Newsmakers

Academic honors

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Michael Palmese , of Lakeside High School, was among nearly 200 outstanding high-school seniors who recently attended Georgia Southern University's second annual Southern Leadership Excellence Academics and Dedication (LEAD) Conference in Statesboro. To be invited to the Southern LEAD Conference, students must score a minimum of 1,100 on the SAT, earn a 3.0 grade point average in high school and have experience in leadership and involvement through extracurricular and volunteer experience.

Elizabeth Hemphill , of Evans, recently was among 344 members inducted into the Georgia Southern University chapter of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. To become a member of Phi Eta Sigma, a student must earn a GPA of 3.5 during her freshman year.

Patrick Tynan , of Lakeside High School, is one of 77 high school seniors from 33 Georgia counties chosen to receive a $500 scholarship from the Georgia Mining Foundation. This scholarship award was funded by Aggregates USA. Patrick plans to attend Georgia Tech while majoring in engineering. Patrick has been a member of the football and lacrosse teams. He has also been a member of the National Honor Society and works with Augusta Urban Ministries.

SCAD grad

Christopher Ciafardini , of Martinez, recently received a bachelor of fine arts degree in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Furman Winter Dean's List

The following students have been named to the Dean's List for the 2008 winter term at Furman University: Evans : May L. Kirksen, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Dirksen; and David B. Huff, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Huff. Martinez : Mary E. Mangum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Mangum; and Jordan D. Walters, son of Dr. and Mrs. Gordon Walters.