Best in class: Six Fayette students head to national SkillsUSA meet

• Students from Fayette County and Sandy Creek high schools won gold awards, scholarships, and leadership nominations at the 2016 SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference. These six students advanced to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky. in late June: Matt Sherry, Fayette County High, automotive service technology; Parinia Patel, Fayette County High, PowerPoint; Kristofer Davis, Sandy Creek High, mobile electronics installation; Noah Jacobs, Sandy Creek High, customer service; Cameron King, Sandy Creek High, photography; and Amaya Wright, Sandy Creek High, pin design and presentation. Matt Sherry of Fayette County High was awarded over $13,500 in automotive scholarships, Helen Smith of Sandy Creek High was selected to run for SkillsUSA national office, and Cameron King of Sandy Creek High was elected as a SkillsUSA Georgia state officer for the 2016-2017 school year. The Sandy Creek High Chapter was also recognized as one of six 2016 SkillsUSA Gold Chapters of Distinction, and is being considered for the National Model Excellence designation.

• Ben Franklin Academy student Ella Nelson, a longtime Girl Scout, has had record-breaking cookie sales over the past ten years, with more than 1,500 boxes per year in each of the past five years. "Being a Girl Scout has taught me that I can make a difference and help out in the community," she says. Ella received the Silver Award when she began Friends for 4th Street Ferals in 2012. This is a trap, neuter and rescue group for the feral cat colonies in her neighborhood. It has rescued and adopted out 75 feral kittens and released numerous adult cats back to their colonies. Ella is also involved with Girls on the Run, mentoring younger girls in their physical, social and intellectual development through running and social activities.

• Eight Gwinnett County students earned national medals in the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Sidney Oh of Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST); Liana Nowak, Sarah Parker, and Raleigh Wunderlich, all of Brookwood High School; and Lesley Chang, Kinley Fuqua, Ian Peng, and Austin Pham, all of North Gwinnett High School, previously earned Gold Keys in regional competition for Georgia and were selected from a pool of 300,000 submissions. At the national level, the 10 submissions by these eight students won three Gold Medals, a Silver Medal with Distinction (portfolio), and six additional Silver Medals. Altogether, 192 GCPS high school students were honored in the state Scholastic competition, earning 98 Gold Keys and 136 Silver Keys.