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Delta Charter School graduates from left, Chevbrelle Jefferson, MaKayla Denise Matthews and D'Keiran Morales. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Nakiyla Griffin celebrates with family pictures after graduating Friday. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Lavon Ceasor Jr. celebrates with family pictures after graduating Friday. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Lavon Ceasor Jr. celebrates with family pictures after graduating Friday. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Davis Cooper celebrates with family pictures after graduating Friday. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

Valedictorian Rami Rachelle Burks celebrates with family pictures after the Delta Charter School graduation on Friday. (Sabrina Robertson | The Natchez Democrat)

VIDALIA, La. — Nearly 30 students graduated on Friday evening from Delta Charter School.

Ironically, storms this week made the Storms’ football field too wet for the ceremony, so it instead took place at the First Baptist Church in Vidalia.

Salutatorian Maddux Ainsworth, who graduated Friday with a 4.2941 grade point average and 33 dual enrollment credits, welcomed his classmates to their graduation — “the moment we have been waiting for for what felt like forever but came in a short amount of time. It’s been sort of fun, but here shortly we are going to turn our tassels and throw our caps and it will all be over.”

Ainsworth plans to study Biology at Louisiana State University and matter attend medical school to pursue his dream of becoming a cardiologist.

Ainsworth asked that his classmates remember him as they move along into their next journey.

“I’m so grateful to have been part of the class of 2024 and I wish each and every one of you the best in life.”

Friday’s commencement was also held in loving memory of a Class of 2024 member Lily Grace McCarthy, who died tragically in a car accident on Aug. 17, 2021, as a 15-year-old sophomore at Delta Charter.

“We lost a piece of our hearts in Ms. Lily McCarthy,” said Rami Rachelle Burks, remembering how excited she had been to see her classmates again and welcome new faces after COVID-19 only to lose a friend shortly after.

Burks graduated with a 4.3284 grade point average and 33 dual enrollment credit hours toward her higher education at Louisiana State University, where she intends to study Mass Communication with an emphasis on sports journalism and later go to law school.

Together, she and her classmates faced many challenges and learned many lessons from them, she said, recalling a lesson each of their teachers left them with.

“Mrs. Tamba: Always place God first because His vision for your life is safe and secure. Mr. Rowe: Swing for the fence, protect your reputation, live by the heart and remember that no other behavior can substitute for and intrinsic work ethic. Mrs. Dawkins: Take the risk, keep searching for your joy, and look at every opportunity as a learning experience — ‘Go forth and set the world on fire,'” she said, in the words of St. Ignatius Loyola. “Mrs. Doughty: Embrace the unknown, embrace the uncertainty and be open to new opportunities. Most importantly, stay connected to your classmates and build your network as you move forward. … Thank you for all of the effort you have poured into us individually and collectively.”

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