Columbia County newsmakers
Local soldier wins battalion award
Spc. Jason Tucker recently was recognized as Soldier of the Year for the 1st Battalion of the 214th Field Artillery. He was chosen by the unit's superiors for B Battery before going on to win the title for the battalion.
Tucker, a member of the Georgia Army National Guard's detachment in Thomson, was deployed with his unit March 20 to serve in an undisclosed location in Operation Enduring Freedom after a brief training and qualification period at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Lakeside Middle raises funds for St. Jude
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital recently announced that Lakeside Middle School pupils completed the Math-A-Thon, an educationally based fund-raiser in which pupils obtain sponsors for the number of math problems from a special workbook provided for kindergarten through ninth-grade pupils. The program is sponsored by Six Flags theme parks, who provide free passes to their parks for any pupil raising more than $35.
Evans senior makes Who's Who
Anna Caroline Harris, a senior at Evans High School, recently was recognized in the Who's Who Among American High School Students 2001-2002 edition and earned placement on the National Honor Roll. Anna, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip B. Harris of Martinez, also was awarded the Walter S. Montgomery Scholarship after competing in the Justine V.R. Milliken and Excellence in Leadership competition at Converse College. Anna plans to attend Converse in the fall.
Evans grad completes Navy basic
Navy Seaman Charles F. Spearman, son of Cheryl and Steve Hutchins of Martinez, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week training, Spearman, a 2002 graduate of Evans High School, completed a variety of training including classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, fire fighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety.
Evans grad completes Marine basic
Pfc. Tiffany R. Bonczkowski, daughter of Mary Lou and Walter Bonczkowski of Evans, graduated from the Marine Corps basic training at Parris Island, S.C., on Jan. 24. She was awarded a Meritorious Mast Award for graduating in the top 10 percent of the class.
Bonczkowski, a 2002 Ogeechee Technical Institute and 1999 Evans High School graduate, will report to Camp Geiger, N.C., for 20 days of Marine Combat Weapons Training, then to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for nine weeks of Military Police Training.
Grovetown native marks deployment's halfway mark
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeremy D. Bell, son of Sharon J. and Ronny D. Bell of Grovetown, is halfway through a scheduled six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf on the guided missile destroyer U.S.S. Donald Cook.
Bell, a 1996 Evans High School graduate, is one of more than 8,000 Atlantic Fleet sailors and Marines aboard ships and squadrons of the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group.
County native sees Middle East for second time
Sgt. Bernard Marshall, 319th Transportation Company, arrived in the Middle East on Feb. 14. Marshall, a 1988 Evans High School graduate, also served in Operation Desert Storm.
His family includes his wife, Lyvetta Marshall; four sons, Nolan, 2, Javan, 5, C.J., 12, and B.J., 14; his parents, Walker B. and Gloria T. Marshall; and his sister, Angela Barnes.
Marshall is a member of Solid Rock Baptist Church, where he serves as assistant chairman of the Trustee Board.
Local students attend Scholars' Day
Five Columbia County students recently attended the first invitational Scholars' Day at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Ga. To be invited, students must score a 1,200 minimum on the SAT with a grade-point average of 3.5 or better.
The students who attended are Jesse DeClue of Evans, Daniel Jordan of Evans, Chris Majors of Evans and Robert Pace of Evans, all of Greenbrier High School; and Kristi Harnish of Grovetown, of Evans High School.
Participants examined student organization, academic and student service offerings and interviewed for university academic scholarships.
Marine receives Good Conduct Medal
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Willie L. Terry Jr. - whose wife, Yolanda, is the daughter of Elna F. Harris of Oxon Hill, Md., and James T. Harris of Evans - recently received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. The medal recognizes a soldier's honest and faithful service during a three-year period. To earn it, Terry achieved and maintained a satisfactory level of performance and an unblemished conduct record for the entire period.
Terry is currently assigned to Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.
Adair makes Peabody Awards judging board
Erin Adair, daughter of Marcia and Steven Adair, was one of 40 students selected as a student judge for the George Foster Peabody Awards, administered by the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Communication.
"Being a Peabody Awards student judge has been a very rewarding process," Adair said. "I'm glad that I am part of this learning experience where I can help recognize excellence in media today and take part in what is considered one of the most prestigious awards available."
Barbara Walters will play host to the 62nd annual awards luncheon on May 19 at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
Furman announces Dean's List
The following Furman University students were included on the school's Dean's List for winter term 2003. Students must be full-time students who earn at least a 3.4 grade-point average to make the list. Local students are:
Kathryn A. Dickson of Evans, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Dickson
Lindsey A. Wright of Evans, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William Wright
Stephen M. Heathman of Harlem, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald R. Heathman
David W. Brantley of Martinez, son of Dr. and Mrs. David Brantley
Adnan Filipovic of Martinez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Damir Filipovic
Michael G. Petrides of Martinez, son of Dr. and Mrs. George Petrides
Sara E. Wagner of Martinez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Wagner
Jennifer A. Walters of Martinez, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Gordon Walters
Evans native awarded Golden Key
Norwood Nicholas Richardson of Evans has accepted membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society, which is a nonprofit academic honors organization that provides academic recognition, leadership opportunities, community service, career net-working and scholarships.
Richardson, currently an honors junior at North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, N.C., is a 2000 graduate of Greenbrier High School. He is a member of Emmanuel Faith Tabernacle, where he is active in youth activities. While in school, Richardson is a volunteer with the Lunch Buddy Program for inner city middle school students, is an active member of the Pre-Law Club, Political Science Club and is a member of the Honors Group and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.
Two Columbia County natives earn faculty honors
Justin W. Gregg, son of Gleson and Jean Gregg, and Aaron M. Scott, son of Jeff and Delora Scott, were named to the Faculty Honors List at the Georgia Institute of Technology for earning a 4.0 grade-point average in the fall 2002 semester. Both are 2002 graduates of Evans High School.
Greenbrier students receives rotary summer program scholarship
Cameron Jordan, a Greenbrier High School student and son of Jim and Laura Jordan of Evans, was awarded $500 in scholarships from the Martinez-Evans and Columbia County Rotary clubs to participate in Rotary International's Youth Exchange Summer Program.
The Jordans recently played host to Guilherme Pires, a student at Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. In June Cameron will travel to Brazil for six weeks as a guest of Pires family.
Greenbrier Middle FBLA students take high prizes
The Future Business Leaders of American chapter of Greenbrier Middle School participated in the 2003 State Leadership Conference in Atlanta on March 14-16. The pupils brought home a handful of top-five awards. The chapter also was named Gold Chapter of the Year. With more than 2,700 students attending, the conference received record high attendance.
Linda Grooms, the chapter adviser, was selected as Adviser of the Year for Middle School and was elected to the state board of directors.
Winning pupils were: Tiffany Adams, first place, Business Math; Cynthia Roholt, fourth place, Public speaking, and Who's Who for Region IV; Kandis Williams, third place, Creed Event; Christopher Rhodes, fifth place, Business Math; Jennifer Adams, voting delegate; Mary Kate Lollar, fifth place, Business Communications; Megan Steinberg, first place, Business Spelling; Michelle Swiec, first place, Leadership Skills; C.J. Hendry, second place, Poster; Amanda Cherneck, second place, Career Education; and Amanda Reinke, second place, Poster.
Harlem Middle produces young author
Katie Axon, a sixth-grader at Harlem Middle School, recently won the 2003 Young Georgia Authors Competition for the sixth grade for the Columbia County school system. Katie, a pupil of language arts teacher Karen Manion, won with her paper "Why Flies Buzz." It was sent to compete at the state level.
Greenbrier grad first in Augusta to receive award
Laurel O'Neal, of Evans, will receive $1,000 S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award from the Chick-fil-A chain - the first in the metro Augusta area.
O'Neal is one of 25 students nationwide to receive the award named after the chain's founder. She was selected by a five-person panel based on her academic achievements, community, leadership and teamwork. O'Neal was nominated by her employer, Suzanne Martin.
Martinez native inducted into honor society
Billy Byler of Martinez was inducted in the Honor Society at Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, on March 24. To be eligible for induction, students must maintain at least a 3.5-grade point average for two consecutive semesters.
Byler, the son of Bill Byler and a graduate of Augusta Christian Schools, is a sophomore mass communications major, editor of the campus newspaper and campus assistant sports information director. He is involved in the forensics team and an inner-city basketball ministry. Byler is planning a career in sports broadcasting.
Stevens Creek announces science fair winners
Stevens Creek Elementary School recently announced the winner of the CSRA RESA Science Fair. Winners are: Mitchell Banks, first place, applied science; Abbie Thiekle, honorable mention, biological sciences; Pooja Kondur, first place, behavioral science; Karah Koellner, first place, chemical science; Katie Partrick, first place, chemical science; Maggie Harrover, first place, physical science; and Stephany Chang, second place, physical science.
Temple adds Martinez native to dean's list
Temple University recently announced that Kyle R. Kelly, a freshman business administration student, was named to Temple University's dean's list for the 2002 fall semester.
Evans native receives college scholarship
Jessica Callan, of Evans, recently was awarded the Jim and Ruth Miller Scholarship. To be eligible, Callan had to be an education major, maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average, have financial need, be involved in extracurricular activities in school, have community involvement and have work experience.
Callan is a sophomore early childhood education major at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro.
MCG graduates announced
The Medical College of Georgia recently announced fall semester 2002 graduates. Graduates from the School of Allied Health Sciences with a Masters of Physical Education are: Sherita Lashawn Davis, Martinez; Edwin Olivarez Angeles, Martinez; Nicole Yvonne Knight, Appling; and Erica Christine Walling, Martinez. David Howard Gorney, Martinez, graduated from the School of Nursing with a master's degree in nursing.
Erin Beasley wins Miss EHS
Erin Beasley, a junior at Evans High School, won the Miss Evans High School Pageant sponsored by the school's Future College and Career Leaders of America chapter Feb. 22.
Erin's court includes: first runner-up Katie Cartledge, junior; second runners-up Ali Young, freshman, and Shelly Clark, junior; third runner-up Tiffany James, senior; and fourth runner-up Rachael Foss, sophomore.