Columbia newsmakers
Honor graduate
Lindsay Shuford Yount, a 1998 graduate of Augusta Preparatory Day School and daughter of Drs. Peter and Avis Yount, has graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wake Forest University, with a Batchelor of Arts degree in chemistry. She will attend the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Merchants association gives scholarships
The Merchants Association of Columbia County recently handed out a series of scholarships. Pictured (from left) Club President Billy Becton, Vocational Scholarship winners Paris McKenzie of Lakeside High School and Patrick Perry of Harlem High School, Special Golf Tournament recipients Jessica Kelly and Chris Evans of Evans High School and Tournament Chairman Ted Lane. Not pictured are Vocational Scholarship winners Ruth Brown of Evans High School, Alicia Middleton of Greenbrier High School and Ashley Randall of the University of Georgia. Vocational Scholarship winners receive $1,000 and the Special Golf Tournament awards are $2,000 each. In all, the association gave out $9,000 in scholarships for 2002.
Band Camp Award
Erin England received the prestigious Phyllis Dancz Memorial Award at the June 28 closing ceremonies of the University of Georgia Redcoat Band Summer Camp.
Each year, the Phyllis Dancz Award is presented to the outstanding band auxiliary high school student. At the invitation of the University of Georgia, Erin attended the camp as a student assistant responsible for training other students from throughout Georgia.
Earlier this summer, Erin was also recognized as the first chair oboe in the University of Georgia's Honor Band, comprised of high school students from Georgia and surrounding states. This fall, Erin will be a senior at Evans High School, and will serve as the captain of the Knights' Flag Corps.
Reporter wins award
Professional Association of Georgia Educators member Judy Teasley presents The Augusta Chronicle and The Columbia County News-Times education reporter Melissa Hall with the PAGE's 2002 Outstanding Media Award for excellence in education reporting for District 10. Hall has been employed with the newspapers for nearly five years and began covering Columbia County education last year.
Clemson Summer Camp
Tiffany Adams, and eighth grader at Greenbrier Middle School, recently attended the Summer Studies and Engineering Program summer camp at Clemson University.
Teachers attend forum
Two teachers from Columbia County recently attended the Art Educators' Form at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Emily Shipe, who teaches at Lakeside High School, and Catherine Stalk-Vargo, who teaches at North Augusta High School, joined more than 400 other participants at the forum, held June 15-22.
Graduates
Emily Patricia Smolley of Harlem graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., on May 4 with a bachelor of arts degree in English. She is the daughter of Andy and Pat Smolley of Harlem.
Steven Matthew Smolley of Harlem has been awarded the Grace Hawes Steele Scholarship form the University of South Carolina to study the organ. The scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship from the School of Music with a $2,000 annual stipend. Steve is a 2002 homeschool graduate and is the son of Andy and Pat Smolley of Harlem.
Scott I. Beveridge recently graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in economics. He is the son of Kristina and Wayne Beveridge.
Amanda Lynn Blankinship, a 1998 graduate of Evans High School, is a recent graduate of Georgia College and State University with a degree in psychology. She was named to the Dean's List fo fall and spring semester this past school year. She will begin graduate school at Georgia Southern University this fall in the counselor education program.
Orientation assistant
Anthony Maselli of Evans has been selected as an orientation assistant at Mercer University for the 2002-2003 academic year. He will participate in six summer sessions, a four-day program prior to the start of fall semester and help with the University 101 class during fall semester. He is the son of John and Lisa Maselli of Evans.
Excellence in Citizenship
Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox (right) recently presented Lakeside High School student Ben Roth (left) with a 2002 Excellence in Citizenship award. The award recognizes high school seniors from across the state, who volunteer, maintain a good scholastic and attendance record and set an example for peers.
Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox (right) recently presented Christian Heritage School student Zachary Hubbs (left) with a 2002 Excellence in Citizenship award. The award recognizes high school seniors from across the state, who volunteer, maintain a good scholastic and attendance record and set an example for peers.
Rivera Attends Boys State
Michael Anthony Rivera of Evans High School is a delegate at American Legion Georgia Boys State June 9 - 15. As a delegate, Mr. Rivera is representing American Legion Post 63.
The week-long Boys State program provides high school seniors a practical opportunity to learn their responsibilities as citizens in a free country while fostering patriotism, an understanding of government and developing leadership skills.
McDermott graduates from University of the South
Alric Duane McDermott of Evans and child of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. McDermott II, was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of the South's 2002 commencement ceremonies held in All Saints' Chapel on the Sewanee campus on May 12.
Cowart graduates from Oglethorpe University
Alicia Diane Cowart of Martinez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David L. Cowart, graduated from Oglethorpe University with a bachelor's degree in Ipm: Art History/Anthropology on Saturday, May 11. Ms. Cowart is also a graduate of Lakeside High School.
Koffman graduates from UGA
Carolyn Koffman of Evans graduated from the University of Georgia on Saturday, May 11. Ms. Koffman graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a 1998 graduate of Evans High School.
Wood named to Dean's List
Katrina D. Wood was named to the Dean's List of Georgia Southern University for the spring semester 2002. She has completed her sophomore year and is majoring in Journalism/Communication Arts. A 2000 graduate of Lakeside High School, Katrina plays clarinet in the Southern Pride marching band of Georgia Southern University. She is the daughter of Barry and Gwen Wood of Martinez.
Ahmad receives award from Agnes Scott College
Tayyeba Ahmad of Martinez received the Maray Angela Herbin McClennan Medical Fellowship. The $2500 fellowship was established by Alexander D. McClennan in honor of his mother and is awarded annually to an Agnes Scott graduate who will be or are already attending medical school.
Evans High Knight Drill Team competes at nationals
The Knight Drill Team places 32nd in the Masters Demilitarized Arms category and the Lady Knights had placed 19th in the Alternative Arms category at the National Championships held in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Under the watchful eyes of Master Sgt. (retired) Al Faison and Sgt. 1st lass (retired) Sammie Stokes, the cadets of Evans High School JROTC marched in precision formations, stood a rigorous inspection by Armed Forces Drill sergeants, marched through a challenging color guard routine , spun rifles and gave their best shot against the best drill teams in the nation.
Team captains Terrell White and Naisha White had taken their respective teams as far as they could go against their competitors in the precision drill. Evans was competing at the national level for the third time in four years and it is the only JROTC team in Richmond and Columbia counties that has ever competed at that level.
Toth graduates from West Point
Second Lt. Kevin Toth, a 1998 graduate of Evans High School, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday, June 1 as a member of the Bicentennial Class of 2002 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. of Infantry.
President George W. Bush was the commencement speaker and shook the hands of all 94- graduates as they crosses the stage.
Mr. Toth graduated in the top 20 percent of his West Point class and was a member of the triathlon team. He will take the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga., before being posted to his first assignment with the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Area students named to Lander University Dean's List
Olivia Lee Garcia of Augusta, Dorothy Genell Hogan of Lincolnton and Staci Lee Maietta of Martinez were named to the Dean's list at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C.
Stinson receives scholarship at Fort McPherson
Ellana Stinson of Evans, daughter of Benjamin and Beverly Stinson, is a recipient of a $1,500 college scholarship awarded at Fort McPherson. Ms. Stinson plans to enroll at Spelman College.
O'Connell earns Masters degree
Beverly G. O'Connell, a fourth grade teacher at Bel Air Elementary School, received her masters degree in education from Central Michigan University in early June.
Laws accepted to summer program at Oxford
April L. Laws has been accepted into the summer program at Oxford University in Oxford, England. Ms. Laws will be studying Western Society History. She is a senior at the University of Georgia, majoring in History and Religion.
Since the 12th century, Oxford University has been recognized for its outstanding educational programs. Ms. Laws in a 1998 graduate of Lake Side High School and is the daughter of Pat and Jerry Laws of Martinez.
Berry College Announces Dean's list
Berry College has announced it's Dean's list for Spring 2002 and 11 area students were named to the list. The list includes Janemarie Helen Catto , Autumn Beryl Hostletter, Alison Elaine Shinn and Elizabeth Faye Stullken all of Augusta; Cheryl Ann Beierschmitt, Christy Deason Hill, Benjamin Zafer McKendry and Kimberly Ann Miller all of Evans; Joshua Roberts Lee, Erin Nicole Murray and Brian Jeffrey Robinson all of Martinez.
Richardson named an All-American Collegiate Scholar
N. Nicholas Richardson of Evans has been named an All-American Collegiate Scholar. Mr. Richarson, who attends North Carolina A & T State University was nominated for this award by Dr. C. Williams. Mr. Richardson is the son of Norawood and Long Richardson of Evans.
The U.S. Achievement Academy established the All-American Collegiate Award program to offer recognition to superior students who excel in the academic disciplines.
Blankinship graduates from Georgia College
Amanda Lynn Blankinship a 1998 graduate of Evans High School, graduated from Georgia College and State University on Saturday, May 4, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology.
She was named to the Dean's list during fall and spring semesters and will begin graduate school in the fall at Georgia Southern University.
Josephson named to Wake Forest Dean's list
Sarah Josephson, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Allan Josephson of Martinez was name to the Dean's List at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. for the academic year 2001-2002.
Ms. Josephson was also inducted into Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Society and Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society.