HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

Dougherty Middle School’s Jai’Da Hickey won the “Got It” Theme Award and the Middle School Best in Show award at the recent King Celebration Children of the Dream Art Competition at Thronateeska Heritage Center. Westover Comprehensive High’s Alisa Moody won the High School Best in Show.
The theme for the competition was “The Role of the Church and Religion During the Civil Rights Struggle.” Helen Young of The Children of the Dream Committee awarded ribbons and cash prizes to the top finishers.
Westover’s Isabel Fowler captured first place in the 12th-grade division. Westover’s James Armbrust was second, and Monroe’s Luther Bennett was third.
Dougherty High’s Nigel Pittman won the 11th-grade division, followed by Westover’s Khadijah Glover and Dougherty’s Amos Lewis.
Monroe’s Demetrius Sexion was first in the 10-grade class. Dougherty’s Keyontee Keith was second, and Westover’s Phyl Fralick was third.
Westover’s Diana Raulerson captured the ninth-grade division, followed by Monroe’s Kevin McCauley and Monroe’s Kwame Humphrey.
Albany Middle’s Eric Gardner was first in the eighth-grade group. Robert Cross’ Tiauna Smith had the second- and third-place pieces of art.
Radium Springs Middle’s Lance Blankenship won the seventh-grade division, followed by Albany’s Thomas Windows and Radium Springs’ Adrian Singletary.
Albany Middle’s Michael Goings captured the sixth-grade class. Albany’s Quantavious Kelly was second, and Radium Springs’ Shannon Bedon was third.
The student artwork will be displayed at the Albany Mall Jan. 4-18, the Albany Civil Rights Institute Jan. 19-Feb. 1, Albany State University Feb. 2-15 and the Dougherty County Courthouse Feb. 15-28. Winning works will be displayed at Palmyra Medical Center Feb. 2-15 and the Dougherty County Governmental Building Feb. 15-18.
On Jan. 18, a celebration and dinner at the Albany Civic Center will recognize the top 10 winners in the competition.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Lake Park Elementary School PTO, students and staff recently presented the Christmas play “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which focused on the story behind the famous Christmas poem. Both performances were played before a capacity crowd.
— Lee County High School students were able to learn about various careers when they recently visited Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany as part of a job shadowing program. The students were also given a tour of the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer facility.
— Bainbridge College assistant chemistry professor Eric Dueno recently made special presentations at Bainbridge High and Bainbridge Middle schools. Stephen Gibbs and Hector Dueno, Dueno’s father who sparked his interest in chemistry, also assisted with the middle school presentations in two of Michelle Hufstetler’s seventh-grade classes.
The Bainbridge High students watched as Gibbs created a miniature Hindenburg by generating hydrogen gas from aluminum and sodium hydroxide that he put into a flask. He placed a balloon over the flask, and the hydrogen gas evolved and filled the balloon. He then carefully held the balloon over a candle to show how the hydrogen gas reacted with the flame. The students were amazed at the intense fireball from such a small object.
— Turner Elementary School’s Family Fun Day recently attracted a large crowed of students and adults as they enjoyed educational games. Rounding Bingo, Using Candy Corn, I Have, Who Has in Place Value and Parents Vs. Students Jeopardy were some of the games held during the event.

MEETING

Pataula Charter Academy, a five-county charter school that will serve Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Early and Randolph counties, was recently approved by the state and is set to open in August. Pataula Charter will have a community meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Arlington at the Community Center (by the old school and softball fields). School officials will have pre-enrollment forms for students and employment applications at the meeting.  

NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT

Starting Monday, Jan. 4, new students who have moved or are new to Lee County will be enrolled by a central registrar. The registrar will be located at Twin Oaks Elementary School on Smithville Road. Parents and guardians will enroll all students at this location.
School officials request that participants check the Lee County School System Web site (www.lee.k12.ga.us) so that all information required will be brought to the registration. Student will not be enrolled without the necessary documents required for proof of residency. Due to the expected large crowds, parents can anticipate some wait time.
Parents and guardians need to have a picture ID when registering their children. For more information, parents can visit the school system’s Web site and click on New Student Enrollment.

COLLEGE NEWS

Albany State University’s Math-Science Realized Saturday Academy will hold registration for the free spring session from 10 a.m.–noon Saturday, Jan. 9, in the Honors Program Building, which is adjacent to the campus dining hall. All students in grades 6-12 are welcome to participate. Participants will receive instruction in problem-solving and critical thinking skills in math and science.
Although it is free to participate, space is limited. Students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration forms will be available on-site. To pre-register or for more information, contact Cheryl G. Jones, program manager, at (229) 430-1632, cheryl.jones@asurams.edu or professor Connie M. Leggett, director, (229) 430-1917, connie.leggett@asurams.edu.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Nineteen students at Tifton’s Abraham Baldwin College were selected to participate in the ABAC Ambassadors program.
Students serving as Ambassadors include freshmen Brandi Bishop, Savannah Brown, Courtney Collins, Tifton’s Elizabeth Dukes and Bernard Green. Other Ambassadors include Colton Farrow, John Grist, Laurel Higginbotham, Bainbridge’s Kim Jacobs and Jessica Kalina, Sycamore’s Andrew Kicklighter and Tom Lanier, Adel’s Whitney Mitchell, Felipe Pedraza, Katie Thigpen, Cain Thurmond, Thomas Turcotte and Meagan Williams, and Tifton’s Drew Richardson.
Richardson serves as president; Lanier is vice-president; Turcotte is secretary; and Brown serves as treasurer of the ABAC Ambassadors. Mitchell serves as parliamentarian, and Dukes is the historian.
Through a process involving application, letters of recommendation and interviews, college administrators choose students they believe to be motivated and who show leadership potential. The Ambassadors assist the offices of public relations and admissions, representing and promoting the college at a variety of community and college events.

OPEN HOUSE

The Public Service and Business Outreach Center at Abraham Baldwin College will have an open house from 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Donaldson Dining Hall.
The open house will feature a preview of spring programs, and instructors will be on hand to meet students and answer questions about classes. Participants will have the chance to win door prizes, and light refreshments will be provided.
Those interested in Public Service and Business Outreach Center classes can register for classes at the open house and receive a 10 percent discount. For more information, contact the PSBOC office at (229) 391-5070. ABAC will be closed during the holidays from Dec. 24-Jan. 4.

GRADUATE

Sasha McCraw, formerly of Camilla, recently graduated from Troy State University and received a bachelor’s of social science and a minor in business administration. In 1994, she graduated from Albany Technical College and received a business and office technology diploma. McCraw is the daughter of Dorothy McCraw and Charles Silas and the granddaughter of Gladys Thornton. She plans to continue her education by attending graduate school.

Education Notebook submissions should be typed, concise and e-mailed to ethan.fowler@albanyherald.com; faxed to (229) 888-9357, Attn. Ethan/Education Notebook; or dropped by our office at 126 N. Washington St.