Rachel Fisher, Wesley Stratton and Kelsey Patterson took home the top three academic honor,s and Will Oakley won the prestigious deGraffenried Award at the Russellville High School Commencement recently.

Fisher, the daughter of Jerry and Vicky Mathis, is the class valedictorian. She will be in the Honors College at Western Kentucky University where she will major in biology and pre-med, according to Principal Kim McDaniel, who announced the awards.

Stratton, the son of Artis and Renee Stratton, is the salutatorian. He will be part of the honors program at Murray State University where he plans on majoring in chemistry and pre-pharmacy.

Placing third was Kelsey Patterson, the daughter of Darcy and Lovis Patterson. She, too, will attend MSU and be a part of the honors program. She plans to major in international studies.

The deGraffenried Award, which is named for Thomas P. deGraffenried, a Russellville native and New York attorney who willed a large portion of his estate in 1961 to be used for the education of Russellvillians. It is given to the outstanding senior in each graduating class, as determined by a vote of the faculty. Oakley received his award from school counselor Nicole Osborne.

In addition to those four, students in the top 10 academically were Jada Morris, Hannah Miller, Derrick Porter, Katelyn Suiter, Danielle White and Sarah Williams.

Fisher presented the valedictory address. Brian Brown, the RHS band director and a 1994 graduate of the school, was the featured commencement speaker.

Assistant Principal Brandon Blake introduced and honored the Student Ambassadors in the class. They were as follows: four years--Allie Blythe, Rachel Fisher, Kelsey Patterson, Katelyn Suiter, Sarah Brown, Jada Morris and Derrick Porter; 1 year—Brian Clinard and Ta’Corian ‘CoCo’ Darden.

McDaniel announced that Trevian Patterson has successfully completed WKU’s Upward Bound Program. In addition those who have completed WKU’s Educational Talent Search are Tavzizha Boyd, Christina Bradley, Sylvesaer Cage III, Brian Clinard, La Chelle Gatewood, Raven Hale, Taelor Insco, Desmon Quarles and Mykah Wilkerson.

Scholarship Awards were announced for the following graduates:

Allison Blythe: Sally Flowers Moody Scholarship, Third District Beta Scholarship

Sarah Brown: Caleb Slaton Scholarship, DAR Good Citizen Scholarship, Pennyrile Rural Electric Scholarship, Teachers of Logan County Scholarship, Rotary Scholarship

Alexander Cain: FOP Scholarship, Oddvar Berg Scholarship, Logan Memorial Healthcare Scholarship, WKU Red Towel Scholarship

TaCorian Darden: Scholarship Gary Silvey Scholarship, Kelly Russell Award

Rachel Fisher: WKU Regents Scholarship

Zaleigh Joran: Northern Kentucky University Scholarship

Annie Lewis: Rotary Scholarship

Travis McDaniel: Murray State University Scholarship

Hannah Miller: Campbellsville University Academic and Band Scholarships, Campbellsville Performance Grant, Kentucky Tuition Grant

Jada Morris: Sally Flowers Moody Scholarship

William Oakley: Boardwalk Pipeline Scholarship, Malachi Richmond Scholarship, Panther Spirit Award from Russellville Alumni Association, Governor’s Scholar Program Scholarship, Sally Flowers Moody Scholarship, WKU Red Towel Scholarship

Kelsey Patterson: Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarship—Omicron Sigma Omega Chapter/AKA Minority Scholarship, Marvin D. Mills Scholarship, NAACP Scholarship

Derrick Porter: Panther Spirit Award from Russellville Alumni Association, Democratic Women’s Club Scholarship, Logan Memorial Healthcare Scholarship

Wesley Stratton: Governor’s Scholar Program Scholarship, Panzera Pete Memorial Alumni Scholarship, Rotary Club Health Science Scholarship

Katelyn Suiter: Murray State University Business Scholarship

Breanna Thomas: Full Tuition

Danielle White: Mabel Pullen Agriculture Scholarship, MSU Carr Scholarship

Sarah Williams: Monsignor Horrigan Scholarship

Superintendent Leon Smith and Board Chairman James Milam presented diplomas to the Russellville High School Class of 2015.