Good News, January 23
The following teachers earned National Board Certification in 2022-2023: Hannah Allen, Rankin Elementary; Samuel Bruce, Stuart W. Cramer High; Katherine Cochran, North Belmont Elementary; Jenna Markwith, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy; Tiffany Newsome, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, Tali Norman, Department for Exceptional Children; Jeanette Rios, Robinson Elementary; Anita Ross, Carr Elementary; and Allison Sisk, New Hope Elementary.
The five finalists for Gaston County Schools Teacher of the Year 2023-2024 are Melissa Clements, Belmont Middle School; Lindsay Dickerson Beverly, Forestview High School; Joanna Kirk Dotson, Tryon Elementary; Michael Kaufman, East Gaston High School; and Jamie Monk, Highland School of Technology. The winner will be announced in May.
The “Do the Right Thing” award winners for January are Jesiah Maynor, Gardner Park Elementary; Beverley Smith-Burney, Lingerfeldt Elementary; Jazmyn Reid, Holbrook Middle; and Joseph Armitage, Hunter Huss High School.
The following elementary students earned awards at the Gaston Regional Science and Engineering Fair: Henry Markwith, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, Duke Energy Elementary Division Winner; Lathan Allan, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, Schiele Award of the Earth; Aniston Johnson and Berkley Livingston, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, third place in environmental science; Rachel Jones and Avery Price, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, second place in environmental science; Allia Bullard and Emerson Cronin, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, first place in environmental science; Selah Rose Smith, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy; third place in biological science; Lilian Galdamez, Robinson Elementary, second place in biological science; Cameron Green and Pierson McSwain, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, first place in biological science; Everet Alexander, Robinson Elementary, third place in chemistry; Iris Ritter, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, second place in chemistry; Morgan Barnhill and Eason Hobbs, W.A. Bess Elementary, first place in chemistry; Wyatt Martin and Trenton Phillips, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, third place in physics and mathematics; Abigail Yost, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, second place in physics and mathematics; Connor Abernathy and Anderson West, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, first place in physics and mathematics; Damien Worman, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy third place in engineering and technology; Lochlan Blair, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, second place in engineering and technology; and Samuel Diamond, Hawks Nest STEAM Academy, first place in engineering and technology.
The following middle school students earned awards at the Gaston Regional Science and Engineering Fair: Kimberly Cruz, Alaina Lammie, and Reagan Beard, Stanley Middle, Duke Energy Middle School Division Winner; Raheem McClure, KenNaisha Patton, and Samya Evans, Stanley Middle, Junior Naval Science Award and first place in environmental science; Joy Barbee, Holbrook Middle, first place in biological science; Ana Plavocos and Savannah McArn, Belmont Middle, third place in chemistry; Naomi Wallace and Layla Lewis, Stanley Middle, second place in chemistry; Angel Teran, Stanley Middle, first place in chemistry; Brooklyn Stroupe, Stanley Middle, first place in physics; Aaron Ramey, Cramerton Middle School, first place in technology; Lizzy-Jane Ross, Stanley Middle, third palace in engineering; Ashaun Brown and David Lopez, Stanley Middle, second place in engineering; and Samantha Franke, Stanley Middle, first place in engineering.
The following high school students earned awards at the Gaston Regional Science and Engineering Fair: Lydia Walls, East Gaston High School, Duke Energy High School Division Winner; Camryn Tuttle, North Gaston High School, Gaston College SPARC of Genius Award; Logan Harris, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, Gaston College SPARC of Genius Honorable Mention; Dylan Grimes, Gaston Early College, Senior Naval Science Award; Hannah Rodden and Sariah Alege, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, third place in environmental sciences; Jordan Harris, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, second place in environmental sciences; James Gunter and Ansley Jones, Forestview High School, first place in environmental sciences; Zoey Adams and Jesmarie Gonzalez, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, third place in biological sciences; Shanyae Justice, Bubacarr Jatta, and Jasmine Sanders, Gaston Early College; second place in biological sciences; Destiny Eagle, Grace Almond, and Maria Salazar, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, first place in biological sciences; Logan Harris, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, third place in chemistry; Kendall Mace and Morgan Melton, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, second place in chemistry; Kelly Smith, Stuart W. Cramer High School, first place in chemistry; Dylan Grimes, Gaston Early College, first place in physics; Camryn Tuttle, North Gaston High School, first place in technology; Dalton Scism and Cameron Browning, Gaston Early College, second place in engineering; and Mackenzie Hamrick, Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences, first place in engineering.
The following middle schools won Gaston County Schools sports championships: boys’ soccer, Cramerton; volleyball, Mount Holly; and wrestling, Cramerton.
The following football players were recognized as all-state selections by Friday Nights in Carolina: Tobias Miller, Cherryville; Cam Medlock, South Point; Sullivan Absher, South Point; Will Ross, South Point; Charlie Birtwistle, South Point; Carmelo Bass, Ashbrook; Jackson Blee, South Point; Devon Jones, Ashbrook; Jaquis Rumph, South Point; Trenton Mitchell, Ashbrook; Aiden Ramirez, South Point; and Justin Ross, Hunter Huss.
The Bessemer City Middle School band performed holiday tunes for students at Bessemer City Primary.
To celebrate the success of students raising money for the United Way of Gaston County campaign, Brookside Elementary principal Jaime Wallace and assistant principal Joe Burns kissed a pig.
Dr. Don McGinnis donated several boxes of books to Carr Elementary’s classroom libraries.
The John Chavis Middle School Beta Club organized a successful canned food drive to benefit the Crisis Assistance Ministry. A total of 867 items were collected.
Cherryville High School senior Rileigh Kiser was named to the all-state volleyball team by the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association.
Cherryville High School senior Carson Kelly scored his 1,000th point in basketball.
Stuart W. Cramer High School junior Rich Wills was named to the Tarheel Youth Golf Association and Carolina Golf Association all-state team.
East Gaston High School student Austin Price earned his 100th career win in wrestling.
Forestview High School junior Rennie Liu was named to the second all-state tennis team by HighSchoolOT. In addition, senior Christian Tyler was named to the all-state boys’ soccer team by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association.
Forestview High School sophomore Tylique Aldridge earned honorable mention on the all-state football team by the North Carolina Sportswriters Association.
W.C. Friday Middle School held a canned food drive to benefit the Dallas Christian Ministry.
Gaston Virtual Academy was selected to participate in the North Carolina Science Festival program sponsored by Duke Energy and was awarded STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) kits for 200 students.
The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter at the Highland School of Technology received awards at the Southwest Regional FBLA Conference: Morgan Pursley, first place in the Accounting I category; Misha Singh, first place in the Future Business Leader category; Kent Kido, first place in the Introduction to Information Technology category; Maeve Jacobs and Khushi Pate, first place in the Theme and Web Banner category; and Adalberto Rodriguez-Cruz, first place in the Spreadsheet Applications category. Additionally, the 16 students who placed in the top four will compete in the FBLA state conference in March.
The following Highland School of Technology students competed in the Southwest Regional Leadership Conference at Johnson and Wales University: Hannah Gabiana, CPR/First Aid; Jackson Sawyer, CPR/First Aid; Neel Patel, Dental Science; Regis Lu, Dental Terminology; Kendall McPhatter, Health Career Display; Erica Tetteh Ocloo, Health Career Display; and Aileen Pena, Medical Assisting.
The Highland School of Technology HOSA club sponsored a blood drive on December 2 and collected 41 units. In addition, students and staff delivered holiday cheer by filling 113 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
McAdenville Elementary kindergarten student Robert Sapp was chosen to “flip the switch” at the annual McAdenville tree lighting ceremony.
South Point High School student Sullivan Absher, who plans to play football for the University of Notre Dame, was one of 100 senior football players selected for the All-American Bowl. The game was televised nationally on NBC on January 7 from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
South Point High School senior Sullivan Absher was named to the all-state football team by the North Carolina Sportswriters Association. In addition, senior Will Ross was recognized as an honorable mention.
South Point High School senior Sullivan Absher was named to the all-state football team by HighSchoolOT.com. In addition, senior Will Ross was recognized as a second team honoree and Jackson Blee was recognized as an honorable mention.
The South Point High School Student Council sponsored a canned food drive in November. Students collected 2,315 cans for the Belmont Community Organization. Teacher Jennifer Risk is the student council adviser.
The South Point High School boys’ basketball team visited Belmont Central Elementary and read books to second and third grade students.
Stanley Middle School student Mackenzie Hart was selected as first chair oboe in the North Carolina All-State Band and qualified for the all-district symphonic band. In addition, Cyrus Baltimore qualified for the all-district symphonic band.
The Stanley Middle School eighth grade chorus, under the direction of Nyi Nyi Myin, performed “God Bless the USA” at the Charlotte Checkers hockey game on January 22.
Students at York Chester Middle School received a new coat through the “Operation Warm” program. Members of the Gaston County Police Department assisted with fitting the students with a coat.
