Editor, The Commercial:
Curtis Deon Burnley Jr. is the son of Rosalyn Armstrong and Curtis Burnley, Sr. He graduated from Watson Chapel High School on May 15 at The Pine Bluff Convention Center at 7 p.m. He has a 4.22 GPA. When Curtis was in the 9th grade we attended a graduation ceremony he made up in his mind he wanted to be the valedictorian of his class. He is now ranked No. 1 out of 203 students.
When Curtis was about 2 1/2 he had a speech delay due to fluid in both his ears, and tubes were surgically inserted. After the surgery he had extensive speech therapy until age 6. Curtis has maintained all A’s from kindergarten until now his senior year. Curtis scored 31 on the ACT.
He is an accomplished trombone player at Watson Chapel and the Community Band. He is a member of the Beta Club, Student Council, and 5A State Championship Quiz Bowl Team. He performs community service as a member of YAC and assisting the County Accessor Yvonne Humphrey when his busy schedule allows. He is a member of and active in New Town Missionary Baptist Church. He plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. in the fall as a biology major his future plans are to be an optometrist.
I am blessed and proud of my son. Nobody but God! To all single parents raising children, I encourage you to never let your child give up on his dreams and to always make God a priority in his life and not an option. God has seen me through some tough times and on May 15 my son will deliver the 2012 valedictorian speech to his fellow classmates….To God Be The Glory.
Rosalyn Armstrong
Pine Bluff