Quadruplets to graduate IHS
Published 1:52 pm Friday, May 12, 2017
By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer
Graduation is a momentous occasion. For Christie and Brian Payne, this occasion will be four times momentous as they watch their quadruplets receive their diplomas from Isabella High School on May 25.
Anniston, Taylor, Thompson and Tanner have attended Isabella since kindergarten, but were rarely all in the same class. Many times, there were two of the siblings in one class and two in another.
An exception was this year when they all took economics together. Anniston said it was good taking a class with her siblings because they could help each other know what was assigned for homework.
“It made it easier to make friends,” Thompson said.
Taylor said it is also helpful if he forgot his book because someone else will have a copy.
However, the siblings are competitive about grades.
“Me and Taylor tried to beat each other on the ACT,” Tanner said.
Taylor said this was the case on every standardized test they took.
The siblings are also in Beta Club together.
Anniston is a member of the school’s Historical Society.
“Every year we have a program that we do for the veterans and we just raise money for the troops,” Anniston said.
She has been a member of the club for two years.
All of the siblings took classes at LeCroy Career Technical Center to prepare for their careers.
Tanner and Anniston were named to LeCroy’s first group of National Technical Honor Society students.
“It was a surprise,” Anniston said.
Thompson and Tanner were named student of the year in their fields.
Before graduation, Anniston and Taylor worked at the Piggly Wiggly in Jemison and Thompson worked at Top Shelf Logistics.
After graduation, two siblings plan to go straight into their career, while the other two plan on attending college.
Thompson plans on a career in diesel mechanics.
“I’ve always wanted to be a mechanic,” Thompson said.
After graduation, Thompson plans to attend Lawson State Community College in Bessemer or get a job with Thompson Caterpillar.
Taylor plans to pursue a career in auto mechanics. The field appealed to him because “it’s not the same exact thing every day.” Taylor said the classes at LeCroy have prepared him for the career, so he will not have to attend college.
Anniston received her CNA certification from LeCroy and plans to enroll at Jefferson State Community College in Clanton.
“I want to go into the medical field, but I don’t like working with blood,” Anniston said. “So, if I can get into radiology I can be an ultrasound technician.”
Tanner wants a career in welding. He said the high earning potential of the field appealed to him.