Your 2011 Valedictorians and Salutatorians: West Union’s Seleigh Jackson and Leah Paige Goolsby

West Union Attendance Center has announced that Seleigh Jackson and Leah Paige Goolsby are the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2011.

Angie Barmer

Leah Paige Goolsby and Seleigh Jackson

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Seleigh Jackson, daughter of Randy and Tanya Jackson and the sister of Emily Jackson, has a 4.0 GPA, and ACT score of 30, and is the Valedictorian and the STAR student for 2011. Her grandparents are Wade and Marie Cavendar of New Albany and Doris Jackson and the late Virgil Jackson of the Poolville community.
Jackson has been a member of Harmony Baptist Church since birth and is a member of the church choir. Her hobbies include reading and listening to music.
While at West Union, she was in the Beta Club, SADD, Anchor Club, Yearbook Club, was secretary and treasurer of the Press Club, and was senior representative for the Student Council. She also received Most Intellectual, Most Likely to Succeed, and the Principal’s Leadership Award.
Jackson received a Valedictorian scholarship and a Mississippi Homemakers Scholarship. Jackson has been a student at West Union since Kindergarten.
“It’s kinda scary to leave here. I have been here since I was 5 years old. Everybody is so familiar and you know everybody, but I am ready to move on,” said Jackson. “I have loved all of my teachers here. I loved Lori Campbell, I had her for first grade. I loved Kim Clayton too, I had her for science. And Lou McQuary was a great tutor.”
During her years here, one of her favorite classes was Raquel Morris’s government and economics class. She said, “I loved how it was something I didn’t like, but I would end up liking it. Through our discussions, I learned a lot about our government.”
One of her biggest memories for her is the smell of a Kindergarten classroom. Another good memory is going on a Beta Club trip to Nashville her sophomore year.
She plans to attend Northeast Mississippi Community College, but is currently undecided on a major.
“I have never really had to study a whole lot. I love to read. When I study I have to have the music down really low, I use flash cards to help me remember vocabulary and other information, and it helps if I have someone call out the information to me,” said Jackson.
She said that she was very excited about being chosen as Valedictorian. Her advice to fellow students is as follows: “Even though you don’t like school and you don’t want to study, make yourself study. The discipline you get in high school will help you when you get out of high school. Keep your grades up because it will help you out in the long run.”
“I will miss being familiar with everyone around here. Leaving high school will be so different. I think a disadvantage is a transition into college. Advantages are that you know people better, you can develop deeper relationships with people, and you learn how to appreciate relationships and people more,” said Jackson.
Leah Paige Goolsby, the daughter of Paula and Tony Tice of New Albany and Robby and Cindy Goolsby of Hickory Flat and the sister of Laura Beth, is the Salutatorian with a 4.0 GPA.
Her grandparents are Lynn Stewart and Aaron Goolsby, both of Hickory Flat, and Joan Goolsby of Potts Camp.
She was active in athletics, playing basketball, fast pitch and slow pitch softball. Goolsby was also a historian in FBLA, secretary in Beta Club, in SADD, Anchor, Yearbook, and has been in FCA in the past. She was also Homecoming Queen, she received the Friendliest and Best Personality nominations from Who’s Who, and she placed at the district FBLA for the past two years in Banking and Finance.
She has been a member of Hickory Flat United Methodist Church for years.
She came to West Union her sophomore year and attended the rest of her school career at Hickory Flat.
One of her favorite memories is winning the state championship in slow-pitch softball in 2009. “I made a lot of good friends here and have became really close within the past three years.”
Her favorite teacher is Kelly Robbins, who is also her basketball coach. Goolsby said, “She knows how to encourage us, she makes learning fun, and is a good teacher.”
Robbins said, “Leah Paige exceeds expectations in the classroom and on the gym floor. She is a hard worker who leads in example to other students and teammates. She will be greatly missed, She is trustworthy – she lives by what she says and she makes us appreciate our job.”
Goolsby’s advice to fellow students is as follows: “Work hard. If you work hard, it’s worth it in the end. Try your best.”
Goolsby plans to attend Itawamba Community College and major in Physical Therapy and then plans on attending Mississippi State University. She said, “I am terrified and sad to leave here; it is bittersweet, but it is fun and exciting.”
Jackson and Goolsby, along with their classmates, will become graduates at the West Union Attendance Center Commencement Ceremony at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 27, 2011.