Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Corey Tuttle is the commander of Parkland High School’s JROTC, which means he’s in charge of coordinating the program’s events, competitions, service projects, and more. He’s joining the United States Army after graduation, and with their support, he’ll be pursuing a degree in criminal justice as well. Leadership roles in JROTC, National Technical Honor Society, and Parkland’s theatre program have empowered him to take charge of his own future. “High school is exactly what we choose to make it,” Tuttle said. “When you stay focused, you’re able to control what you’re being influenced by, so stay focused, stay full speed ahead, and be smart about your decisions.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

The Board of Education recognized 12 students for winning flagship scholarships at their meeting on Tuesday night, as well as 11 more who earned Forsyth Assistant Principals Association scholarships. The WS/FCS Class of 2025 has earned $85 million in scholarships between them, a testament to the confidence colleges and universities have in the district's graduates. Notably, this is the district's first graduating class to have had their entire high school careers after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Congratulations, seniors - we know you'll keep making us proud! #wsfcs

Griffith Elementary celebrated students' hard work preparing for EOGs with a pep rally this week. Ahead of testing, students got to play games, parade through the school, listen to music, and see their teachers show off some dance moves. Good luck, bulldogs - you've got this! #wsfcs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SGJ_nIrZS8

Rubi Cruz De Jesus plans to study ultrasound technology after graduation, starting at Forsyth Technical Community College and eventually transferring to a four-year university. She says she’s glad that her teachers at Carver High School didn’t always go easy on her, especially when it came to forming a habit of meeting deadlines. Even though high school was tough sometimes, she knows she has a community at Carver that she can lean on when she needs them. “I can always come back here and ask my teachers if I need anything,” she said. “I know they’ll help me.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Northwest Middle School celebrated student citizenship last week with their Teacher's Choice Awards. Every teacher gets to choose one student out of all of their classes and present some of their highlights for the year at an awards ceremony. Winners receive a gift certificate and attend a special reception with their friends and families. Principal Intern Charmeka Foster says that the event is an important acknowledgement of good will between students and teachers, and that it "shines a light on students who are simply exceptional human beings". Keep up the good work, Northwest! #wsfcs

Jesus Bacho has learned a lot from John F. Kennedy High School’s CTE program. He’s been working on pipes with his dad since he was seven years old, and while he hasn’t decided yet if he’ll go straight to work or spend time in college first, he’s excited to continue his family’s plumbing business with the skills he’s developed in school. He knows his biggest challenges are still ahead, so he’s thankful that his teachers pushed him to take his time in school seriously. “You can’t just play around, because once you get out of school, things are going to be harder,” Bacho said. “You’ve got to put in the hard work and pay attention to your teachers.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Mykel Covington-Brasfield has stayed busy throughout high school, serving as a leader in Glenn High School’s chorus, theatre program, football team, track team, and lacrosse team, the latter of which he helped rebuild the program for. He isn’t slowing down after graduation – he’ll be studying communications abroad in Ireland in hopes of becoming a sportscaster, and he even plans to start his own podcast while he’s there. After attending a school with so many opportunities for him to take advantage of, he feels ready for anything that might come next. “Doing all of these things, balancing them, and gaining the leadership and the credibility it takes to do it all, I think that’s what Glenn has really prepared me for,” Covington-Brasfield said. #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Hall-Woodward celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week with a visit from the Taqueria Tijuana food truck last week. The truck belongs to the Flores family, whose children are students and alumni at Hall-Woodward, so they wanted to offer their services as a show of thanks for everything the school's teachers have done for them. Principal Intern Ashley D. Hairston described it as "a beautiful example of how our community partners give back". Thank you for supporting our teachers! #wsfcs @TacosTijuana

Ward and Union Cross hyped up students for their EOGs with pep rallies on Friday, featuring DJs, dance performances, and even basketball demonstrations from visiting high schools. Hopefully, everyone's feeling relaxed and confident ahead of testing now - you've got this! #wsfcs

Ricky Yontz is fully nonverbal, but with plenty of support from his family and the staff at Carter High School, he’ll be graduating this year. He’ll be attending a day program at Top Priority, which provides a similar structure to school and will allow him to keep meeting new people and seeing more of the world. His mother, Wendy Yontz, says the staff at Carter have been indispensable in Ricky’s journey to achieve milestones that most people take for granted. “With all of the love and support he’s received from the teachers and all of the staff, he wouldn’t be where he is without them,” she said. “They’ve provided him with the ability to learn and grow at his own pace… anything he’s ever struggled with, they always reach out so we can work together to come up with a plan.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Grace Galyon has been a basketball captain, a political science enthusiast, and even a legal counselor in Teen Court during her time at Reagan High School. Now, she’s heading to NC State University on the Park Scholarship, one of the most prestigious merit-based scholarships in North Carolina. The selection process for the Park is grueling, but she credits her teachers at Reagan for encouraging her to succeed and helping her reach this point. “It’s a culmination of all the things I’ve done in high school,” Galyon said. “I’ve had some really great teachers who have pushed me, not just academically, but as a person, and they definitely helped guide me to the path that I’m on now.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Aaron Hester spent three years in Walkertown High School’s fire academy, and now he’s set to become a Winston-Salem firefighter. He plays for the baseball team and loves football and basketball as well, but he’s proudest of his work in the fire academy. He feels that going to Walkertown has helped instill a greater sense of civic duty in him. Everyone he’s gone to school with has unique backgrounds and struggles, and he has the potential to be there for all of them. “Being able to go through high school and understand what other people are going through has prepared me to be a fireman,” Hester said. “No matter who you are or what you’ve been through, I’m here to help.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Over 100 Whitaker Elementary School students celebrated Bike to School Day on Wednesday by taking part in the school's first "Bike Bus". The Bike Bus is a convoy of students, teachers, and parents who ride their bikes together for safety and visibility. Not only does it encourage students to develop healthy transportation habits, but it also gives everyone in the school community a chance to spend time together doing something enjoyable. It's a great way to get active and have fun doing it! #wsfcs

Cambria McLaughlin will be studying biology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte this fall. Inspired by complications she and her brothers experienced at birth, she’s always wanted to study medicine so she can help kids. East Forsyth High School has helped her earn her CNA and even given her hands-on experience working in hospice care. She especially credits Allied Health Teachers Amy Cave and Kelly Hooker for nurturing her interest in medicine. “The teachers have been amazing,” McLaughlin said. “They’re super supportive and super helpful in encouraging you to pursue what you want to pursue without fear of failure… there are definitely a lot of people looking out for you around here.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Reagan High School Seniors Bence Burton and Grace Galyon are off to college this year on some of the most prestigious scholarships the state has to offer. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2196038. #wsfcs

Hanes Magnet Middle School hosted elected officials for a visit on Friday to discuss government and education with students and teachers. Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2192291. #wsfcs

Erial Ladson is on track to be valedictorian at Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. She plans to study marketing and finance at High Point University so that she can fulfil her lifelong dream of starting her own real estate business. She says her teachers at WSPA did a great job of preparing her for the university experience through programs like college fairs and campus tours, and she encourages future graduates to make the most of collegiate resources in high school. “They really push that everyone can go to college,” Ladson said. “Everyone can set up for their future.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Jack Harrison will be leaving West Forsyth High School this spring and heading off to the Untied States Naval Academy. Admission to the academy is a strenuous process, but Harrison says he’s well-practiced in hard work through his time in cross country, track and field, and JROTC. He appreciates that his teachers have taught him to solve real-world problems and give his best efforts, providing him with more confidence that he can succeed outside the classroom. “I actually learned the content, and I digested it in a way that I’m going to be able to apply it later,” Harrison said. “The teachers here at West have done a really good job of making me a better student as a whole and not just a test-taker.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

Jason Martinez-Cornejo is a senior at North Forsyth High School who also takes classes at the Career Center. He recently signed a deal with R.D. Graham Electric LLC and will begin work right after graduation as an apprentice electrician. He’s thankful that he had teachers who cared about preparing him for life after school – especially Bill Guraleczka at Career Center, who helped him discover his passion for electrical trades. “I feel like I grew a lot once I started doing electrical trades,” Martinez-Cornejo said. “Mr. G would give us advice, not just on trades but also on life… he’s always opening doors for people.” #wsfcs #SeniorSpotlight

The stars came out to shine at the Reynolds Auditorium on Wednesday night for WS/FCS’ 2025 CORE Awards! Learn more on our website at https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/article/2182282. #wsfcs