By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It pays to attend school every day at Union City Schools.
Just ask Quailvarious Brown and more than 100 other students.
Brown was the grand prize winner of a car given away via a blind drawing at Union City High School Wednesday, and a total of 109 UCSS students in all were awarded cash prizes of $100 or more for perfect attendance for the 2019-20 school year.
Brown’s attendance record was indeed exemplary with no absences and nary a single tardy either. The senior, who will attend college at the University of Memphis, was both stunned and thrilled Wednesday when high school principal Jacob Cross and Ben Hopkins – co-owner of City Autoplex, which donated the car – handed him the keys in a surprise visit to his home.
The incentive program – designed to combat the statewide problem of chronic absenteeism — promoted attendance at all three campuses and also produced a pair of $500 drawing winners among parents at both the elementary and middle schools.
Roberto Silva-Moreno and his mother, Maria Moreno, were the grand prize winners at UCMS, while student Austin Bradley and Samantha Smith – the mother of Maddilyn Bailey – had their names drawn for the top prize at Union City Elementary.
In all, there were 40 students rewarded with $100 checks at both UCMS and Union City High School, and 29 more at UCES.
A complete list of honorees includes:
UCES
Tegan Lindsey, Aaron Nipp, Boston Riley, Owen Shannon, Wade Webb, Thomas Harrell, Shuntoria Jones, Ryelee Byars, Case Thompson, Aiden Fleming, Emmalyn McClanahan, Kade Ross, Sha’mylia Harrell, Maddie Lane Steward, Landen Waters, Guadalupe Lopez, Elijah Bing, Averi Riley, Maddilyn Bailey, Allyn Lopez, Alyssa Cathey, Randy Huynh, Austin Bradley, Marley Waddell, Jadence Dennis, Madison Hodges, Andrew Bradley, Will Kail and Jayabren Brown.
UCMS
Silverio Acevedo-Trejo, Ja’kwavius Allen, Maddelyn Allen, Gavin Arnold, Clare Atwill, Carrie Bing, Malia Bond, Jermyia Bonds, Jaxon Busby, Stephanie Chen, Uriah Davis, Ca’lae Ervin, Preston Green, Lucas Greer, Kimberli Guerrero, Jack Harris, Indeya Hogsett, Robert Huffstutter, Braddock King, Kobe Kirk, Taryn Landry, Ku’mya Liphford, Martez Liphford, Dafne Lopez, Jorge Lopez, Ricardo Lopez-Maldonado, Rachel McClanahan, Thomas Miller, Ashton Minor, Madison Pate, Lorashannae Perkins, Shooter Presson, Will Ragsdale, Dylan Ruiz, Aiden Scott, Kameron Shade, Rylee Stone, Lizbeth Tinajero, Talexis White and Payton Williams.
UCHS
Carson Aldridge, Diego Arriaga, Lainey Barker, Javier Benamin, Amari Bonds, Elana Bone, Jason Bone, Mason Brinkley, Khali Brooks, Quailvarious Brown, Mason Carriere, Jaheim Ceaser, Cedrion Cook, Katelyn Dean, Nick DeRosia, Gavin Ellis, Emily Fields, Andarius Fisk, Lizabeth Guerrero, Sharon Hively, Tammy Huynh, Blade Johnson, Hope Kennedy, Durrell Littleton, Caitlin Lofton, Emilia Maldonado, Yourin Martinez, Jayna Robinson, Jocelyn Ruiz, Trey Smith, Shyon Stephens, Abby Suiter, Maggie Suiter, Jake Tucker, Sara Ullrich, Madeline Underwood, Jacqualine Vazquez, Maria Vazquez, Libby Wisener and Cale Yates.