CHHS celebrates National Blue Ribbon award in socially distant ceremony

Shelby Parsons, Editor-in-Chief for The Pony Express|November 2, 2020

  • In his remarks at the National Blue Ribbon celebration, DeSoto County Schools Superintendent of Education Cory Uselton referred to Center Hill’s hashtag and motto, “Respect the Hill.” “Center Hill High School has received respect, not only statewide, but nationally,” Uselton said.

    Landis Henderson
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  • State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright congratulates the school during its National Blue Ribbon celebration. “Center Hill High School is only one of 367 Blue Ribbon Schools in the entire country,” Wright said. “There are roughly 130,000 schools inside the United States. This means that Center Hill High School is among the top .3% of all schools in the country.”

    Landis Henderson
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  • Students and staff attending the school’s National Blue Ribbon celebration wore masks and practiced social distancing.

    Landis Henderson
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  • Freshman Jayden Baker gets his Blue Bell ice cream during Center Hill High School’s National Blue Ribbon celebration.

    Jose Esquivel
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  • Sophomore Kaylee Novosad gets some Blue Bell ice cream from coach Sean Barker during Center Hill High School’s National Blue Ribbon celebration.

    Jose Esquivel
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  • Principal Doug Payne said the school’s designation as a National Blue Ribbon school is a tremendous honor. “It’s a symbol of excellence that we will receive with great pride and will display with great pride,” he said.

    Jose Esquivel
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  • The Select Women’s Choir, directed by Allen Sanders sang two songs, including the National Anthem, during the National Blue Ribbon celebration.

    Jose Esquivel
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  • Drum major Alexandra Snyder, senior, conducts the band during the National Blue Ribbon celebration.

    Jose Esquivel
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  • DeSoto County Schools Superintendent of Education Cory Uselton, from left, State Superintendent Carey Wright and Principal Doug Payne each spoke at the school’s National Blue Ribbon celebration. “Center Hill High School is only one of 367 Blue Ribbon Schools in the entire country,” Wright said. “There are roughly 130,000 schools inside the United States. This means that Center Hill High School is among the top .3% of all schools in the country.”

    Jose Esquivel
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  • Jose Esquivel
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  • Jose Esquivel
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  • District 1 school board member Milton Nichols gets ice cream and cake served by counselor Meredith Smith, Assistant Principal Brenda Case, counselor Danielle Brown, and Ron Thompson from the maintenance department.

    Jose Esquivel
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  • Principal Doug Payne looks on as seniors Zandon Haralson, left, and Candice Buford unveil the National Blue Ribbon banner at the school’s front entrance. “It is a tremendous honor,” Payne said. “It’s a symbol of excellence that we will receive with great pride and will display with great pride.”

    Landis Henderson
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After earning National Blue Ribbon status in September, the coveted award was made official at a schoolwide celebration today. Following COVID-19 guidelines with masks and social distancing, the ceremony was held in the parking lot in front of the school.

“Center Hill High School is only one of 367 Blue Ribbon Schools in the entire country,” Mississippi Superintendent of Education Carey Wright said. “There are roughly 130,000 schools inside the United States. This means that Center Hill High School is among the top .3% of all schools in the country.”

According to a U.S. Department of Education press release, 420 schools may apply or be nominated each year for the national title, which is awarded to schools for their excellent academic performance or progress in closing significant gaps among disadvantaged groups.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the Select Women’s Choir sang the National Anthem and the band performed.

On a day that began with temperatures in the mid-30s, Principal Doug Payne commented on the sunny and mild weather. 

“It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day,” he said. “We’re here today to recognize our school’s accomplishments. This doesn’t happen without the support of our community.”

That support includes Center Hill students and staff, Payne said, as well as state and local officials.

In his remarks, DeSoto County Schools Superintendent of Education Cory Uselton referred to the school’s hashtag and motto, “Respect the Hill.”

“Center Hill High School has received respect, not only statewide, but nationally,” Uselton said.

As the ceremony closed, Payne directed two seniors, Candice Buford and Zandon Haralson, to unveil the new National Blue Ribbon banner at the school’s front entrance.

“It is a tremendous honor,” he said. “It’s a symbol of excellence that we will receive with great pride and will display with great pride.”

How it happened

Only four schools in Mississippi received Blue Ribbon recognition this year. CHHS was named an Exemplary High Performing School and was nominated by the state, Payne said. CHHS now joins Center Hill Middle and Center Hill Elementary as the only schools in the district with this recognition.

“I’m just honored to work with such amazing people,” said Angel Pilcher, a teacher who served on the school’s 13-member Blue Ribbon committee. “Getting this award just reiterated a fact that we already knew, that our school is awesome.”

The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Awards Ceremony was changed to a virtual event because of the pandemic.

“It’s disappointing to not be able to go to Washington, D.C., to accept that award in person, but I’m still so excited that our school has been given this honor,” said Pilcher, who as Teacher of the Year was supposed to attend the awards ceremony.

Pilcher added that expectations are now even higher for CHHS.

“This accomplishment has set the bar high for our school,” she said. “I imagine every student, teacher and administrator is going to want to keep that standard.”