School News

Students Receive Regional and State Honors

The recent Piedmont Regional Technology Competition was attended by 86 Cherokee County students. After putting their technology skills to the test, 36 of these students won first place in their respective categories, earning the opportunity to advance to the state competition that was held virtually in May, with entries from 870 students statewide. At the statewide event, six Cherokee County students placed first, second or third:

• Marissa Migneco, Etowah, first in graphic design. • Micah Kampman, Johnston, second in audio production. • Ryan Wexler, Indian Knoll, second in project programming. • Daniel McCrobie, Sequoyah graduate, second in 3D modeling. • Isabella Ayala, Cherokee graduate, third in internet applications. • Paxton Miller, Indian Knoll, third in multimedia applications.

“STEM learning is critically important to many career choices for our future graduates, and we’re proud of our students’ successes at the regional and state competitions.” Superintendent of Schools, Brian V. Hightower said.

The annual Georgia Student Technology Competition offers students the opportunity to showcase their skills through 16 categories at regional and state fairs.

Marissa Migneco

County Alumni Commit to Military Service

More than 50 Cherokee County high school alumni have committed to military service, through enlisting or other programs, including three selected for prestigious U.S. service academies. The three graduates accepted to the elite military academies are: David Snyder of Cherokee High, U.S. Military Academy at West Point; Sophia Stewart of Etowah High, U.S. Air Force Academy; and Carson Throne of Sequoyah High, U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Enrollment at the academies is limited, and appointees are selected based on Sophia Stewart outstanding academic achievement, athletic accomplishments, demonstrated leadership and school and community service.

The three appointees are well-known in their communities for their many successes in school, such as Snyder’s national honors for JROTC riflery, Stewart’s salutatorian title for her graduating class, and Throne’s state wrestling wins.

Annisabelle Aguilar

Christian Deneka Graduates Earn $2,500 in Scholarships From Foundation

The second annual presentation of college scholarships, by the Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation, has expanded from the inaugural awarding of two scholarships to 10.

The high school graduate recipients are: Olivia Barger, Dylan Mahoney, Braesen Parker and Abigail Taylor of Cherokee; Christian Deneka of Etowah; Stephanie Felonta, Victoria Kershaw and Legacy Guider of River Ridge; Jordan Campbell of Sequoyah; and Annisabelle Aguilar of Woodstock. Deneka plans to study ecology, building upon his experience as a Vet Explorer and success in Etowah agriculture and science classes.

Aguilar plans to become a veterinarian and, while a Woodstock student, interned at the Georgia Aquarium and worked for a veterinary hospital.

The scholarships are open to students planning to continue their education in Georgia, and study education, agriculture, veterinary medicine, religion or theology, or a related field. The foundation also considers applicants’ community service and their references’ recommendations.

“These scholarships honor the recipients’ dedication to studies and service and are an important investment in their future and our community’s future,” Superintendent of Schools Brian V. Hightower said. “Jason has built upon the outstanding education he received as a former Cherokee County student, to grow a successful business and, with his family, is giving these graduates the opportunity to do the same. Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to Jason and his family’s foundation.”

ABM Industries, which provides custodial services to county schools, has awarded $1,000 scholarships to a senior from each high school. The six winners were selected by a scholarship committee of retired educators and ABM representatives, based on a student’s involvement in school and community activities and service, as well as personal essays and references. This year, Cherokee graduate Miguel EstebanJuarez, Creekview graduate Brinn Dameron, Etowah Aneisa Jones graduate Aneisa Jones, River Ridge graduate Legacy Guider, Sequoyah graduate Matthew Scoretz, and Woodstock graduate Sebastian Moss, were awarded scholarships. Jones will study neuroscience and pre-medicine at Xavier University, to pursue her goal of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon. As a member of Beta Club and Key Club service organizations at Etowah, Jones volunteered with the school’s annual Shop with an Eagle charitable program and at Agape Hospice Care, where she spent more than 200 hours visiting with Sebastian Moss patients and performing jazz for them on her saxophone. Moss is headed to Georgia Southern University to study architecture, in pursuit of his career goal of providing housing for low-income families. A four-year varsity football player at Woodstock, Moss has been an active school and community volunteer, helping with elementary school festivals and the MUST summer lunch program, all while supporting local foster families. Positive Athlete Georgia, which promotes the benefits of positivity to young athletes around the world, has honored 10 Cherokee County student athletes with regional positive athlete awards. More than 3,000 high school students are nominated annually by coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers and parents. Awards are presented for sports at the regional level, with region winners advancing to state-level competition. In addition to demonstrating excellence in their sport, positive athletes must show characteristics such as an optimistic attitude, teammate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100% and realizing the team as more important than the individual. 2021 Positive Athlete Georgia Regional Award winners: • Laney Cline, Cherokee • Lexie-Anne Rodkey, Cherokee • Samantha Buchberger, Creekview • Maggie Bradley, Etowah • Molly Froman, Etowah • Camden Cochran, River Ridge • Grant Davis, Sequoyah • Jonah Haney, Sequoyah • Ryan Comeau, Woodstock • Reece Morrish, Woodstock

Flashback!

Bascomb Elementary’s inaugural student body gathered for a commemorative photo at the Hobgood Park amphitheater on May 30, 1996. Bascomb ended the first school year with a population of 1,197 students, just short of the 100% capacity. Maggie Bradley

Molly Froman Ryan Comeau

Reece Morrish