The 2015 Leadership Academy was sponsored by the Office of the President, the Honors College and the Capstone Council at the University of Alabama. UA received hundreds of nominees of high school students before selecting 124 teens for its annual Leadership Academy in April. The Capitol School nominated Melanie Mew as the school's representative for 2015. Melanie is the daughter of Dr. Wendell and Mrs. Norma Mew of Northport.
The third nine-weeks awards includes:
Remarkable readers: Kleshon Abron, Emma Avery, Kaylyn Barnes, Brooke Blazer, Judson Bryant, Kera Craig, Noah Davis, Dalton Fondren, Aaron Graham, Katie Jaggers, Kennadi Kirkland, Sabrina Kock, Tyler McCraw, Trevor McGee, Brinlee Miller, Bree Milligan, Stailee Moseley, Riley Pate, Karma Pringle, JaBoris Sears, Alexis Snow, Jacob Strickland, Philip Stringham, Gabe Taylor and Allie Clare Wilson.
Hard-working students: Will Andrews, Maddy Cain, Lora Catt, Caden Channell, Will Childress, Logan Clark, Tiffany Collins, Isabella Cornelius, Spencer Davis, Samuel Heptinstall, Bella Hubbard, Nathan Jarrell, Cassidy Johnson, Connor Katz, Tylee Kizziah, Caden Lanphere, Keisha Niece, Alyssa Pate, Brandon Ramirez-Tax, Davis Torri, Riley Toxey, Ian White and Daniel Williams.
Special Award (extra hard work learning): Kyalynne Holland.
Marvelous Mathematicians: Ethan Bruce, Janeth Cervantes, Emma Cornette, Diana Cuatra, Bailey Denard, Hunter Dunaway, Camden Duncan, Owen Egan, Devin Fant, Braxton Ferguson, Dylan Garner, Hunter Hollingshead, Josh Kersey, Dillon Massengill, Sean Moncrief, Jacob Nations, Wesley Reid, Aiden Salter, Lexi Sanders, Giselle Smith, Carson Strickland, Taylor Stringham, Aubrey Watters and J'Yden Williams.
Super scientists: Hayden Akins, Bradley Andrews, Isaac Blankenmyer, Ryan Brewer, Joshua Cedatol, Garrett Cumberland, Jolie Dunn, Hayden Elliott, Jackson Farmer, Bradley Audrey Fisher, Drew Frye, Chase Gilliland, Audrey Houston, Jon Allan Lawrence, Kylie Lewis, Ja'Zharea Madison, Sloan Moseley, Emily Myers, David Oglesby, Justin Olin, Jude Oswalt, Emalee Rakowitz, Connor Sanders and Thomas Terrell.
Amy J. Vest, principal of Vance Elementary School, announced that Bailey Denard, a fifth-grader in Ms. Hill's classroom, was this year's Champion of Character from Vance Elementary.
2015 Sakura Art Contest
Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International announced the winners of the 2015 Sakura Art Contest.
Artwork by students in the Tuscaloosa City Schools and from Narashino were featured April 12 at the Sakura Festival at Midtown Village. There were 75 entries from the Tuscaloosa City Schools system and Narashino, Japan. The theme of the contest was “Connecting Communities for Peace and Prosperity.”
Elementary category: Kendra Aina Labinjo, Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary, first place; Hayden Myers, Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary, second place; Kathryn Claire Herbert, Rock Quarry Elementary, third place; Amani Harris, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, honorable mention.
Middle school category: Kotoha Suga, Toho Junior High School, Narashino, Japan, first place; Kanon Nakajima, Toho Junior High School, Narashino, Japan, second place; Mina Hosoi, Toho Junior High School, Narashino, Japan, third place; Ai Hayakawa, Toho Junior High School, Narashino, Japan, honorable mention.
High school category: Ayaka Nakamura, Narashino High School, first place; Nonoka Yonekawa, Narashino High School, second place; Alexis Williams, Paul W. Bryant High School, third place; Alex Hayslip, Northridge High School, honorable mention.
Narashino High School student Ayaka Nakamura's artwork “Bond” will be sent to Washington, D.C., to compete for international recognition in the Sister Cities International organization's Young Artists Showcase.
Three students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School participated in and finished the first Read a Half-Marathon held in conjunction with the 2015 Tuscaloosa Half Marathon.
Fifth-grade students Fernandell Britton and Verdae Smith and third-grade student Queontirria Britton completed the event ahead of many participants.
The concept involved students reading 13 books and writing a short book review for each one, then running a mile during a physical education class. Students “trained” for the event during February and March of this year to create awareness for the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon, which raises money to assist public libraries in the area.
Holy Spirit Catholic School in Tuscaloosa recently inducted students into the Fleur de Lis Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society and the Bishop David Foley Chapter National Honor Society. These students have achieved the high standards set by this prestigious national organization for academic performance, leadership, character, citizenship and service.
National Junior Honor Society inductees include Obinna Alilonu, Brooke Bassett, Brendan Fuller, Layne Goodbread, Amelia Hitt, Sylvie Kang, Ben Midkiff, Elijah Sheffer, Chidimma Alilonu, Samuel Contorno, Eva Farrish, Ronica Peramsetty, Sydney Colburn, Peyton Goodbread and Alex Kincaid.
National Honor Society inductees include Max Bassett, Tristan Boler, Caitlin Diano, Angus Durham, Andie Gamble, Maria Garcia, Alex Giggie, Kelsey Johnson, Anna Kidwell, Danika Louw, Mikaela McDaniel, Roeder McNair, Nikita Peramsetty, Maria Phelps, Anna Pitts, Henry Pitts, Kate Pitts, Anna Presnall, Jordan Richmond, Caroline Sisson and Olivia Wyatt.
Students were also inducted to Mu Alpha Theta. New members include Max Bassett, Tristan Boler, Angus Durham, Maria Garcia, Kelsey Johnson, Grace Anne Lake, Roeder McNair, Abby Mitchell, Nikita Peramsetty, Maria Phelps, Anna Pitts, Henry Pitts, Kate Pitts, Anna Presnall, Jordan Richmond, Reagan Washington, Alexie White and Leah White.
National Latin Honor Society new members are Leah Clark, Jackson Colburn, Marian Cook, Julia Giggie, Olivia Kapera and Haley Thompson.
On April 3-4 at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Holy Spirit students Lilly Laubenthal, Mason Gibbs, Isabella Sullivan, Marty Maggi, and Conner Schoolmann received honorable mention in the Alabama Science & Engineering Fair. Sophie Petrovic earned fourth place and Brooke Bassett earned third place. Wilhelmina Durham was awarded first place and received a first place award from the Boeing Co. and a nomination of the Broadcom Masters Competition.
The eighth grade study of ancient Greece culminated in the annual version of the Holy Spirit “Greek Olympic” games. The project places the students into one of six city-states to compete in a series of tasks as they learned about ancient Greece. The students earned grades in science and social studies classes for their projects and tasks completed. The students dressed in costume and the city-state teams tried to earn points for competing in academic games and completing projects about ancient Greece.
Students, parent chaperones, faculty members, Johnathan Loper and Jessica Mitchell took a bus trip to Washington, D.C., from Holy Spirit Catholic School in Tuscaloosa. The group spent the week touring the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Wall and monuments dedicated to the Korean War, World War II and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The group also participated in the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and attended Mass at the Basilica. The group also toured the Capitol Building, Mount Vernon and Library of Congress. Time was also spent at the Holocaust and Smithsonian museums and everyone got to see the White House. Each year the 10th-grade class takes the trip to learn about our country's history and government procedures.
The all-A’s honor roll for the third nine-weeks includes Allison Michaela Averette, Thomas Andrew Barnes, Madison Paige Bray, Jada Sheree Buckner, Elizabeth Claire Cameron, Rylee Hermoine Channell, Hannah Rae Church, Caitlyn Rochelle Cordova, Ja’Mya Te’Anna Edwards, Sarah Gayle Franklin, Kelsie Grace Gilliam, Brandon Clyde Henry, Savannah Re Hodge, Savanna Lynn Holmes, Anna Lise Nicole Hughen, Jayci Michelle Jones, Lynzie Marie Karthaus, Logan Lamar Laird, Aeriel Latrista Lee, Savana Grace Marshall, Asia Danielle McMillian, Eboni Brooke Nichols, Charles Ridgeway Payne, Halle Scot Payne, Sarah Kirk Pearson, Christina Rose Peeples, Franchesca S. Perkins, Marion Kaddell Perry, Nolie Celeste Ray, Hannah Grace Reid, Rachel Lin Rose, Sarah Anne Rose, Katie Marie O’dell Smith, Justine Rena’ Spence, Amanda Meggan Stuber, James Earl Terry Jr., Camden Blake Tucker, Peyounce O’neshia Williams, Carson Alexander Woods, Gary Wayne Wyatt II, Joshua Gordon Wyatt Jr., Kayla Nicole Wyatt, Kelli Renee Wyatt, Lawson Shonn Wyatt and Sarah Joyce Wyatt.
Amber Fenimore of Northside Middle School was awarded the Champions of Character Awards for outstanding efforts of students. She demonstrates leadership and character in her home, school, neighborhood and community. Amber is the daughter of Danny and Amelia Fenimore.
On April 2, the fourth-grade class took a field trip to Montgomery. They visited several historic buildings and other landmarks.
The kindergarten class took a field trip to the Children’s Hands-On Museum on April 6.
The kids enjoyed all the eudcational, hands-on activities that were available.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors took a trip to tour the campuses of Shelton State Community College and the University of Alabama on April 9.
The seventh-12th graders took a reward trip for good behavior to City Cafe on April 10. The fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders took a trip to reward for good behavior as well. They went to the Fun Factory and to Cici’s Pizza.
During the week of April 13-17, the seventh-11th graders took a trip to New York City. After flying into Baltimore, they toured Philadelphia and saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the famous “Rocky steps” at the art museum.
While in New York, the group visited the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the 9/11 memorial, Chinatown, and saw the Broadway play “Aladdin.”
Elections were held for the 2015-16 Student Government class representatives.
The representatives are NaFayzia Mobley and LaKweili Rice for seventh grade; Hayden Calhoun and Casey Burch for eighth grade; Emily Wallace and Joe Gee for ninth grade; Katelyn Burkhalter and Tre’ Butler for 10th grade; Anna Boswell and Taylor Reed for 11th grade; and Joel Horne and Kelsey Williams for 12th grade.
Brookwood High School represented the state of Alabama at the National Consumers League’s 21st annual LifeSmarts competition in Seattle on April 17-21. The team that calls itself “Bad Assets,” are from left, Brookwood High career technology teacher Jackie Emplaincourt, Ian McKee, Zach Hicks, Jesse Nash, Brady Cain and Scott Trull. It was the first time that Brookwood’s team had participated in the competition that included spelling bee-style questions, written assessments and other events that focused on the areas of personal finance, consumer rights and responsibilities, technology, environment and health and safety. Though the team finished the competition unranked, it began ranked eighth nationally after the first round of competition that featured a video presentation written and produced by the team. Titled “Budget Man” and still available on YouTube, it was scored based on the number of views it received as well as its and content. It amassed more than 3,000 views, earning it a fourth-place overall ranking. Team members Jesse Nash and Ian McKee were named honorable mention for the Safety Smarts Ambassador scholarships, and Brady Cain ranked fifth nationally for his written assessment category in Health Safety.
The annual Tiger Idol contest was held recently. The runner up was Christian Spencer and the winner was Diamond Thomas.