Celtic Newsletter Fall 2021

Alumni Spotlight

Isabella Jessee

Miss Isabella Jessee, a Roanoke native has been crowned “ Miss Roanoke Valley ” and will represent our region at the Miss Virginia program next June. Isabella is a member of the Roanoke Catholic School Class of 2018 and was inducted into the Pacelli chapter of the National Honor Society that recognizes students who achieve high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. She served as the President of the RCS Student Government Association. Isabella excelled academically and earned college credit through the Dual Enrollment program with Virginia Western Community College while a Celtic. In 2021, she attended the Operation Smile “ Step - Up ” Symposium and the International Student Leadership Conference. She hopes to organize an Operation Smile Club for students on The Hill.

Miss Jessee is a senior at Hollins University majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She plans to continue her education and pursue a career as a medical doctor. She is a certified Emergency Medical Technician and an Emergency Vehicle Operator. Isabella is an active volunteer EMT with Roanoke County rescue squads and fire departments. Throughout the recent pandemic, Isabella is serving as a COVID - 19 ambassador for the Virginia Department of Health. During the Miss Roanoke Valley Scholarship Program event, Isabella performed on violin an original arrangement of “ The Devil Went Down to Georgia ” using a seventy - five - year - old violin that had been her grandfather ’ s. More than $3,500 in scholarships in various categories were awarded to candidates that evening. The Miss Roanoke Valley program is part of the Miss Virginia organization and the Miss America Organization, which is one of the nation ’ s leading achievement programs and the world ’ s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women who participate in local, state, and national events.

Turner King

September 17, 2021, Mr. Turner King, Roanoke Catholic School Graduate, Class of 2006, was inducted into the Hampden - Sydney College Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2020. The ceremony had been delayed since the July 2020 announcement due to the pandemic. Turner King is regarded as one of the best pure scorers in Hampden - Sydney Basketball history. As a freshman, the lefty made his presence known early by leading the ODAC in three - point percentage (.456), earned ODAC All - Tournament honors while helping lead the program to the 2007 ODAC Tournament Championship and the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He earned All - ODAC honors during each of his four seasons and was co - captain as a junior and senior. As a shooting guard, King also possessed the ability to rebound the ball at a high level adding 596 total career rebounds. The Roanoke native and Roanoke Catholic School alum, finished his career with a three - point percentage of 40% and an overall true shooting percentage of 60%, averaged 16.5 career points per game completing his outstanding career with 1,801 points to rank fourth all - time. While at Roanoke Catholic School, King won two State Championships ('05 & '06) with Coach Dennis Blanchard, also pictured and King's presenter at the Hall of Fame Ceremony. Coach Blanchard also led Roanoke Catholic to three additional titles for a total of five State Championships during his time with the Celtics program.