It’s that time of year again when we reward our kids for all of their hard work. Each school system has its own awards for various activities and academics, and we should be proud of all of our students. Recently, three award ceremonies spotlighted students we would like share with you.
The Daily Times Academic Awards
The first, The Daily Times Academic Awards, is a long-standing tradition created and sponsored by the newspaper. Academic Letters, similar to Athletics Letters, are awarded in the areas of language arts, math, science and social studies. Students from high schools in Alcoa, Maryville, Blount County, and Greenback are honored.
This year, the 23rd year, resulted in 227 students receiving 341 letters. More than one-third of the students lettered in more than one subject. Six students, representing three high schools, earned letters in all four subjects. Those students include Heritage High School sophomore Clark Aaron Herd and Maryville High School senior and valedictorian Pendell Myers. William Blount High School had three students take all four honors: sophomore Kristen Nicole Waggoner, juniors Bradi Noel Millsaps and Travis Lee Wilson, and senior Matthew Allen Campbell. Congratulations to these students as well as all those who earned a letter.
Gov. Phil Bredesen, the keynote speaker for the event, encouraged the students to start thinking about what a “well-spent” life looks like and to start setting expectations for themselves in addition to meeting the expectations of others. He also told the students to use change as a means to grow and get out of a rut.
“Treat change as your friend and not your enemy,” he said.
As a final thought, he suggested that students should consider volunteer work or public service as they create a life for themselves. Breseden said when he is 80, he wants to ask himself this question:
“As you traveled through this life, did you put more back than you took?”
Blount County Turnaround Achievement Awards
I’ve had the privilege of attending the Blount County Turnaround Achievement Awards for the last several years. The event, which is sponsored by local attorneys Joe Costner and Steve Greene, recognizes students from all three school systems for turning their lives around in the areas of academics, attendance and behavior. One student from each middle and high school are chosen and recognized at a breakfast in May. It’s moving experience to hear how these children have overcome difficulties in their lives and set their course back on the right path. Sometimes it’s because an adult has intervened and worked with the student to turnaround his or her life. Other times, it’s because the student himself has recognized that changes need to be made and decides to rethink his lifestyle. The student’s nominator or a school representative tells how the student has made positive changes. Most of the kids are shy about making any comments, but their beaming smiles tell it all. Students are given a plaque to remember their achievement and encouraged to continue moving forward. I think it is admirable that Costner and Greene sponsor such a unique opportunity to recognize these kids.
This year’s recipients include: Josh Conner, Alcoa High School; Chloe Wolfe, Alcoa Middle School; Lacey McMurray, Carpenters Middle School; Robert Winstead, Eagleton Middle School; Amanda West, Heritage High School; Annabelle Sampson, Heritage Middle School; Ashley Robertson, Maryville High School; Brent Vince, Maryville Middle School; Kathryn Shuler, William Blount High School; and Terry Shields, William Blount Middle School.
Congratulations students for making positive changes in your life and for receiving recognition for your efforts.
Bill Williams, former co-anchor of Action 10 News WBIR, served as the keynote speaker, and he spoke directly to the kids. He gathered them in front of him at the podium, took a $20 bill out of his pocket and said he would give it to one of the students. The charismatic Williams asked the students who wanted the $20 bill and all their hands shot up. Then he wadded it up into a ball and asked again who wanted it. All hands shot up. Williams dropped it on the floor and stomped the bill. Picking it up, he asked them again who wanted it. All hands shot up. Williams explained that the bill is just as valuable even if it was wrinkled and messed up and told the students that they are just as valuable even if they are having difficulties in their lives.
“I want you to remember that the rest of your life,” Williams said as he tossed the bill to one of the students.
What a great way to help kids understand their value and such a simple lesson.
Blount County schools Citizenship Award
Each year in the Blount County school system, three students – one from each school level – are selected for the Director of Schools Citizenship Award. Director of Schools Alvin Hord started this program not long after he was named director. The award, now in its fifth year, is designed to recognize students who display leadership skills, volunteerism and service to fellow students, their school and the community. They are chosen by a committee from nominations submitted by each school. The school board celebrates their achievements at the May school board meeting. Students are given plaques and a plaque with each student’s name hangs in central office.
The awards this year go to: Leah Thomas of Walland Elementary School, Gracie Arthur of Heritage Middle School and Amy Eastridge of William Blount High School.
Leah Thomas
Leah Thomas is an active member of her school community. She served as a buddy for a classmate diagnosed with diabetes, escorting her classmate where she need to go and making sure she did not need medical attention. Serving on safety patrol, Thomas monitored the hallways and greeted students as they arrived at school.
Her leadership service skills were displayed as vice president of the 4-H Club and a member of the “K-Kids,” sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. With K-Kids, she helped raise money for Relay for Life and created posters and flyers for the project.
Thomas also worked with her fellow students by being a kindergarten helper, serving as a “bus buddy” after school to get kindergarten students to their buses and working with them in P.E.
In her spare time, she sings with the Blount County Honors Choir and plays basketball for the Walland team.
Gracie Arthur
Gracie Arthur supports her school in many ways and maintains an excellent academic record. She served as the “water girl” for the football team and never missed a practice last summer. She made sure the players had water, helped clean up after each practice and assisted the booster club with pre-game meals.
In addition, she was president of Student Council and secretary of the National Junior Honor Society. She won first place in the school Science and Social Studies fairs and second place at the Blount County Social Studies Fair. Arthur was selected to participate in the Jaycee’s Youth Legislature, which includes 50 students from middle schools in all three school systems.
Arthur is an active member of Grandview Baptist Church, where she helped put together treat bags for children at a church carnival, delivered Christmas cards to church families and helped organize backpacks of school supplies for children who didn’t have a backpack. Last summer, she helped teachers at Walland Elementary School get ready for the upcoming year by cleaning desks, making name tags for students and making copies.
Arthur also pet-sat for her friends while they were gone on vacation.
Amy Eastridge
Amy Eastridge, a rising senior, is the epitome of service to her school and community. Eastridge served on Student Council, helping to organize such projects as Toys for Tots, Phonebook Recycling and the Medic Blood Drive. She has served as the chairman of the United Way Intra-Youth Council. As a member of the council, she has visited Asbury Acres Nursing Home, providing companionship to residents and helping with holiday festivities. She also worked with CPR classes for the American Red Cross and put kits together for volunteers of the Little River Clean-Up Day as part of her council activities.
Eastridge helped to organize a program called “Trick or Cans,” where people donate canned goods on Halloween night for Second Harvest Food Bank. She made informational flyers to distribute to local neighborhoods and then collected food that night.
She volunteered at April Foolies, a fund-raising event for United Way’s Success by Six program and Blount County New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center, counting proceeds and collecting tickets. To support the United Way Day of Caring, Eastridge cleaned trails at Camp Tanasi, a Girl Scout retreat.
How fortunate the Blount community is to have such three caring and willing students who spend their spare time helping others. Congratulations to all three!