Newsmakers
Augusta Christian Crowns Homecoming Queen
Crystin Cromer, a senior at Augusta Christian Schools, was named 2002 Homecoming Queen on Nov. 1. She has been a student at Augusta Christian for eight years and is a member of the softball, basketball and track teams.
Local cadets excel in soccer
Cadets Matthew C. Martin and Stephen F. Martin of the Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga., both completed outstanding soccer seasons for 2002. The sons of Dr. and Mrs. Dan C. Martin, of Martinez, the cadets received special honors for the excellent play. Matthew, a senior, was the third leading scorer in the state with 29 goals and was chosen to be a member of the all-region and all-state teams. Stephen, a junior, was selected to the all-region soccer team. The brothers led Riverside to the most wins and most goals scored in the state, and the team advanced to the semifinal round of the G.I.S.A. state soccer tournament. Stephen was also nominated to Who's Who Among High School Students.
Alpha Delta Kappa celebrates through charity
In honor of Alpha Delta Kappa Month, which is celebrated in October, the Alpha Epsilon chapter presented a check to the Columbia County Foundation for Children. Alpha Delta Kappa is an international, altruistic organization of outstanding women educators.
Augusta Christian students selected for Duke's talent search
Several Augusta Christian students were selected to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. The TIP Talent Search is now beginning its 23rd year and is the largest program of its kind in the nation. The search identifies academically talented seventh graders based on standardized test scores achieved while attending elementary or middle school. Candidates are identified and invited to complete either the SAT I: Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment college entrance exam. Through the sharing of information, programming, recognition ceremonies and the special attention that is inherent in search identification process, TIP offers supplementation of local efforts to motivate, enrich and academically challenge some of our community's brightest young people.
Augusta Christian students Participate in choral festival**
Augusta Christian recently took 25 students to participate in the Northwest Georgia Choral Festival at Shorter College. More than 700 students from 40 schools throughout Georgia participated in the festival. They had a full day of rehearsing with a guest conductor and there were two mass choirs that performed in a concert that evening, one of elementary students and one of high school students.
Local Clubs Help Clean Highway
The Martinez-Evans Rotary and Evans Interact clubs recently joined forces to help beautify Columbia County.
Members from each club, 25 in all, combined to help clean-up a section of highway the Rotary Club adopted Oct. 26, 1998.
The effort was so successful that the clubs have entered the Make a Difference Day awards program sponsored by USA Weekend and Newman's Own, a line of food products owned by actor Paul Newman.
State rep visits second graders
State House representative, Republican Ben Harbin, visited a class at South Columbia Elementary School. He read to the pupils in Mrs. Phelps' second grade class as part of American Education Week.
Columbia Countians included in Top 100 freshmen
The Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., recently released their list of the Top 100 entering freshmen for fall 2002 and four locals students were included in the honor.
Ashley and Jennifer Roemer, both of Evans, Jessica West, of Grovetown, and Marcia Cannon, of Martinez, were among the students chosen for the honor.
The Top 100 list is determined on the basis of high school grade point averages and combined SAT and ACT scores.
Local dentist awarded fellowship
Dr. Michael O. Vernon, of Augusta, was awarded fellowship in the American College of Dentists at the group's annual meeting Oct. 18 in New Orleans. The group was founded was founded in 1920 to recognize dentists who have made significant contributions to the advancement of dentistry. Dr. Vernon is a delegate to the American Dental Association, member of the Georgia Dental Association and past president of the Augusta Dental Society, the Eastern District Dental Society and the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry Alumni Association. He is also a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Martinez-Evans Rotary Club, where he is past president.
Dr. Vernon is currently in family dental practice and a clinical instructor at the MCG School of Dentistry Oral Rehabilitation Department.
Hill wins FFA Silver Emblem
Nichulas Hill, of Martinez, was named a Silver Emblem winner in the FFA Turf Grass Placement Proficiency Award at the National Future Farmers of America Convention in Louisville, Ky. He is the son of Jeff and Angela Hill and attended Evans High School where he served as chapter president and an active FFA member.
Hill developed a plan of action for his supervised agricultural experience program that propelled him to be a top national FFA achiever. His work at Augusta Country Club as part of the community's Youth Apprentice Program has helped him learn turf grass principles.
Brownies beautify Martinez Elementary
Brownie Troop 209, from Martinez Elementary School, helped beautify their school Oct. 18 by planting pansies in the school's courtyard.
Martinez native deployed to West Pacific
Navy Petty Officer Third Class Cody N. Rodriguez, son of Manuel A. Rodriguez of Furys Ferry Road, Martinez, was recently deployed to the Western Pacific including Yokosuka, Japan, on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk.
Rodriguez and his shipmates will perform training exercises with regional allies and provide a U.S. presence there and will be able to respond rapidly in a crisis.
The Evans Knight Raider Team recently competed in the Georgia State Raider Championships. The team took third place in the Army Physical Fitness Test, third place in the Cross Country Litter Carry and third place in the 5-mile team relay. Overall, the team placed fifth out of 24 teams.
Team members are Brian Tanner, Adara Story, Daniel Swift, Dennis Chavez, Jeremy Taylor, David Chavez, Tim Meadows, Emilio Diaz, Kyle Hanson and Keith Krogman.
The Junior Varsity team won first place in map reading and third place in the team run, taking fourth place overall in the state JV category.
Junior varsity teams members are Richard Powell, Charles King, Joshua Scott, John Stewart, Jeremy Boquist, Christopher Johnson, Stephanie Powell, Jacob Barrett and Jason Barnett.
Mary Elizabeth Hooker of Evans, a senior at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, has been included in the 2003 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.