05/14/2026
EHS Outstanding Scholars of the Month
At the May 11 School Board Meeting, three Essex High School students were recognized. Joshua Hartso Smith, Jairo Garcia, and Jamie Segar II were honored for their outstanding academic achievements and dedication to excellence. Although not in attendance, Amoni Smith and Tanisha Dabney are part of this distinguished group. Together, these five students represent the top five scholars of Essex High School. Congratulations to all five of the scholars on their remarkable accomplishments.
Joshua Hartso-Smith
Joshua was not only named one of our Scholars of the Month, but he is also the Class of 2026 Valedictorian at Essex High School! Joshua demonstrates exceptional leadership through service, serving as President of the National Honor Society and as a member of the Senior Advisory Board and the Superintendent’s Advisory Council. His commitment to academic excellence is clear. He has pursued rigorous opportunities through dual-enrollment courses and the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, while also earning an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree with magna cm laude honors. Professional School Counselor Mr. Oliver shared, “His dedication, hard work, and positive impact truly set him apart.” Joshua plans to attend Virginia Tech and major in civil engineering.
Jairo Garcia
Scholar of the Month and Essex High School Class of 2026 Salutatorian, Jairo Garcia earned an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree from Rappahannock Community College, along with a Culinary Arts certification. He was actively involved in the band and held leadership roles in both FCCLA and the National Honor Society, while also participating in the National Technical Honor Society and Tri-M Honor Society, and was recognized as a Governor’s Scholar. Jairo will attend the University of Virginia in the fall, where he plans to major in Business Management and pursue his goal of owning a business in the culinary field.
Jamie Segar II
Jamie’s high school career was marked by numerous accomplishments, including serving as SCA President, being a member of the National Junior Honor Society, participating in the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, working as a Trojan Peer Tutor, and excelling as a talented musician and athlete. Jamie earned an Associate Degree in Arts and Sciences with an emphasis on STEM from Rappahannock Community College. This achievement reflects the scholar’s strong work ethic and readiness for continued success. After earning acceptance to 22 colleges, Jamie will attend Hampton University this fall.
