lrfamily head of the class

PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- Three students from each Pulaski County Special School District high school have been chosen as Little Rock Family magazine’s Head of the Class 2020.

The annual recognition is for the top graduating seniors from central Arkansas schools.

See the award winners below:

Joe T. Robinson High School

Emma Kathleen Conner

  • GPA:  4.2

  • College attending: Ouachita Baptist University

  • Honors/achievements: Student council president, varsity soccer captain, All-Region Choir and eligible for All-State Choir, Soccer All-Conference, American Legion Auxiliary Girls State delegate

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: I am blessed to have had so many amazing teachers and administrators, but Coach Eskola at Robinson High School has especially made an impact on my life. He is so much more than a coach to all of his students and players, and he’s there for you on and off the field.

Eric Coulton

  • GPA: 4.12

  • Colleges accepted to: University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of South Florida

  • Honors/achievements: All-Region Band, AP Scholar, Arkansas Beta Convention science runner up, All-Tournament Arkansas Governor's Quiz Bowl Association, Band camp scholarships

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: One teacher who has made a difference in my life is Ms. Lani Moore, our school librarian. She has always motivated me to do my best and achieve my goals, and she always works and makes sure that students have a place where they can feel safe and heard.

Cherish Iroabuchi

  • GPA: 4.1

  • College attending: University of Arkansas

  • Honors/achievements: African American Academic All-Star, Philander Smith College Presidential Scholarship recipient, All-A honor roll throughout high school career, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin scholarship award recipient, Little Rock Honors choir

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: Mr. Edmond Hampton made a huge impact on my life as a teacher and as a person. The two periods I had Mr Hampton, he made it a ritual to talk to all his students about their life, dreams and futures. “Run faster than the fastest runner” is a statement he made that I will forever carry with me.

Maumelle High School

Madison Allen

  • GPA: 4.21

  • College attending: University of Central Arkansas University Scholars Program

  • Honors/achievements: Salutatorian, AP Scholar with Honor, Science Club president, National Honor Society member

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: The teacher who made a difference in my life was my AP U.S. History and AP U.S. Government teacher, Mr. Kahler. I learned more in those classes than most of my other ones, and I could tell he really wanted us to do well on the AP exams.

Keely Ausburn

  • GPA: 4.2450

  • College attending: Hendrix College

  • Honors/achievements: Founder and leader of the Peaceful Syrian Initiative, Finalist in the Arkansas Young Playwrights Competition for "Turning Pages," EAST Initiative representative, ambassador and speaker, AP Scholar with Honors, French Hill's Educational Award Program recipient

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: Mr. Jacob Clanton has challenged me to be better by making me question my assumptions and expand my thought processes. He has been a sounding board, a good laugh and an advisor to me for three years, inspiring me more than any teacher I have ever had.

Rachel Frank

  • GPA: 4.18

  • Colleges accepted to: University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas, The University of Oklahoma

  • Honors/achievements: Technology Student Association (TSA) vice president, Academic Excellence in AP Physics 1, EAST Conference team speaker, Lead actor in Arkansas Young Playwrights Competition one act play

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: Mrs. Keesee, my Project Lead The Way engineering teacher, inspired me to pursue a career in environmental engineering. She advanced my love for math and science and taught me many valuable leadership skills.

Sylvan Hills High School

Madison Chunn

  • GPA: 4.25

  • College attending: University of Central Arkansas

  • Honors/achievements: Student council parliamentarian, National Beta Club chapter president, Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening camp attendee

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: A teacher who has made a difference in my life would have to be Mrs. Jill Brooks. She has been my math teacher for the last three years and she has not only made calculus interesting, but she has also made high school an overall enjoyable experience.

Allison Parham

  • GPA: 4.15

  • College attending: University of Arkansas

  • Honors/achievements: Member of National Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society, 2018 Top Bear Award, 2019 flagline captain for the marching band, All-A honor roll throughout high school career

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: My AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Rice, quickly became my favorite teacher in high school. I’ve never found much interest in English compared to my math and science classes, but Mrs. Rice’s contagious positivity turned English into one of my favorite classes.

Elijah Persson

  • GPA: 4.2

  • College attending: Henderson State University

  • Honors/achievements: Undefeated Soccer Conference champion, two-time varsity soccer captain, Tennis Conference champion, Mu Alpha Theta Club member, National Honor Club member

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: Mrs. Brooks is the nicest teacher you'll ever meet. She pushed me to be the best I could be, and she taught me the most I could possibly learn in the three math classes I took with her.

Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High School

Alex Giron

  • GPA: 3.8

  • Colleges accepted to: Philander Smith College, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

  • Honors/achievements: Project Lead the Way Engineering student, honor roll, Pulaski County Youth Services Leadership Institute participant, Forensics and Debate, National Honor Society

Ronald Holt

  • GPA: 3.9

  • College attending: University of Arkansas at Little Rock

  • Honors/achievements: A Honor Roll, scored 30 on ACT, Arkansas Boys State delegate

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: A teacher who made a difference in my life is Ms. Moss. She encouraged and challenged me to do tasks inside and outside of school that would expand my education.

Trevor Jones

  • GPA: 4.06

  • Colleges Accepted to: Baylor University, University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas

  • Honors/achievements: Four-time President's Education Gold Award recipient, 2017-2018 varsity basketball state runner-up, National Youth Leadership Forum medicine fellow, AP Scholar, UAMS HEALERS program participant

  • Teacher, coach or admin who made a difference: There are so many for me to choose from, so I'll just list them all. My basketball coach Raymond Cooper, my English teacher Jeannie Moss, my math teacher Deborah Austin, my JROTC instructors Master Sergeant Timothy Dunn and Lieutenant Colonel Paul Brown, my AP Seminar teacher Lori Delk and Principal Clayton.