s safe to say that a group as special as the Class of 2020 only comes around once every century, right?

So, though we are missing out on the end of our senior year, we should not forget the twelve years of memories we have to cherish. Remember those field days in elementary school, when winning tug of war was the most highly respected accomplishment? And when career day was the most exciting day of the year? Then we moved up to the intermediate school together in third grade and spent our next three years focused on who would win four square, jackpot, and Beyblades competitions at recess. In 2013, we tackled the first year of middle school together. The idea of having multiple classes and a locker rocked our worlds in sixth grade, but three short years later we were the kings and queens of that school. Then, in August of 2016, we became high schoolers and began making some of the sweetest memories together. I will always fondly remember working together each year during homecoming week to win the spirit stick, coming together at every football game to support our classmates on the field, and cheering each other on in each of our accomplishments as we found our passions and gifts. Nothing will ever replace that special feeling of singing the alma mater with our arms around one another, and I am incredibly thankful for that. We should all be proud to be a part of this group that is leaving such a unique mark on Helena.

Going forward, some of us are headed to college, some taking a gap year, pursuing trade school, entering the workforce, or honoring our country by joining one of the armed forces, but going our separate ways will never take away our memories and our bond, just like this pandemic has not been able to bring us down. Even more now than ever, I am confident that this class will find incredible success in our future. We are living through a time that will put us in the history books, and we are learning so much that will prepare us for our next steps in life- we will continue to make history.

So Class of 2020, let’s cherish every memory we’ve made together, nothing can take that away from us. The day we can all be together again will be the best memory yet.

Go Huskies always! Allison Tanner, SGA President GRADUATION 2020 • 21