Best in Class for Aug. 1

Teva Ilan, a recent graduate of Howard High School in Macon, attended the 2014 National Youth Science Camp. He was among 100 other high school graduates attending the four-week program, where they attended lectures by scientists and professors from across the U.S. This year, the topics ranged from cancer research, genomic medicine and radio astronomy to energy sustainability.

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Paul A. Barton, new head of school at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Sandy Springs, began work July 1. His previous roles include being a teacher, coach, residential dean, admissions associate and senior administrator.

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Two football players from Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta participated in The Opening, an invite-only football camp hosted by Nike at its headquarters in Oregon. Natrez Patrick and Dallas Warmack were two of 162 top high school football players in the nation selected to attend the camp. They participated in training, coaching and competition at the camp, which took place in early July.

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Connie Trent, health services facilitator for Forsyth County Schools, was named 2014 Georgia School Nurse Administrator of the year by the Georgia Association of School Nurses.

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Twenty-one Fulton County students were named National Merit Scholars in the final round of selection by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. College sponsored merit scholarships were awarded to 2014 graduates from Alpharetta High School, Chattahoochee High School, Centennial High School, Johns Creek High School, North Springs Charter High School, Northview High School and Roswell High School. In total, 43 students from Fulton County Schools were named merit scholars in the 2014 competition, and eight students were named National Achievement Scholars.

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A recent graduate of Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology was named a National Merit College-Sponsored Scholarship winner. Melissa Kuester is one of 1,600 students in the nation to receive the scholarship. She will attend Furman University in the fall.

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Eight Georgia high school and college students were honored this month at the 11th annual Hospitality Careers Academy Graduation Luncheon in Athens. The week-long program for students interested in the hospitality industry allowed them to gain experience in the areas of business, marketing, culinary arts, hotel management and event planning. They have the opportunity to listen to guest speakers, job shadow professionals, attend industry tours and take part in leadership activities. All of this is done while planning the luncheon at the end of the week.

Attendees: Mercer Boling, a sophomore at North Oconee High School in Watkinsville; Jordan Makin, a recent graduate of Dacula High School and a rising freshman at Georgia Gwinnett College; Jordan Groves, a senior at Westover Comprehensive High School in Albany; Kaitlyn Forehand, a senior at Westover Comprehensive High School in Albany; Zariyah Williamson, a senior at Arabia Mountain High School in Lithonia; Paxton McCullough, a senior at Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School in Athens; Taylor Griffith, a student at Athens Academy; Madeline Jenkins, a junior at Clarke Central High School in Athens.