Courtsey of WRBE, "Your HownTown Radio"
The George County Board of Supervisors heard that positive interest in the newly developed industrial park is in the air, with many inquires per day according to Economic Development Director Sue Wright. Wright told the board at their end-of-the-month meeting on Friday that she has received dozens of phone calls and inquires about the industrial park, and though nothing is planned for the near futures, she believed the outlook of the park is definitely a positive one, with many potential businesses.
Local attorney Mark Maples inquired about upcoming improvements to the Drug Court Building, stating that Judge Kathy King Jackson has discussed the construction with a former Drug Court Graduate and felt he could supervisor the work with current drug court enrollee doing the labor. Maples presented the Supervisors with a construction list of materials and other estimated cost; but the Supervisors chose to take cautionary action with obtaining two estimates before approving Judge Jackson's request.
A $1,500 donation was approved to the Local Law Enforcement Organization, for the Annual 4th of July Fire Works Display.
Several routine items were approved including travel expenses for 911 Coordinator Lorraine Howell, a request by Tax Assessor Wilburn Bolen for a land roll adjustment and committees were appointed to asses road issues.
Two road “school zone” signs request by Superintendent of Education Donnie Howell were approved with instruction that the placement of the sign must meet state regulations.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting is set for Monday, June 4.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
City Receives $650,000 for Downtown Restrooms
By Royce Armstrong
It may not be a spreading chestnut tree and it will not be a village smithy, but the huge old oak tree at the downtown intersection of Mill and Main streets may soon spread above a visitor’s center and informational kiosk, part of a $650,000 community revitalization grant. The project will include renovations to the pavilion in the city park.
Governor Haley Barbour announced $97.2 million in grants for projects along the Mississippi Gulf Coast on May 10, according to Jennifer M. Spann, with the Communications and Marketing Division, Mississippi Development Authority. The Community Revitalization grants primarily provide millions of dollars for projects in the three coastal counties. Included in this list is the grant for the Lucedale downtown project.
“I don’t know of anything we can do to the downtown that will be more beneficial than this project,” Mayor Dayton Whites said. “Our downtown area and our city park are among the most beautiful in Mississippi. The one thing that has been lacking is decent restroom facilities."
“We need to appreciate that the Governor has worked hard to get money for development and revitalization in the six coastal counties,” Whites said.
The project will include building the visitor’s center on what is now a school district parking lot, building a new public parking lot on the north side of Commerce street east of Mills street and renovating the restroom facilities in the city park.
The project came together through the cooperation of the county board of supervisors, the school district and the city.
Although approval of the grant has been announced, no timetable has been set for disbursement of the funds to the cities.
“We hope to start this project soon,” Kathy Johnson, Lucedale City Clerk said. “All bidding procedures will be followed."
It may not be a spreading chestnut tree and it will not be a village smithy, but the huge old oak tree at the downtown intersection of Mill and Main streets may soon spread above a visitor’s center and informational kiosk, part of a $650,000 community revitalization grant. The project will include renovations to the pavilion in the city park.
Governor Haley Barbour announced $97.2 million in grants for projects along the Mississippi Gulf Coast on May 10, according to Jennifer M. Spann, with the Communications and Marketing Division, Mississippi Development Authority. The Community Revitalization grants primarily provide millions of dollars for projects in the three coastal counties. Included in this list is the grant for the Lucedale downtown project.
“I don’t know of anything we can do to the downtown that will be more beneficial than this project,” Mayor Dayton Whites said. “Our downtown area and our city park are among the most beautiful in Mississippi. The one thing that has been lacking is decent restroom facilities."
“We need to appreciate that the Governor has worked hard to get money for development and revitalization in the six coastal counties,” Whites said.
The project will include building the visitor’s center on what is now a school district parking lot, building a new public parking lot on the north side of Commerce street east of Mills street and renovating the restroom facilities in the city park.
The project came together through the cooperation of the county board of supervisors, the school district and the city.
Although approval of the grant has been announced, no timetable has been set for disbursement of the funds to the cities.
“We hope to start this project soon,” Kathy Johnson, Lucedale City Clerk said. “All bidding procedures will be followed."
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Many Students Honored for Academic Achievements
Courtsey of WRBE, "Your Hometown Radio"
The George County Board of Education recently honored several high school and middle school student for academic achievements, including sixth grader Joshua Mallett for winning the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge for the state of Mississippi. Joshus is the youngest son of Dr. Presley and Dr. Tara Mallett. He will compete in the National Completion on May 14 and 15.
The Board of Education also honored middle school students for perfect scores on the MCT state exams for the 2005-06 school year, they included sixth graders Lexi Bolin, Dillion Eubanks, Tiffany Miller, Colt Reynolds, and Caleb Rollins in Reading; sixth graders Keirsten Cowart, Leah Gardner, Kaylee Jeminson, Alex McNeely, Colby Parker and Sawyer Steede in Language; sixth graders Emma Harris and Theodore Riley made a perfect score in both Reading and Language. Sixth graders Dylan Boutwell and Joshua Mallett made a perfect score in Math and LeRoy Martin made a perfect score in both Math and Language.
Seventh graders Matthew Cain, Meredith Moody and Brysan Murrah scored 100 percent on their MCT state testing exams in Reading; and Edward Maples made a perfect score on his state math exam; seventh graders Ashley Fiveash, Courtney Hancock, Kelsea Nero and Tara Roberts made a perfect score on their state Language exam.
Eight graders Chip Adkins, Brandon Creel, George Parker and Keaton Pope scored perfect on their MCT state reading exams, and seventh graders Christa Hare and Drew Kirkwood scored perfect on their state math exam and Jacqulyn Ladiner score perfect on the state Language exam.
At the George County High School, the Yearbook Staff and Student Press Staff were awarded first place in “General Excellence” by the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association; the Yearbook staff students include: Student Editor Jannetta DeSalvo, Keli Rester, Shyanne Holland, Brittni Pierce, Hillary Howell, Pamela Beck and Chiquita Jack; and The Student Press staff includes: Student Editors Xerxes A. Wilson, III, Brittany Mason, Barbara Thompson and Cassidy Havens and staff members Brianne Rogers, Ana Solo'rzano, Skye Lacy, Victoria Kaplan, Desiree Addison, Kimberly Howell and AnnDaree Morris.
All the students were honored with certificates and words of congratulations from high school principal Paul Wallace and middle school principal Patsy Horn and Board of Education President Ronnie Cooley. Members of the board also express their congratulations to the parents of the students for their hard work and guidance in the upbringing of the students honored.
The George County Board of Education recently honored several high school and middle school student for academic achievements, including sixth grader Joshua Mallett for winning the Reader's Digest National Word Power Challenge for the state of Mississippi. Joshus is the youngest son of Dr. Presley and Dr. Tara Mallett. He will compete in the National Completion on May 14 and 15.
The Board of Education also honored middle school students for perfect scores on the MCT state exams for the 2005-06 school year, they included sixth graders Lexi Bolin, Dillion Eubanks, Tiffany Miller, Colt Reynolds, and Caleb Rollins in Reading; sixth graders Keirsten Cowart, Leah Gardner, Kaylee Jeminson, Alex McNeely, Colby Parker and Sawyer Steede in Language; sixth graders Emma Harris and Theodore Riley made a perfect score in both Reading and Language. Sixth graders Dylan Boutwell and Joshua Mallett made a perfect score in Math and LeRoy Martin made a perfect score in both Math and Language.
Seventh graders Matthew Cain, Meredith Moody and Brysan Murrah scored 100 percent on their MCT state testing exams in Reading; and Edward Maples made a perfect score on his state math exam; seventh graders Ashley Fiveash, Courtney Hancock, Kelsea Nero and Tara Roberts made a perfect score on their state Language exam.
Eight graders Chip Adkins, Brandon Creel, George Parker and Keaton Pope scored perfect on their MCT state reading exams, and seventh graders Christa Hare and Drew Kirkwood scored perfect on their state math exam and Jacqulyn Ladiner score perfect on the state Language exam.
At the George County High School, the Yearbook Staff and Student Press Staff were awarded first place in “General Excellence” by the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association; the Yearbook staff students include: Student Editor Jannetta DeSalvo, Keli Rester, Shyanne Holland, Brittni Pierce, Hillary Howell, Pamela Beck and Chiquita Jack; and The Student Press staff includes: Student Editors Xerxes A. Wilson, III, Brittany Mason, Barbara Thompson and Cassidy Havens and staff members Brianne Rogers, Ana Solo'rzano, Skye Lacy, Victoria Kaplan, Desiree Addison, Kimberly Howell and AnnDaree Morris.
All the students were honored with certificates and words of congratulations from high school principal Paul Wallace and middle school principal Patsy Horn and Board of Education President Ronnie Cooley. Members of the board also express their congratulations to the parents of the students for their hard work and guidance in the upbringing of the students honored.
Board of Education Has Tough Agenda at First-of-Month Meeting
Courtsey of WRBE, "Your Hometown Radio"
A zero tolerance on cell phones, drug testing, the high school semester exam exception policy, and moving forward with placing a School Resource Officer at both the high school and middle school next school year were among agenda items discussions at the first-of-the-month George County Board of Education meeting last week.
The board meeting began with an awards ceremony to recognized many high school and middle school students for academic achievements.
After approving a lengthy consent agenda and hearing from Middle School Student Trey Perkins about the petitions he has collected against school uniforms; the board also heard a new proposal to consider for the George Regional Hospital Expansion and voted to extend a six-week summer program stay for the Boys and Girls Club at Lucedale Intermediate School if a school official can be obtained for lock-up and daily inspection with funds provided by the Boys and Girls Club.
Superintendent Donnie Howell presented the board with a pay scale and list of other expensive needed to move forward with the School Resource Officers project. The board members questioned the pay scale and asked how the salaries were set.
Howell explained that the officers must meet certain qualifications before they could even be considered for the position, based on national and state guidelines, one of which included the officers had to be an academy trained, certified police officers with more than three years post-academy service in the field.
Security Officer Ben Brown told the board that the pay scale was derived after obtaining a pay scale for Lucedale Police Officers with more than three years experience plus taking in consideration the job description of the resource officer, and other requirements.
All the board members expressed they wanted to move forward with the project but were uncomfortable with voting on a pay scale without more information and without knowing if they school districted would have support and financial assistance from the county board of Supervisors or the Lucedale Board of Aldermen.
Assistance from both boards had been requested at their previous board meetings, but neither of the boards have voted on the request as this time. Howell told the school board that a commitment from either board had not been received, but the school board must vote to move forward at this meeting in order for the applicants to be obtained, interviews completed and the officers to be hired and required training completed before the beginning of the next school year. Brown said the required training for the resource officers was scheduled in July but the officers had to be hired and paper sent for the training in advance.
One member asked what the county deputies were paid and Brown told the officers he had not been able to collected that information from Sheriff Garry Welford by the time the pay scale for the resource officers had to be completed. It was suggested that the city police officers pay scale was more than what the deputies made. Brown assured the board members that the pay scale presented was still below the state guidelines and recommendations set for that position.
Even though all the board members expressed wanting to move forward with the project, the project passed with a 3-2 vote due to the uncertainties of the expensive and not knowing if assistance would be received by the Supervisors or from the Board of Aldermen.
Another hot topic of the evening included changes in the high school handbooks. The school board voted unanimously to approved the changes for the middle school students, but a discussion ensued on setting changes on the high school random drug testing policy and semester exam exemption policy.
Stricter changes were made to the drug testing policy, including upping the percentage of extra curricular students chosen for random testing from 5% to 10% per test, and stricter changes were made to the punishment for students testing positive. It was voted to set the first offense punishment for suspension of activities for 5 school days and for the student to enroll in counseling with the counseling being completed in the recommended time; second offense punishment would include 25 school days suspension from activities, and third offense would include suspension of all extra curricular activities for one calendar year.
Set guildlines and changes to the semester exam exemption policy at the high school could not be agreed upon and was continued until next meeting.
The school board did vote unanimously to invoke a “Zero Tolerance” cell phone policy!For the 2007-08 school year student will NOT be allowed to have cell phone on school property. “You bring them you loose them” was Howell recommendation. Participants in sports, band, cheerleaders and student who participate in other extra curricular activities will NOT be allowed to have cell phones during the activities or on the buses, in the locker rooms or on any school property. The new policy will be strictly enforced and cell phones will be taken away from the students on the FIRST offense. Teachers, principals and other faculty and staff will not be allow to USE their cell phones during school hours. Howell said this policy will also be strictly enforced. “If they need to use a phone during school hours, they will have to use the school phone during their off period,” Howell said.
Other approvals of the evening included giving Lucedale Elementary PTO permission to install safety fencing around the playground and divide the play area into two sections, one for grades K-1 and the other for grades 2-3. The school district agreed to pay for the installation of the fencing and the PTO will pay for all materials.
The PTO was also given permission to purchase some new playground equipment to be added to the existing equipment already there.
Title I monies was shifted from the middle school to the elementary schools, and a $40,000 air conditioning project was approved for Lucedale Intermediate School Gymnasium. The project will include the purchase and installation of Mitsubishi air conditioning units, and also to install siding to cover the upper windows of the gym.
A summer feeding program was approved and the school district agreed to paid the difference in the elementary school nurses salaries in order to keep them at each of the schools.
The meeting was concluded with an Executive Session and a workshop was set for May 15th at 6:30 to work on the budget.
A zero tolerance on cell phones, drug testing, the high school semester exam exception policy, and moving forward with placing a School Resource Officer at both the high school and middle school next school year were among agenda items discussions at the first-of-the-month George County Board of Education meeting last week.
The board meeting began with an awards ceremony to recognized many high school and middle school students for academic achievements.
After approving a lengthy consent agenda and hearing from Middle School Student Trey Perkins about the petitions he has collected against school uniforms; the board also heard a new proposal to consider for the George Regional Hospital Expansion and voted to extend a six-week summer program stay for the Boys and Girls Club at Lucedale Intermediate School if a school official can be obtained for lock-up and daily inspection with funds provided by the Boys and Girls Club.
Superintendent Donnie Howell presented the board with a pay scale and list of other expensive needed to move forward with the School Resource Officers project. The board members questioned the pay scale and asked how the salaries were set.
Howell explained that the officers must meet certain qualifications before they could even be considered for the position, based on national and state guidelines, one of which included the officers had to be an academy trained, certified police officers with more than three years post-academy service in the field.
Security Officer Ben Brown told the board that the pay scale was derived after obtaining a pay scale for Lucedale Police Officers with more than three years experience plus taking in consideration the job description of the resource officer, and other requirements.
All the board members expressed they wanted to move forward with the project but were uncomfortable with voting on a pay scale without more information and without knowing if they school districted would have support and financial assistance from the county board of Supervisors or the Lucedale Board of Aldermen.
Assistance from both boards had been requested at their previous board meetings, but neither of the boards have voted on the request as this time. Howell told the school board that a commitment from either board had not been received, but the school board must vote to move forward at this meeting in order for the applicants to be obtained, interviews completed and the officers to be hired and required training completed before the beginning of the next school year. Brown said the required training for the resource officers was scheduled in July but the officers had to be hired and paper sent for the training in advance.
One member asked what the county deputies were paid and Brown told the officers he had not been able to collected that information from Sheriff Garry Welford by the time the pay scale for the resource officers had to be completed. It was suggested that the city police officers pay scale was more than what the deputies made. Brown assured the board members that the pay scale presented was still below the state guidelines and recommendations set for that position.
Even though all the board members expressed wanting to move forward with the project, the project passed with a 3-2 vote due to the uncertainties of the expensive and not knowing if assistance would be received by the Supervisors or from the Board of Aldermen.
Another hot topic of the evening included changes in the high school handbooks. The school board voted unanimously to approved the changes for the middle school students, but a discussion ensued on setting changes on the high school random drug testing policy and semester exam exemption policy.
Stricter changes were made to the drug testing policy, including upping the percentage of extra curricular students chosen for random testing from 5% to 10% per test, and stricter changes were made to the punishment for students testing positive. It was voted to set the first offense punishment for suspension of activities for 5 school days and for the student to enroll in counseling with the counseling being completed in the recommended time; second offense punishment would include 25 school days suspension from activities, and third offense would include suspension of all extra curricular activities for one calendar year.
Set guildlines and changes to the semester exam exemption policy at the high school could not be agreed upon and was continued until next meeting.
The school board did vote unanimously to invoke a “Zero Tolerance” cell phone policy!For the 2007-08 school year student will NOT be allowed to have cell phone on school property. “You bring them you loose them” was Howell recommendation. Participants in sports, band, cheerleaders and student who participate in other extra curricular activities will NOT be allowed to have cell phones during the activities or on the buses, in the locker rooms or on any school property. The new policy will be strictly enforced and cell phones will be taken away from the students on the FIRST offense. Teachers, principals and other faculty and staff will not be allow to USE their cell phones during school hours. Howell said this policy will also be strictly enforced. “If they need to use a phone during school hours, they will have to use the school phone during their off period,” Howell said.
Other approvals of the evening included giving Lucedale Elementary PTO permission to install safety fencing around the playground and divide the play area into two sections, one for grades K-1 and the other for grades 2-3. The school district agreed to pay for the installation of the fencing and the PTO will pay for all materials.
The PTO was also given permission to purchase some new playground equipment to be added to the existing equipment already there.
Title I monies was shifted from the middle school to the elementary schools, and a $40,000 air conditioning project was approved for Lucedale Intermediate School Gymnasium. The project will include the purchase and installation of Mitsubishi air conditioning units, and also to install siding to cover the upper windows of the gym.
A summer feeding program was approved and the school district agreed to paid the difference in the elementary school nurses salaries in order to keep them at each of the schools.
The meeting was concluded with an Executive Session and a workshop was set for May 15th at 6:30 to work on the budget.
Middle School Students Speaks Against Uniforms
Middle School Student Trey Perkins seem to have earned the respect of the George County Board of Education last week with a presentation against school uniforms.
A very nervous Trey made his argument with several points; he began with stating that uniforms were an extra expense on low income families.
Trey told that counting his siblings and step-siblings there were six children living in his home with only his dad working. “It is hard for some families to provide school uniform and other clothes, too,” Trey said, “George County is not the richest county in Mississippi,” he continued with pointing out that many students eat free or reduced lunches.
Trey told the board that the citizens of the county voted against the uniform policy, when they were able to vote on it several year ago and he had more than 500 names on petitions against the policy.
He pointed out that sometimes purchasing the uniforms were an issue due to local stores, not keeping them is stock year round.
Speaking from experience, Trey said that the approved light-weight jackets and sweaters that can be purchased as part of the uniforms, nor were the uniforms themselves thick enough to keep the students warm in the cold season. “For those of us who have to ride a bus, we freeze waiting on it on those morning, especially on really, really cold days.” Trey pointed out.
Before completing his presentation, Trey and his step-sister both told the board they personally did not like the uniforms and neither did most of the students because “it takes away our self-expression.”
School Board President Ronnie Cooley told the students that the board would discuss the issues Trey brought up in an upcoming work session and both Cooley and board member Larry McDonald told the youngsters that their input on the matter was much appreciated.
A very nervous Trey made his argument with several points; he began with stating that uniforms were an extra expense on low income families.
Trey told that counting his siblings and step-siblings there were six children living in his home with only his dad working. “It is hard for some families to provide school uniform and other clothes, too,” Trey said, “George County is not the richest county in Mississippi,” he continued with pointing out that many students eat free or reduced lunches.
Trey told the board that the citizens of the county voted against the uniform policy, when they were able to vote on it several year ago and he had more than 500 names on petitions against the policy.
He pointed out that sometimes purchasing the uniforms were an issue due to local stores, not keeping them is stock year round.
Speaking from experience, Trey said that the approved light-weight jackets and sweaters that can be purchased as part of the uniforms, nor were the uniforms themselves thick enough to keep the students warm in the cold season. “For those of us who have to ride a bus, we freeze waiting on it on those morning, especially on really, really cold days.” Trey pointed out.
Before completing his presentation, Trey and his step-sister both told the board they personally did not like the uniforms and neither did most of the students because “it takes away our self-expression.”
School Board President Ronnie Cooley told the students that the board would discuss the issues Trey brought up in an upcoming work session and both Cooley and board member Larry McDonald told the youngsters that their input on the matter was much appreciated.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Lucedale Receives Check, Makes Fire Works Donation
Courtsey of WRBE, "Your Howtown Radio"
Britt Hubbard with the Mississippi Forestry Commission presented Mayor Dayton Whites and the Lucedale Board of Aldermen a check for $29,900 to begin their first-of-the-month meeting on Tuesday night.
The city officials received the check as a grant from the forestry commission's Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund for the removal of dead and diseased trees and for the replacement of the removed trees. At the April board meeting the funds were approved for the tree removal project and 150 trees will be planted as replacements in Lucedale City Park. Britt Hubbard told the board that Mississippi lost approximately 2.7 million trees during the recent hurricanes and grants were made available to help rebuild the urban forest.
A donation of $2,000 was approved for payment to the Local Law Enforcement Organization to go toward the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show, which brings large crowds from all over south Mississippi, the coast and south Alabama, as well as locals into Lucedale each year for the annual celebration.
The Aldermen also approved a $12,005.90 quote from Premier Foam Insulation for the installing of insulation at the Lucedale Police Department and Police Chief Darrell Brewer spoke highly of the new renovations and told the aldermen that a new filing system was in place.
The city officials also approved for the extra wood chips located at the Recycle Center to be placed in a fenced-in area for distribution to the public. The wood chips, which can be used as mulch, will be given to the public but individuals must load the wood chips themselves.
Mayor Whites reported a successful “Wild Wing” festival and also said that a group from the Mississippi Housing Authority had recently visited the city to view the public restrooms site and City Park pavilion. Mayor said the group did not state if Lucedale was approved for the grant but said he has hopes that a notification should be returned within a short time.
After a short executive session, the meeting was recessed until May 15
at 7 p.m.
Special Thanks to Royce Armstrong for providing the photo, read his complete story in this week's George County Times, May 10, 2007.
Britt Hubbard with the Mississippi Forestry Commission presented Mayor Dayton Whites and the Lucedale Board of Aldermen a check for $29,900 to begin their first-of-the-month meeting on Tuesday night.
The city officials received the check as a grant from the forestry commission's Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund for the removal of dead and diseased trees and for the replacement of the removed trees. At the April board meeting the funds were approved for the tree removal project and 150 trees will be planted as replacements in Lucedale City Park. Britt Hubbard told the board that Mississippi lost approximately 2.7 million trees during the recent hurricanes and grants were made available to help rebuild the urban forest.
A donation of $2,000 was approved for payment to the Local Law Enforcement Organization to go toward the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show, which brings large crowds from all over south Mississippi, the coast and south Alabama, as well as locals into Lucedale each year for the annual celebration.
The Aldermen also approved a $12,005.90 quote from Premier Foam Insulation for the installing of insulation at the Lucedale Police Department and Police Chief Darrell Brewer spoke highly of the new renovations and told the aldermen that a new filing system was in place.
The city officials also approved for the extra wood chips located at the Recycle Center to be placed in a fenced-in area for distribution to the public. The wood chips, which can be used as mulch, will be given to the public but individuals must load the wood chips themselves.
Mayor Whites reported a successful “Wild Wing” festival and also said that a group from the Mississippi Housing Authority had recently visited the city to view the public restrooms site and City Park pavilion. Mayor said the group did not state if Lucedale was approved for the grant but said he has hopes that a notification should be returned within a short time.
After a short executive session, the meeting was recessed until May 15
at 7 p.m.
Special Thanks to Royce Armstrong for providing the photo, read his complete story in this week's George County Times, May 10, 2007.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Andra Harris Wins National Merit Scholarship
Courtsey of George County Times
By Royce Armstrong
Andra Harris, a George County High School senior, will be attending Mississippi State University this fall with the help of a $10,000 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship program and Northrop Grumman.
“Knowing Andra, I was not surprised that she was one of the winners,” Misty Harris, Andra’s mother, said. “She has been a good student all of her life. She brought home a copy of her transcript the other night and she has not received a grade lower than an A on her report card since she was in the eighth grade.”
Harris is one of 1,000 high school seniors nationwide to be selected for scholarships funded by 300 companies, foundations and other business organizations, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website. Harris was selected from more than 1.4 million students representing 21,000 high schools.
“She is the epitome of a superior student,” Gayle Gunter, Andra’s high school counselor, said. “She is quiet and unassuming. She is well-liked by both her peers and her teachers. I was not one bit surprised that she won the National Merit Scholarship. I would have been surprised if she had not won it. It is not every year that we have a student that qualifies for this honor, and when we do we are very excited about it.”
Taking the PSAT test during her junior year, Andra scored high enough to be named a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, her mother said. MSU offers tuition-free education to National Merit semi-finalists. On-campus housing and meals are provided for National Merit Finalists.
“The Northrop Grumman scholarship money is on top of that,” Misty Harris said. “We told her that since she had taken care of all of that, we would go ahead and buy a car for her.”
Sponsoring companies offer stipends ranging from $500 to $10,000. Northrop Grumman Corporation is sponsoring two Mississippi students, Harris and one other; through its Pascagoula ship building facility.
Andra plans to major in meteorology, according to her mother. “The meteorology department at MSU is ranked second only to M.I.T. I think she is the type of person who would like to be a storm chaser and researcher.”
Harris and her husband, Ben, who are both alumni of MSU, said the scholarship money will take a great deal of financial pressure off of them.
“Andra is the oldest of our three daughters,” Misty Harris said. “This really frees us up to concentrate on saving to pay the college expenses for the other two. Also, this sets an example for sisters.”
By Royce Armstrong
Andra Harris, a George County High School senior, will be attending Mississippi State University this fall with the help of a $10,000 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship program and Northrop Grumman.
“Knowing Andra, I was not surprised that she was one of the winners,” Misty Harris, Andra’s mother, said. “She has been a good student all of her life. She brought home a copy of her transcript the other night and she has not received a grade lower than an A on her report card since she was in the eighth grade.”
Harris is one of 1,000 high school seniors nationwide to be selected for scholarships funded by 300 companies, foundations and other business organizations, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website. Harris was selected from more than 1.4 million students representing 21,000 high schools.
“She is the epitome of a superior student,” Gayle Gunter, Andra’s high school counselor, said. “She is quiet and unassuming. She is well-liked by both her peers and her teachers. I was not one bit surprised that she won the National Merit Scholarship. I would have been surprised if she had not won it. It is not every year that we have a student that qualifies for this honor, and when we do we are very excited about it.”
Taking the PSAT test during her junior year, Andra scored high enough to be named a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, her mother said. MSU offers tuition-free education to National Merit semi-finalists. On-campus housing and meals are provided for National Merit Finalists.
“The Northrop Grumman scholarship money is on top of that,” Misty Harris said. “We told her that since she had taken care of all of that, we would go ahead and buy a car for her.”
Sponsoring companies offer stipends ranging from $500 to $10,000. Northrop Grumman Corporation is sponsoring two Mississippi students, Harris and one other; through its Pascagoula ship building facility.
Andra plans to major in meteorology, according to her mother. “The meteorology department at MSU is ranked second only to M.I.T. I think she is the type of person who would like to be a storm chaser and researcher.”
Harris and her husband, Ben, who are both alumni of MSU, said the scholarship money will take a great deal of financial pressure off of them.
“Andra is the oldest of our three daughters,” Misty Harris said. “This really frees us up to concentrate on saving to pay the college expenses for the other two. Also, this sets an example for sisters.”
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Local Student Among Bumpers Scholarships Awards
Courtsey of Clarion Ledger/April 29, 2007
A number of Mississippi teens are winners in the annual Bumpers Discover Mississippi Scholarship Contest.
Winners were announced April 21 at the Bumpers location in Ridgeland. More than $36,000 in college scholarships were awarded to high school juniors and seniors as part of the Bumpers Scholarship Program.
Winners include Joseph Marquez of Madison, St. Joseph Catholic School, $10,000; Hannah Phillips of Byram, Terry High, $5,000; Jessica Holland of Lucedale, George County High, $2,500; Ashley Cotton of Macon, Central Academy, $1,000; Hannah Jordan of Wesson, Wesson High, $2,000; and Ambreana Thompson of Gulfport, Harrison Central High, $2,000.
Others are Justin Nichols of Mantachie, Mantachie High, $2,000; Rachel Saunders of Canton, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, $2,000; Christopher Dye of Tupelo, Tupelo High, $2,000; Brandon Greer of Crystal Springs, Copiah Academy, $1,000; Ashli J. Walker of Brookhaven, Brookhaven High, $1,000; and Jeremy Prewett of New Albany, New Albany High, $1,000.
Other winners include Laura Brodbeck of Clinton, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, $1,000; David Borzik of Yazoo City, Manchester Academy, $1,000; Patrick Davs of Benton, Manchester Academy, $1,000; Justin Nichols of Mantachie, Mantachie High, $1,000; Jensi Parker of Brandon, Brandon High, $1,000; Courtney Brown of Yazoo City, Manchester Academy, $1,000; Justin Pruden of Louise, Manchester Academy, $1,000; and Kinesias Ford of Brookhaven, Brookhaven High, $2,500.
A number of Mississippi teens are winners in the annual Bumpers Discover Mississippi Scholarship Contest.
Winners were announced April 21 at the Bumpers location in Ridgeland. More than $36,000 in college scholarships were awarded to high school juniors and seniors as part of the Bumpers Scholarship Program.
Winners include Joseph Marquez of Madison, St. Joseph Catholic School, $10,000; Hannah Phillips of Byram, Terry High, $5,000; Jessica Holland of Lucedale, George County High, $2,500; Ashley Cotton of Macon, Central Academy, $1,000; Hannah Jordan of Wesson, Wesson High, $2,000; and Ambreana Thompson of Gulfport, Harrison Central High, $2,000.
Others are Justin Nichols of Mantachie, Mantachie High, $2,000; Rachel Saunders of Canton, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, $2,000; Christopher Dye of Tupelo, Tupelo High, $2,000; Brandon Greer of Crystal Springs, Copiah Academy, $1,000; Ashli J. Walker of Brookhaven, Brookhaven High, $1,000; and Jeremy Prewett of New Albany, New Albany High, $1,000.
Other winners include Laura Brodbeck of Clinton, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, $1,000; David Borzik of Yazoo City, Manchester Academy, $1,000; Patrick Davs of Benton, Manchester Academy, $1,000; Justin Nichols of Mantachie, Mantachie High, $1,000; Jensi Parker of Brandon, Brandon High, $1,000; Courtney Brown of Yazoo City, Manchester Academy, $1,000; Justin Pruden of Louise, Manchester Academy, $1,000; and Kinesias Ford of Brookhaven, Brookhaven High, $2,500.
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