Salutatorian Joseph Baldwin, Valedictorian Amy McGee, Britt Edwards, and Blake Stitcher will be graduating from Briarwood Academy in ceremonies May 15. Joseph Brian Baldwin of Washington Wilkes will be honored as salutatorian of the Briarwood Academy Class of 2006 during commencement exercises to be held at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15. He is the son of Joann and Brian Baldwin of Washington-Wilkes.

Amy Denard McGee of Lincolnton, granddaughter of DeLeon and Mary Denard of Washington and daughter of Roy and Karen Denard McGee of Lincolnton, will be honored as class valedictorian.

Two other Wilkes County students will also graduate during the commencement exercises for the 17 members of the Class of 2006 at the Clinton H. Grant Field House at Briarwood. They are Brittney Leigh Edwards and Clifton Blakey Stitcher.

As salutatorian of the class, Joseph will deliver the salutatory address. He is a National Merit semifinalist and will attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and plans to earn a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Business Interactions. Joseph will accompany Briarwood Music Director Jeanie Joesbury on the piano as she sings "Let the Bright Seraphim" by Handel for commencement.

Amy is a National Merit Scholar and will deliver the valedictory address. She plans to attend the University of Georgia upon graduation.

Britt is an honor graduate and the daughter of Benjie and Donna Edwards. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University and major in chemistry with the intention of becoming a crime lab analyst. As class treasurer she delivered the invocation at the Baccalaureate service Sunday, May 7, at Thomson First United Methodist Church.

Blake is the son of Melanie Stitcher of Washington-Wilkes and Cliff Stitcher of Macon. He plans to attend Augusta State University

and major in history with the intention of becoming a history teacher and baseball coach. During the commencement service, he will perform "Free Bird" as a guitar duet with Junior Seth Williford.

Briarwood Junior Bonnie Elizabeth Bounds, daughter of Lincoln and Cindy Bounds of WashingtonWilkes, will serve as Junior Marshal. The Junior Marshal has the honor of being the Junior with the highest academic average through the first five semesters of high school and will have the honor of leading the Senior processional and recessional at all graduation activities.

Four Junior students from Washington Wilkes will serve as Junior Ushers. High school juniors who have maintained an average of 90 or above for the first five semesters of high school serve as ushers for all graduation activities.

These Juniors are Joseph Batrous, grandson of Vernon and Jackie Adams of Washington and son of Joe and Vicki Batrous of Thomson; Ali Dyson, daughter of George and April Dyson; Liz Grant, daughter of Bill and Melissa Grant; and Angela Kirkland, daughter of Bob and Judy Kirkland.