The Mount Vernon Rotary Club honored students of the month for the first quarter of 2026 with lunch with their parents, introductions, and presentation of plaques at a recent club meeting.
Honorees were Alexa Copeland and Vernon Pennington for January, Lily Johnston and Chandler Bogue for February, and Emmersyn Reed and Landry Moss for March.
Copeland is the daughter of Matt and Suzanne Copeland. She is currently ranked 10th in the Mount Vernon High School (MVHS) senior class with a 4.2 grade point average (GPA). She plans to attend Baylor University to pursue a master’s degree in finance and business accounting.
During high school, Copeland played soccer, volleyball, track, and golf. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the MVHS Art and Design clubs. She was selected as a junior to participate in the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s and Rotary-sponsored Leaders of Tomorrow training program.
Pennington is the son of Billy and Lisa Pennington. He is currently 17th in a class of around 120 students with a GPA of 3.9. He plans to go to Kilgore College to study and enter the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
While attending MVHS, Pennington participated in varsity basketball and one-act play competition. He is a member of the MVHS Student Council, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Rotary Interact Club for students. He was selected to participate in both the Turning Point USA and Leaders of Tomorrow informational and training programs for high school students.
Johnston is the daughter of Melissa Johnston and Dean Johnston. She is also ranked 17th in the senior class with a GPA of 3.95. She plans to begin her next phase of studies at Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) and pursue a career in education. During high school, Johnston participated in varsity golf, the MV Designs Team, and the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) programs and competitions.
Bogue is the son of Zachary Dixon and Stephanie Dixon. In the upper quarter of the senior class, he maintains a 3.74 GPA. He plans to attend Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to study technology and earn an associate degree in applied science. He hopes to have a career as an electrical line worker. In high school, Dixon played varsity football and varsity tennis.
Reed is the daughter of Meredith and Michael Reed and maintains a 3.8 GPA at MVHS. She plans to attend Blinn College in Brenham and then transfer to Texas A&M University – College Station to complete a degree in agribusiness. Reed is a member of the National Honor Society and the MVHS FFA Chapter, where she participates in the annual young farmer project show. She has participated in the cheer squad and is a member of the varsity golf team.
Landry Moss was honored but was not present for the photos due to his duties on the MVHS Tiger Baseball Team. He is the son of Christopher Moss and Sarah Cargile. In the top 5th of the class, Moss maintains a 3.9 GPA. He plans to attend the University of Houston to earn a degree in business administration. While at MVHS, Moss played four years of varsity baseball and three years of varsity football. He is a member of the president’s Turning Point USA initiative, the Fields of Faith, and participated in the “Mount Vernon Clinicals.”
Rotary believes that our youth are truly the future of our society. To shape those students into better citizens and more involved in their community, the club hosts, at their meetings, a boy and a girl from the senior class, recommended by teachers and counselors, each month.
