Tate High’s Class Of 2021 Sets Academic Records, Including School’s Highest Ever GPA

June 6, 2021

The Tate High School class of 2021 set records with the highest valedictory, salutatory, and Top Ten percent GPAs in the school’s history. Valedictorian Katelyn Loudon achieved the highest GPA in the school’s history with a final GPA of 5.725.

Salutatorians Maggie Brown and Michael Dixon tied to the exact decimal GPA of 5.55. They are both the younger siblings of former Tate valedictorians (Samantha Brown, Class of 2017, and John Dixon, Class of 2019) Their GPAs are greater than their siblings’ past achievements, but missed the mark to get the valedictory award among this competitive class.

This year’s Top 10 Percent, in a class of 479 students (The Top 48), were head to head in the GPA battle. The anchor, Ethan Middleton, received his gold tassel with a final GPA of 4.6652. The Top 20 graduates’ GPAs all surpassed an outstanding 5.0. Tate’s Class of 2021 will graduate with 130 students (top 27%) achieving summa cum laude honors with a GPA greater than 4.0.

Valedictorian: Katelyn Loudon (Final GPA: 5.725)

Katelyn is a four-year member of Tate’s Biomedical Science Academy, is an AP Scholar with distinction, and is the Escambia County Council PTA Student of the Year. She has completed her certifications for basic life support, patient care Technician, and certified medical administrative assistant.

Clubs and Honor Societies: National Honor Society (president); Science Honor Society (president); Mu Alpha Theta; Rho Kappa; National English Honor Society; National Technical Honor Society; Aggie Advanced Institute

In the fall, Katelyn plans to attend the University of West Florida. She has been awarded the Academic Excellence Merit Scholarship valued at $20,000, is a Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar, and received scholarships from Boardwalk Pipelines, the Elks’ National Foundation, and the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge. Katelyn plans to major in nursing and pursue a career as an emergency room nurse practitioner or physician associate.

Salutatorian: Maggie Brown (Final GPA: 5.55)

In 2018, Maggie was a quarterfinalist on Jeopardy’s Teen Tournament, was on the 2020 Senior Homecoming Court, was appointed to the 2021 Senior Hall of Fame, and volunteers as assistant coach of Ransom Middle School’s Academic Team and is a Science Saturday Robotics volunteer at the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition.

Clubs and Honor Societies: Academic Team (team captain); member of the Escambia County Academic All-Stars Team and is a state champion; Aggie Advanced Institute; Rho Kappa (president); Foreign Language Club (president); National Honor Society (vice president); Mu Alpha Theta (treasurer).

In the fall, Maggie plans to attend the University of West Florida. She has been accepted to the honors program, and plans to major in international studies and minor in art history. She has been awarded the Academic Excellence Merit Scholarship valued at $20,000, in addition to receiving a grant from Pensacola Interstate Fair, and being a Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar.

Salutatorian: Michael S. Dixon (Final GPA: 5.55)

Michael is a National Merit Finalist, a four-year member of the Showband of the South, and was this year’s head drum major.

Clubs and Honor Societies: Academic Team, Aggie Advanced Institute, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Rho-Kappa, and Tri-M Musician’s Honor Society.

Band Honors/Awards: Assistant drum major his junior year, and head drum major his senior year. He was the principal French horn all four years; first chair horn in All-County band all four years; member of All-State bands in 2018 and 2021; received superior ratings at local and state solo and ensemble competitions on both French horn and piano. Recipient of the Escambia County Mira Award for music.

In the fall, Michael plans to attend the University of Florida to double major in music composition and psychology. He has been accepted into UF’s Honors Program, and has received the Benacquisto Scholarship (full ride) in addition to the University of Florida Presidential Scholarship, Band Scholarship, and Friends of Music Scholarship. He also was awarded the Better Business Bureau’s Student Ethics Scholarship and the Tate Showband Bill Slayton Scholarship.

The Top 10% honors graduates are as follows:

1. Katelyn Michelle Loudon
2. Maggie Ruth Brown
2. Michael Robert Dixon
4. Quang Tam Vo
5. John Thomas Semple
6. Kobi Seth Menser
7. Morgan Kelly Anderson
8. Jonathan David French
9. Haley Grace Vranich
10. Brianna Marie Deason
11. Bailey Nicole Jenkins
12. Jackson Cecil Chatwood
13. Brentley Marie Garrett
14. Evelyn Campbell
15. Bristol Denae Kelley
16. Gwenivier Elise Ward
17. Staci Marie Saucier
18. Samantha Guerrier
19. Joseph Pusateri
20. Eva Marie Miller
21. Abigail Breanne West
22. Maddison D’Rea Dorion
23. Courtney Ryan Adams
24. Jessica Jean Conti
25. Allison Suzanne Jefferis
26. Adam Cooper Lee
27. Nicholas Chase Walsh
28. Mia M Brown
29. Jonathan Evan Chisolm
30. Joanna Jiang
31. Kiera Jolie Goodyear
32. Kendall Jordyn Blackmon
33. Jacob Ryan Hutto
34. Aaron Stephen Neshem
35. Jacob Heath Greeson
36. Jacob Lawson Chatwood
37. Sidney Claire Stojak
38. Chandler Gray Hastings
39. Lindsey Carole Morris
40. Tayler Lynn Bridges
41. Layah Denae Seals
42. Matthew William Luebke
43. Cristian Alexander Bates
44. Jordan Tyler Jarman
45. Emily Rene’ Johnson
46. Natalee Ann Stuart
47. Armonie Michele Hughes Nettles
48. Ethan Daniel Middleton

Biographical information was provided by the students.

Comments

6 Responses to “Tate High’s Class Of 2021 Sets Academic Records, Including School’s Highest Ever GPA”

  1. Gloria Nettles on November 1st, 2022 11:03 pm

    Armonie Michele Hughes-Nettles, we’re very proud of you. Go and reach beyond the stars. We’ll always have your back.

    Love Mom & Dad

  2. Tracey McDonald on June 7th, 2021 7:49 am

    So proud of my son Bryant McDonald! He’s my number 1!

  3. Sharon Blanton on June 6th, 2021 10:19 pm

    It’s too bad that the media reports the h*++ outta the dang yearbook but lets the good news slide by. Thank you North Escambia, Principal Rick Shackles and teachers of the great J. M. Tate High School!!

  4. Lorissa Johnson on June 6th, 2021 5:20 pm

    I have had the pleasure of knowing all 3 of these amazing students and their families for many years. They are absolutely wonderful people inside and out… not only intelligent and talented, but also of the greatest character. I am so proud of all of you & look forward to seeing where life takes you. Hold true to your faith in God, and keep your ear tuned to His voice!

  5. The Robbie and Clarissa Brown Family on June 6th, 2021 1:53 pm

    Thank you so much, William, for your thorough yearly coverage of our outstanding seniors and their hard-earned achievements. Thanks to the faculty and staff of the Escambia County School District for providing the students with a comprehensive, well-rounded education, preparing our children to earn generous scholarship awards and significant college credit. It has truly been an honor.

    Sincerely, Robbie and Clarissa Brown

    Samantha Brown, #1, Tate High Class of 2017
    Lauren Brown, #3, Tate High Class of 2019
    Maggie Brown, #2, Tate High Class of 2021

  6. Shay on June 6th, 2021 9:57 am

    Y’all are amazing!! I know you will do great things!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News