Melinda Springman of Elkins Pointe Middle School in Fulton County has been named the district's 2013-2014 principal of the year. She was chosen from among 100 principals and will represent the district over the next year in leadership situations at the local and state level.
At Elkins, Springman started a program that prepares at-risk students for high school graduation. Her school added two new courses last school year that focus on developing confidence and good decision-making skills in crisis situations.
Kendell Williams, a recent graduate of Kell High in Cobb County, was named the 2012-2013 Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Williams, who has committed to attend the University of Georgia, owns the U.S. Juniors record for heptathlon outdoors and the indoor record for the pentathlon. She was a standout at Kell in the long jump, high jump, 100 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles.
Caden Kluge and Ashton Woolen of Sequoyah Highin Cherokee County each won a $5,000 in the 13th annual Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest.
Kluge and Woolen, who attended the prom together, wore matching red, silver and black outfits made of duct tape. They and nine other couples won from among 295 contest entrants.
In addition to awarding student scholarships, Duck Tape gave Sequoyah High $5,000.
Georgia’s 21 members of the nation’s first all-teen advisory commission on teen driving are being rewarded for their insight with $500 scholarships funded by a grant from Ford’s Driving Skills For Life program.
The all-teen board appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal recommended major changes to teen driver education strategies and asked for harsher penalties for teens who break laws banning motorists from texting and using smartphones while driving. The Commission also recommended a ban on handheld cell phone use for all Georgia drivers and presented their findings to a group of Georgia lawmakers, highway safety advocates and public safety leaders in March.
Commission members are:
Felicia Ashley, Macon; Eric Beeler, Johns Creek; Hope Boyd, Rome; Emily Brumlow, Calhoun; Baylee Culverhouse, Warner Robins; Alex Floyd, Atlanta; Cara Gloyd, Dallas; AmberNechole Hart, Columbus; Susannah Hooks, Swainsboro; Evan Katz, Atlanta; Cyrianne Keutcha, Stone Mountain; Kennan Luther, Atlanta; Tourner Moseley, Evans; Kyra Parks, Fayetteville; Morgan Polk, Snellville; Gracie Rowe, Franklin; Gordon Schley, Tybee Island; George Shepherd, Waynesboro; Nathan Sidey, Dillard; Griffin Sorohan, Rutledge; Hannah Walters, Watkinsville and Shanise Hood, Ellenwood.
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