By Staff
May 22, 2002
Jawanda P. Huggins of Meridian has been named a United States National Award Winner by the United States Achievement Academy for Honor Roll, Leadership and Service, and Mathematics.
Huggins, who attends West Lauderdale High School, will appear in the United States Achievement Academy Official Yearbook, which is published nationally.
She is the daughter of Bishop Dennis Huggins and Pearl Huggins of Meridian. She is the granddaughter of Julia Rice of Meridian.
NEWTON Carlene Gilmore, a fifth-grade teacher at Newton County Elementary School, has received National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
In Mrs. Gilmore's 14 years as a teacher she has also earned a master's degree in education from Mississippi State University, where she graduated with honors. She is actively involved in educational organizations, church activities and the Boy Scouts of America.
She is the wife of Bert Gilmore. They have two children, Lacey and Tyler. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymon Jones of Walnut Grove.
Certification is a standards-based assessment of teaching and learning. The voluntary process takes one year to complete. Through the process, teachers document their subject matter knowledge; provide evidence that they know how to most effectively teach their subjects to students; and demonstrate their ability to manage and measure student learning.
DECATUR Ann Burkes of Decatur, former East Central Community College head librarian and Phi Theta Kappa co-adviser, was presented the Shelby Harris Alumni Award.
She received the honor during the spring semester induction ceremony for members of the college's Theta Xi Chapter of the International Honor Society.
Burkes retired last year following 32 years of service at ECCC.
SCOOBA Cassie Chance of Blackwater has been named as Gates Millennium Scholar.
The scholarship, established in 1999 by Microsoft Corp. founder and chairman Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, recognizes achieving minority university and college students.
Bill and Melinda Gates announced plans in 1999 to give $1 billion over 20 years to cover the college expenses of outstanding students.
Administered in part by the United Negro College Fund of Fairfax, Va., the scholarships are awarded on the basis of an essay; a minimum 3.3 grade-point average; and demonstrated leadership through participation in community service, campus organizations or other activities.
A freshman at East Mississippi Community College, Chance is the vice-president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, sports editor of the college yearbook, football correspondent for the newspaper staff, a member of the Student Christian Fellowship, and a president's list honoree. She is the daughter of Debbie Chance of Blackwater and Donald and Sandi Chance of Dunn, North Carolina. She is also a member of Blackwater Baptist Church.
DECATUR East Central Community College sophomore Matt Davis of Decatur was recently named to the 2002 Phi Kappa All-Mississippi Academic First Team.
The honor recognizes the scholarly achievements and leadership accomplishments of students enrolled in the state's community and junior colleges.
An engineering major, Davis maintains a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Davis and fellow ECCC sophomore Lana Rogers of Carthage, who was named to the second team, were recognized along with other award recipients by the Mississippi Legislature at the state Capitol and during a luncheon at the Clarion Hotel in Jackson, with Gov. Ronnie Musgrove serving as the featured speaker.
A music major with a piano emphasis, Rogers also maintains a 4.0 grade point average.
The All-Mississippi Academic Team program is coordinated by the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, The Clarion-Ledger, the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges and the Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.
STARKVILLE Jill Hodges of DeKalb has accepted membership in Golden Key International Honour Society.
Golden Key International Honour Society is a nonprofit, academic honors organization that provides academic recognition, leadership opportunities, community service, career networking and scholarships.
The society has more than 300 chapters in the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Australia, Canada, Malayasia, South Africa and New Zealand. Membership into is by invitation only to the top 15 percent of juniors and seniors in all fields of study.
The following students in the Meridian Public School District received awards in the Student Arts Competition at Arts in the Park, sponsored by the Meridian Council for the Arts:
In the eighth- and ninth-grade category, the following five students from Northwest Junior High School took the top honors:
Best of show, Brian Caples, for a pencil drawing titled, "The Guitarist" and honorable mention for a pencil drawing titled "Desert Skulls"; first place, Blair Barham, for a charcoal drawing titled, "Glamour Girls"; second place, Crystal Duke, for a scratch-board drawing titled, "Jungle Birds"; third place, Trey Watts, for a pencil drawing titled, "Eggs"; honorable mention, Carrie McElroy, for a mixed media composition titled, "Colorful Personality."
In the 10th- through 12th-grade category, the following students from Meridian High School received top awards:
First place, Zachary Hodges, for a pencil drawing titled, "Self-Portrait"; second place, E.J. Watson, for a pastel drawing titled, "Darkness"; and third place, Chris Williams, for a pencil and color pencil drawing titled, "Girl in Straw Hat."