Fifty-seven young men and women graduated from Mathews High School last Saturday with a “change in attitude,” a concept expressed by valedictorian Abbie Hudgins in her speech.

“At the beginning of the school year, I found myself focusing on the negative components, even though they were far from my control,” said Hudgins. “I was fixated on the unfairness of the situation and found myself complaining about what could’ve been and what was taken from us. I was going through the motions of my senior year saying things like, ‘Next year will be better,’ and completely rushing through and throwing away each valuable moment of my senior year.”

Hudgins said that her mindset shifted when she and her teammates fell short in the VHSL state semifinal basketball game.

“Where I was disappointed and absorbed with the minimal number of games played and tedious policies sent in place, I should’ve been grateful that my teammates and I were able to have a season at all and play the game we love,” continued Hudgins.

“The most significant change in attitude however wasn’t about prom, or homecoming, or any other mundane part of high school,” said Hudgins. “Instead, the excitement that I felt was a result of the memories of having to beg someone to catch for me while I warmed up pitching, laughing in the halls before the start of class, blasting music in the locker room before games, gathering with everyone for lunch, and even arguing over who was going to ask if we could listen to music after a loss.”

During her speech, Hudgins quoted Pastor Charles R. Swindoll, who famously said, “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it.”

Salutatorian Kylie Berry expressed similar feelings as Hudgins in her speech.

“Sports, junior prom, first day of senior year, homecoming, as well as many other traditions that were canceled before our eyes as we struggled to pay attention to our computer screens for our makeshift senior year,” said Berry. “As juniors we watched our dear friends lament over this pain of losing such an important part of their academic career, not thinking it would endure long enough to affect ours. But, through all this tribulation, I’m glad to say we did it.

“We electronically submitted our assignments to Google Classroom at the last minute and pushed through with every bit of gumption left in us,” she said. “In the weirdest way possible, we have made the best of a senior year spent on the road, in bed, at the beach, or in the mountains. My wish for you, Class of 2021, is to carry out this perseverance throughout your life wherever it may take you.”

Jackson Putt was recipient of this year’s General Excellence Award, the highest honor given at Mathews High School. The award is given to the senior who best exemplifies high academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership, citizenship and a cooperative attitude.

Scholarships

Mathews High School graduates received 51 local scholarships from 42 different organizations and individuals associated with Mathews County, totaling almost $72,000.

Additionally, the graduates earned various other scholarships totaling almost $200,000. Scholarship recipients recognized on Saturday were:

Grace Bandurco: Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal Scholarship, $500; Capt. Orrell Scholarship, $1,000.

Kylie Berry: Georgienne B. Laws Memorial Scholarship, $500; Elizabeth H. Hudgins Memorial Scholarship, $500; Thomas W. & Lolita Gayle Memorial Scholarship, $12,000.

Austin Crocker: Kingston Parish Scholarship, $1,500.

Melody De Guzman: Shane Todd Memorial Scholarship, $150; Lynne R. Rowe Memorial Scholarship, $200; Jason S. Hudgins Quality of Excellence Scholarship, $250; Big Blue Sea Scholarship, $500; Thomas Peterson and Alvin Roane Fary Memorial Scholarship, $1,000.

Sophie Gibson: St. Paul United Methodist Church Scholarship, $500; Central Village Homemakers Scholarship, $500; Lazarus Award, $1,000; Kingston Parish Scholarship, $1,500; Rappahannock Community College Scholarship, $750.

Abbie Hudgins: Central Village Homemakers Scholarship, $500; Moss Henderson Scholarship, $750; United Methodist Women of Salem United Methodist Church Scholarship, $1,000; Mathews Rotary Club Scholarship, $1,000; Altria Client Services LLC, $3,500.

Isabella Hudgins: MHS Class of 1967 Scholarship, $500; MHS Class of 1965 Scholarship, $1,000.

Lauren Hudgins: Lauren Owens Memorial Scholarship, $500; William F. and Catharine K. Owens Foundation Scholarship, $750.

Connie Johnson: Bill Hudgins Female Athlete Scholarship, $300; John E. Brown Scholarship, $500; Mathews Lions Club Scholarship, $1,500.

Brittany Ottarson: Ruth Smitt Memorial Scholarship, $500; Piankatank Ruritan Club Scholarship, $500; P.E.O. Chapter CA Scholarship, $500; Nellie Mae Callis Memorial Scholarship, $750; Mathews Woman’s Club Scholarship, $1,000; Judy G. Ward Memorial Scholarship, $2,000; Kingston Parish Scholarship, $2,000; Thomas W. & Lolita Gayle Memorial Scholarship, $14,000; Sally Bet Walker Lawson Scholarship, $2,400; Botetourt Masonic Lodge Scholarship, $1,000; 2021 Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship, $2,500.

Jackson Putt: J. Martin Diggs Memorial Scholarship, $750; Mary Virginia Green Memorial Scholarship, $750; Harry M. & Margaret Ward Scholarship, $750; Bernice White Memorial Scholarship, $800; C. Aubrey White Memorial Scholarship, $800; Piankatank Ruritan Club Scholarship, $1,000; Mathews Memorial Library Scholarship, $1,000; John H. & Annie C. Miles Memorial Scholarship, $5,200; Triple AAA of Tidewater – J. Theron Timmons Memorial Scholarship, $5,200.

Brian Robinson: Bill Hudgins Male Athlete Scholarship, $300; Tara M. Plotino Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Delta Sigma Theta Williamsburg Chapter Scholarship, $1,000; Mathews Chapter of the Continental Societies Scholarship, $1,000; Mathews Lions Club Scholarship, $1,500; Servetus Endowment Fund Scholarship, $4,000.

Kelsey Ryan: Betty & Jim Kenley Citizen Award, $500; Richard Sadler Memorial Scholarship, $500; 2021 Ferguson Enterprises Scholarship, $6,000; High Point University Presidential Scholarship, $60,000.

Jennifer Young: Math & Natural Science Scholarship, $500.

Alyssa Zabel: James R. Lewis Memorial Scholarship, $250; Clarence Minters Scholarship, $500, Rappahannock Community College Scholarship, $750.

Dennis Wood: Ed Merrell Engineering Scholarship, $1,500.

Haley Harris: University of Lynchburg Scholarship, $16,000.

Ethan Hill: William F. & Catharine K. Owens Foundation Scholarship, $750; EFI General Endowed Scholarship, $500.

Melissa Sochor: Presidential Scholarship from Simmons University, $96,000.

Additionally, Lois Beale and Lanazia Whalen were recognized for their commitment to serve in the U.S. Navy and Serong Rice was recognized for his commitment to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps.