Best in class: Good students in trying conditions win scholarships
• Eleven students from greater Atlanta are among 619 across the nation who will receive the 2015 Horatio Alger State Scholarship for students, who face of adversity and exhibit commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities. Collectively, the 2015 recipients have an average GPA of 3.7, a mean SAT score of 1195, and an annual household with income of $19,766. The Atlanta area honorees are: Angel S. Amos, College Park (North Clayton Comprehensive High School); LaRon L. Curtis, Fayetteville (Creekside High School); Jorden Favors, Conley (South Atlanta High School Health and Medical Sciences); Jada Hislop, Decatur (Southwest Dekalb High School); Charbornay Johnson, Snellville (Stephenson High School); Christiana O. Oshotse, East Point (Westlake High School); Alexis P. Phillips, Atlanta (Carver Early College); Meagan Richardson, Loganville (Archer High School); Darryl J. Terry II, Atlanta (Frederick Douglass High School); Ziana A. Townsend, Atlanta (Therrell School of Law, Government and Public Policy); and Xayla D. Wilson, Atlanta (Carver Early College).
• The winner of Creek View Elementary School's recent spelling bee was fifth-grader Alina Lee from Mrs. Alison Snow's class. Runner-up was Andres Santambrogio from Ms. Margaux Lysett's fourth grade. The contestants had to spell such words as maintenance, possession, acquire, and apparent. Alina will move on to the Fulton County Spelling Bee on Feb. 7.
• Peachtree Elementary School in Peachtree Corners will use a $4,000 grant from CH2M Hill to improve and expand its outdoor classroom. Planners envision a new courtyard area would contain a weather station and an area where students can study constructive and deconstructive processes of the Earth. Principal Kara Dutton said, "Our hope is that the lessons taught in the outdoor classroom spark an interest in science and other subjects and inspire students to think about their future. Imagine a future engineer or scientist sharing that their love of science and learning began at Peachtree Elementary."
• Twelve students from The Westminster Schools have been selected for the Georgia Music Educators Association's 2015 All-State Band and Orchestra honor ensembles. They will participate in the All-State Band and Orchestra workshop Feb. 26-28 in Athens. Chosen for the 2015 All-State Band are: junior Laura Street (flute), senior Diana Ge (clarinet), junior Faith Cho (clarinet), freshman Adam Liang (clarinet) and sophomore Cyrus Faruque (tenor saxophone). Freshman Hope Cho (clarinet) was also recognized as principal alternate. Selected for the 2015 All-State Orchestra were: sophomore Florida Huff (violin), freshman Phoebe Liu (violin), sophomore Christine Liu (violin), freshman Ashley Ahn (viola), sophomore Andres Malave (viola), junior Ariana Mao (viola) and junior Rebecca Shin (viola).
• Grayson High School's DECA Team won the third-place trophy in the recent regional competition among nine schools. Medal winners were: Aaron Mitchom, first place, business finance; Agnes Hina, second place, food marketing; and D.J. Seay, third place, sports and entertainment marketing. They will advance to DECA State Competition in Atlanta next month.
