Excellence in Education

By Staff
July 31, 2003
More than 200 high school sophomores are expected to commit at least 20,000 hours of volunteer service to communities across Mississippi in the coming months.
The 204 students, all graduates of the just-completed annual Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership program in Jackson, also known as HOBY, have learned how volunteering can impact the lives of people in their community.
Area students who participated in the program are Benn Covington, Lamar High School; Andrew Havron, Meridian High School; Jacob Garrett, Northeast Lauderdale High School; Derek Taylor, Clarkdale Attendance Center; and Caleb Delaney, West Lauderdale Attendance Center.
The HOBY program, conducted annually in Jackson, is a part of the nationwide leadership training program for high school students created by actor Hugh O'Brian.
It focuses on leadership, motivation and volunteerism by exposing students to business, educational and political leaders and by involving them, as part of their training, in service projects with organizations like the Salvation Army, Gateway Rescue Mission, the Mississippi Food Network and other community service and charitable organizations.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Joe Davis of York and Andrew Manley of Needham were chosen to participate June 15-27 in the 2003 session of Alabama Governor's School at Samford University.
A total of 78 students from 52 high schools in 29 counties attended the two-week honors program for rising high school seniors.
Participants received college level experience in academics, creativity and leadership.
Each student selected major and minor areas of course work. Subjects included astronomy, health care, the legal process, urban geography, Alabama plants and animals, television news and Web design.
Davis, a student at Sumter Academy, studied research science and the Greek classical drama, "Medea." He is the son of Eddie and Susan Davis.
Manley, a student at South Choctaw Academy, studied American health care and Southern culture. He is the son of Greg and Joan Manley.
Wayne County teacher Kim Hopkins of Buckatunna will be part of a seven-day research expedition in the U.S. Virgin Islands in August.
Hopkins will be working with scientists and scholars to monitor and compare the abundance of organisms in marine habitats associated with the Coral Reefs of the Virgin Islands.
Results will be added to research from other teams to determine the impact of human disturbance on the degradation of the coral reef and adjacent ecosystems along the coastline.
The week-long project is part of a three-year study which hopes to provide national park programs and the Bush administration with strong evidence of habitat destruction so a plan of action can be formed for coral protection.
Hopkins was selected through the Earthwatch Foundation based on essays and experience.
Working with Earthwatch, the Phil Harding Foundation has established the S.A. Rosenbaum Teacher Fellowship Program which provides the fellowship for the project.