Vicksburg cousins working together to honor area high-school seniors

Cousins Dawn Stevenson and Tiffany Howard were upset when they came to the realization that their children and their classmates weren’t going to have a normal end to their high school experience.

Together they created a Facebook group: Adopt a High School Senior Vicksburg & Warren County Class Of 2020. Howard saw a group that had been created in Louisiana and the two decided to do something similar here.

Dawn Stevenson, Tyler Caldwell and Tiffany Howard, Taylor’s mom. Stevenson and Howard created the group (Photo by Thomas Parker)

They saw it as a way to help recognize area seniors who were deprived of prom, the traditional graduation walk and all the other festivities normally afforded a graduating high-school student.

The Vicksburg group has quickly grown to over 3,000 members. It includes all five area high schools and even young people graduating from home-schooling programs.

Members have the opportunity to adopt as many young people as they wish and give them gifts and services or offer mentorship opportunities.

The cousin’s children have excelled in many areas while in school.

Howard’s son, Tyler Caldwell, is graduating from Warren Central. The 18-year-old has been a member of the Big Blue Band, Project Alpha Leadership Club and other organizations during his high school years. He attends Word of Faith Christian Center. Caldwell plans on attending Hinds Community College and later Jackson State University with an emphasis on Physical Science Engineering.

Stevenson’s daughter, Jaeiha Allen, is graduating from Vicksburg High. She has served as senior class president and cheerleader, and is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society. She attends Greater Grove M.B. Church. She plans to attend Jackson State University in the fall majoring in biology.

“We did this as a family,” Stevenson said, “It’s how we were raised.”

“This is a time for us to lean on each other.” Howard added.

For more information, head over to the Facebook group and support area young people if you can.