Excellence in Education

By Staff
Aug. 15, 2002
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Joni Crenshaw is one of 26 students recently selected as 2001-2002 Blackburn Fellows at the University of Alabama.
Blackburn Fellows are chosen based on dedication to scholarship, commitment to progressive leadership and their responsibility to citizenry and ethical public service.
Crenshaw, a senior, was also tapped for membership in XXXI, an honorary society for women in leadership positions; former members of the group include Harper Lee and Sela Ward.
She is the daughter of Hargie and Jonas Crenshaw of Meridian. A Meridian High School honor student and former Gatorade Player of the Year for Mississippi in basketball, she is attending the University of Alabama on a basketball scholarship.
DECATUR East Central Community College recently held a pinning ceremony for graduates of the college's Surgical Technology program.
Members of the Class of 2002 included: Mavis Griffin of Conehatta; Kim McAdory of Louisville; Connie Chapman of Newton; Nina Roach of Philadelphia; Angela Betts of Meridian; Amanda Denson of Morton; Jewett Perkins of Carthage; Dwayne Anderson and Angela Cooks, both of Forest; Paul Ford of Lena; and Kyle Darsey of Hickory.
Meridian Community College Review 2002 officials held an awards ceremony recently to recognize area high school students for their creative talents. The winners were:
Poetry: Elizabeth Halbrook of Meridian High School, first place; Miriam Webb of Philadelphia High School, second place; Makilya Goldsy of West Lauderdale High School, third place; Susan Allen of Philadelphia High School and Laura King and Zachary Hodges, both from Meridian High School, honorable mention.
Short story: Laura Kittrell, first place; Katie Snowden, second place; and Pascha Brown, third place, all of Meridian High School; Demetric Cole and David Schwanebeck, both of Louisville High School, honorable mentions.
Essay: Susan Allen, first place; Ashley Brown, second place; and Deardra Carpenter, third place all of Louisville High School; Many Eaeks of Philadelphia High School, honorable mention; and Scott Montgomery of Louisville High School, honorable mention.
HATTIESBURG Ten students from the Meridian area participated in the 55th annual Magnolia Girls State held June 8-14 at the University of Southern Mississippi.
More than 400 girls entering their senior year of high school took part in Magnolia Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. Delegates learned about politics as they nominated candidates, held campaign rallies, organized party platforms and elected state and local officials.
Students from Clarkdale High School were:
Angela Nicole Woodall, 17, daughter of George and Cindy Woodall; Emily R. Watson, 17, daughter of Steve and Cindy Watson; Candis D. Patterson, 16, daughter of Dennis and Lena Patterson.
Students from Lamar High School were:
Keely Phillips, 16, daughter of Mark and Leslie Phillips; Lauren Herrington, 17, daughter of Wayne and Charolette Herrington.
Students from West Lauderdale High School were:
Lauren E. Goodman, 16, daughter of Murphy and Beth Goodman; Crystal Nicole Moore, 16, daughter of Irving and Sadie Carolyn Moore.
Other students from the Meridian area who participated were:
Shelly Ferguson, 17, of Newton County High School, daughter of Johnny M. and Cheryl Ferguson; Laurie Foster, 16, of Northeast Lauderdale High School, daughter of David Foster of Gautier and Renee Lewis of Meridian; Casey Hendricks, 16, of Hendricks Academy, daughter of Phil and Carolyn Hendricks.
ASHLAND, Wis. Joshua Matthews, a graduating senior at Northland College, has been named to the Dean's List for outstanding academic performance during the 2002 winter/spring term. To qualify, students must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale with no grade less than a "C."
Only the top 20 percent of students are named to the Dean's List.
Matthews, the son of Ramona and Daniel Matthews of Meridian, is a 1998 graduate of West Lauderdale High School. He majored in outdoor education at Northland.
Northland is an environmental liberal arts college in Ashland, Wis., near the shore of Lake Superior. The college has been recognized as one of the top colleges in the nation for science and mathematics. Founded in 1892, Northland's student body includes 800 students from 45 states and 11 foreign countries.