86 • SEPTEMBER 2023
Canton Public School District Celebrates Success Beverly Luckett, Public Relations Director The Canton Public School District has overcome many challenges as it has persevered on its upward climb to increased academic achievement. As we continue to grow, we pause to acknowledge and celebrate how far we have come. After many years of steady growth, the Mississippi Department of Education rated CPSD a B-district. All four of our elementary schools earned A-ratings. Both middle schools earned B-ratings and our high school earned a C-rating. We thank our scholars, teachers, administrators, staff, and the community for their support, perseverance, and hard work! Our motto is “Perseverance Conquers All.” Even though it felt good to celebrate our success, we know the best is still yet to come for our district. That’s why we never stop focusing on achieving our next goal. We know there will be a few setbacks along the way, but we will always keep our focus on our mission and our number one priority. That is making sure we enable our scholars to become analytical thinkers, self-directed lifelong learners, and effective communicators who are prepared to continue their education and/or to enter the global workplace to participate in society as responsible citizens. Our talented, outstanding scholars inspire our passionate, nurturing, and highly-qualified faculty to remain in the district where they feel right at home teaching. The CPSD Family is a place where educators can offer support to their students and be supported by the administration. That has propelled our scholars to soar both socially and academically. The district also offers a variety of extracurricular activities and competitive athletics programs to help students become well-rounded, lifelong learners who are prepared for a successful future. The Canton Public School District salutes the following scholars who are chasing their dreams as they pursue higher education. Congratulations to Ahniya Myers for winning the full-ride, 2023 Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship. The creative writing scholarship, named in honor of best-selling author and Belhaven University alumna Angie Thomas (’11), was created to help young aspiring writers who need extra support to make their dreams of authorship a reality. Thomas is the author of the New York Times best-selling novels “Concrete Rose,” “On the Come Up,” “The Hate U Give,” and “Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy.” “The Hate U Give” and “On the Come Up” were developed into major motion pictures. Congratulations to Mr. Canton High School Dwight Luckett Jr., for signing his letter of intent to play basketball at Delta State University. Dwight is excited to join the DSU Statesmen. He says he is ready to “Join In and Stand Out” while pursuing a degree in business. Dwight has an impressive resume of accomplishments, leadership skills, and over 80 hours of community service. This scholar-athlete is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Society of High School Scholars, a two-time varsity basketball state champion, former member of the student government association, former member of the CHS varsity basketball team, member of the Madison County Youth Leadership Program Class of 2021-2022, former ambassador for The Evers Academy for African American Males, and elected six times by his peers to represent them, among other accomplishments. Dwight was awarded first place for two consecutive years for winning the Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Scholarship sponsored by the Rho Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Canton High, Dwight Luckett Jr., and Miss Canton High first runner up, Aniyah Myers, won $2,000 each for their outstanding essays that advised young scholars before they experienced K-12th grade. The Tender Heart Loving Hands Montessori Academy surprised the two scholars by informing them they were the winners of their “If I Were You 2K Scholarship.” The two read their essays at the Academy’s Pre-K graduation ceremony. The district is filled with outstanding, talented scholars that always make us “Tiger Proud” and keep us focused on elevating minds and empowering possibilities. “Perseverance Conquers All” www.cantonschools.net “Elevating Minds, Empowering Possibilities” Hometown MADISON • 87