Thumbs up for two smart kids
If there was ever any doubt that Columbia County produces some pretty bright kids, a couple of recent accomplishments should end any skepticism.
Adam Cureton jumped from school to school as a military kid, but didnt let the transient educational experience - nor his poor eyesight - slow him down. Indeed, after Cureton graduated with honors from Lakeside High School in 1999, he raced headlong into the University of Georgia.
With Advanced Placement exemptions already under his belt before he ever set foot in Athens, Cureton accelerated his college education. Hell graduate next spring with the rest of his class, but in his four years at UGA Cureton will have earned a bachelors degree in evolutionary theory and in political theory, and a masters degree in philosophy.
The accolades continue, with perhaps the highest yet coming recently when Cureton was selected to receive a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for further post-graduate studies. Cureton is just the 19th UGA student to ever be named a Rhodes Scholar - but the first, that we know of, from Columbia County.
We are extremely proud of Adam, says Lakeside Principal Jeff Carney. We hope we can get him to speak at our first academic pep rally in January. Now that would be an honor.
Blake Bailey says hes really into dirt bikes and stuff like that, so he probably isnt interested in an Oxford education. At just 8 years old, the South Columbia second-grader is a little early for such considerations anyway - though he probably will follow in Adam Curetons footsteps one day by attending Lakeside High.
But Blake already has a sharp eye. In a language arts workbook, Blake zoomed in on an errant sentence - noticing it used the word you instead of your.
Teacher Julie Phelps turned Blakes discovery into a class lesson, with all 19 students firing off letters to the publisher. The company thanked Blake, and sent along some decorations for the classroom.
Carson-Delosa Publishing Co. Senior Editor Joey Bland says Blake would make a good editor. Anyone in the newspaper business would agree - we certainly need more of them! Good job, Blake.