Columbia County newsmakers
Jessica Bell, a Thomson High School student, was part of a group of teens identified as exceptional students and leaders among their peers who gathered recently in Pine Mountain, Ga., for a retreat called the Callaway Student Servant Leadership Conference.
Special
SIU Dean's List
Several county students have been named to Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Dean's List. They are:
Zachary Thomas Curry and Charles Oliver Dillard Jr., both of Evans. JaMarvel McKinney of Grovetown. Darin B. Evans of Harlem. Donna M. Edwards, Carol Ann Elam, Phyllis L. Ferguson, Walter Leonard Linney and John C. Schipper, all of Martinez.
Agnes Scott grads
Kathryn Schroder has been inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Agnes Scott College, Atlanta. Schroder, the daughter of Beth and Thomas Schroder of Martinez, graduated from Lakeside High School.
Each year before commencement, Agnes Scott selects a group of highly qualified seniors to its chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a prestigious scholastic organization.
Schroder also graduated Summa Cum Laude, receiving a degree of Bachelor of Arts. She majored in English literature and creative writing.
Stephanie Large of Evans graduated from Agnes Scott. Large, the daughter of Charles and Jennifer Large, received a degree of Bachelor of Arts. She majored in history and is a graduate of Greenbrier High School.
English honor
Mack Norton of Evans has been named a United States National Award winner in English. Mack, a student at Lakeside Middle School, was nominated for the award by his teacher Mrs. Dorn.
His name will appear in the United States Achievement Academy Official Yearbook, which is published annually.
Mack is the son of Stan and Denise Norton and the grandson of Charles Brown of Evans and Jean Norton of Chattanooga, Tenn.
UGA scholar
Manpreet K. Dhillon of Evans has been named a Presidential Scholar at the University of Georgia for earning a 4.0 grade point average during her freshman year.
Manpreet was valedictorian at Greenbrier High School, where she graduated in 2003. She is the daughter of Inderpal and Harjit Dhillon and the granddaughter of Surjit K. Gurm.
LaGrange grads
The following area students have earned bachelor of arts degrees from LaGrange College, Ga.:
Emily Allison Martin of Evans, summa cum laude, religion; Carrie Elizabeth Reif of Evans, history; and Amanda R. Jennings of Martinez, business administration.
Samford Dean's List
The following Martinez residents have been named to the Dean's List at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.:
Christy Jeanne Adkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Adkins; Lindsay Lee Dasher, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Byron Dasher; and Melissa Elliott Mackay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Mackay.
Vandy Dean's List
Monica Pankaj Bhatt of Martinez has been named to the Dean's List at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
Vandy grad
Varun Kumar Bhalla of Martinez has graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. Bhalla, the son of Drs. Vinod and Madhu Balla, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences.
Barton grad
Jesus Rodriguez of Martinez has earned an Associate's Degree from Barton Community College, Great Bend, Kan.
Iowa grad
Catherine Laura McClure-Jackson of Evans has earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa.