Canton Academy Homecoming Queen

Gates Welch was recently crowned Canton Academy’s 2024 Homecoming Queen. She is the daughter of Kevin and Margaret Welch and the sister of Evan and Austin Welch. 

Gates resides in Canton and attends the First Baptist Church of Canton. 

She is a member of the National Honor society where she has served as the national honor society parliamentarian in her junior year. 

She has also been honored as an Academic All-star as well as earning a place on the Principal’s List for maintaining high grades. 

She was voted Best All-around Junior high student and served as 10th grade class President and Student Body Secretary for her junior and senior years. As a member of the Fellowship of Christian high school students, she was elected treasurer for the 2023-2024 school year. 

Gates has participated in the Beauty and Beau pageants and Who’s Who Review at Canton Academy and has been voted a top 5 beauty as well as Class Favorite and Most Athletic. 

In her time at Canton Academy, Gates has participated in numerous sports including cheer, track, softball and basketball. She also supports the Canton Academy baseball team as a Diamond girl. She has served as the JV cheer co-captain and now serves as the Varsity Cheer Captain. In cheer, she has competed and been named an All-American cheerleader five years as well as a Pin it forward recipient 3 times. 

In softball, she has been named Most Valuable player and All district player for 4A MAIS district 3. Track awards include overall State Discus Champion and multiple district and state championships in discus and shot put. She holds the schools record in both discus and shot put. Gates also earned the Offensive MVP for varsity girl’s basketball her junior year. 

Outside of Canton Academy, Gates is a member of the Madison county Civinettes. Upon graduation, she plans to attend Mississippi State University to major in nursing.