Oxford Preparatory School Announces Awards Day Recipients

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-Information courtesy Victoria Bradsher, School Director, Oxford Preparatory School

During Awards Day on Friday, May 4, Oxford Preparatory School (OPS) announced their honor graduates, Spirit of The Griffin award, marshals, leadership and service awards and Directors’ awards. Students were also recognized for excellence in academics, fine arts and athletics. In addition to school awards, two students received honors and scholarship from local civic organizations.

At Oxford Prep students earn Latin distinctions. Summa cum laude cords of gold, purple and orange are presented to students who have a weighted GPA greater than 4.5. Mary Catherine Stallsmith will graduate with the summa cum laude distinction and will speak at graduation on May 26, 2018. Catherine will attend Elon in the fall.

Students who have a cumulative weighted GPA between 4.25 and 4.5 earn the magna cum laude distinction and will wear cords of purple and gold. This year that honor goes to Layla Alashmli, Maddie Stallsmith, Jackson Vaughan and Jacinthia Williams.

Ten students earned cum laude distinction by achieving a GPA between 4.0 and 4.24. They are Megan Ayscue, Andrew Crumpler, Whitt Daniel, Kaleb Evans, Chelsea Gatewood, Ca’rin Green, Jose Kyle Maghanoy, Emily Oswald, Bo Puckett and Nicoria Williams.

Each year the staff chooses a student graduation speaker who they feel best represents the Spirit of the Griffin. The Spirit of the Griffin is the person who has taken full advantage of the academic opportunities at OPS. It is the person who has grown and taken on active and verifiable leadership roles both within and outside of the school. The student chosen as the Spirit of the Griffin speaker demonstrates service to others as an individual, as a representative of OPS and in the larger community in which we live. To be selected as the Spirit of the Griffin speaker the student must have a commitment to attend a four-year university. The Spirit of the Griffin for 2018 is Chelsea Gatewood. At the awards ceremony, Chelsea also received the DAR service award and scholarship.

OPS Marshalls were formally presented with their sashes during the awards ceremony. At OPS marshals are those students chosen from the sophomore and junior class who have maintained a GPA greater than a 4.0. The chief marshal is selected from the junior representatives and is the student with the highest GPA. The Chief Marshal for 2017-2018 is Shawn Matthews from Oxford, NC.

The remaining marshals who will serve this year are Wes Aitken, Sala Algathi, Alex Bare, Ey’Mania Alston, Hannah Brewer, Erica Evitts, Claire Gordon, Robert Hopper, Kaylah Hunt, Emily Iannuzzi, Abbie Mann, Nathan Metcalf, Sophia Metcalf, Mira Patel and Ian Simmons.

Leadership awards are selected by the entire OPS staff and are presented to those students from any grade who demonstrate positive leadership that helps to guide others in achieving excellence in academics, sports, the arts or service. Leadership awards were presented to Mary Catherine Stallsmith, Caleb Hunt, Alex Bare, Cesar Ponciano-Quintana, Sophia Metcalf, Zenia Hart, Holly Currin, Samantha Huff and Tripp Brewer.

Zenia Hart, captain of the girls’ basketball team then presented her teammates with star awards for their continued demonstration of leadership in the school and representation of the highest levels of sportsmanship, perseverance, positivity, determination and team support. Team members are Cassidy Stokes, Kayla Whirley, Catherine Slack, Sarah Slack, Carla Rodriquez.  The team has an overall average GPA greater than 3.3 (unweighted) and has received the NCHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team Award.

The Outstanding Senior Athlete Award is given each year to a graduating senior who best exemplifies Scholarship, Athletic Skills, Athletic Involvement, Sportsmanship, Teamwork, and Cooperation. They must have maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average (weighted) through the first semester of their senior year, possess athletic skills of superior quality and a high level of success and skill at their sport(s), and have earned a minimum of four Varsity letters. Candidates are nominated by other senior student-athletes and a single male and female are selected by varsity head coaches and the athletic director. The Female Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete of 2018 is Maddie Stallsmith and the Male Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete is Whitt Daniel.

Service to the community is a key component of the OPS mission. Being honored for excellence in service were Avieri Sievert, Katie Redman, Jaci Crute, Luis Rodriguez, Elijah Griffin, Chelsea Gatewood, Cassidy Stokes, Rick O’Neal and Ey’mania Alston.

Avery Thomas received high honors in service for his ongoing commitment and contributions to the school, to family, and to the local community. Senior Whitt Daniel was presented with the Service Award and Scholarship from the Henderson Optimist Club.

The Directors’ award for 2018 was conferred on 18 students. To be eligible for the Directors’ award, students must have a clear discipline record and an academic record that reflects excellent performance. Students who receive the Directors’ award demonstrate the principles upon which Oxford Prep was founded. The very special young people receiving the Directors’ award this year are Trey Reese, Kim Campbell, Cassidy Griffin, Adam Corbett, Nick Corren, Alex Rote, Annette Carlos-Tejada, Jane Faulkner, Mona Mohamed, Ashlyn Roberson, Isaac Watkins, Matt Wilkinson, Taylor Firtick, Sydney Sinnema, Emma Hicks, Alexis Wilson, Reese Newton and Carson Reese.

Graduation for OPS Griffins will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 1:30 pm. The ceremony will be at McGregor Hall in Henderson. Entry to the commencement exercise is by ticket only.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet in Called Session Thurs., May 10

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-Information courtesy Dywanda Pettaway, Clerk to Board of Education, Granville County

The Granville County Board of Education will meet in a called session Thursday, May 10, 2018, at the Granville County Public Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina at 4:30 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting will be to review and approve bids for HVAC Improvements to Butner-Stem Elementary School and Creedmoor Elementary School and to hold a closed session to consider confidential personnel matters and consult with the Board’s attorney pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(1) and (a)(3), and 115C -321 on this afternoon.

Oxford Prep Competes in Men’s Golf Championship

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-Information courtesy Rick Kenner, Coach, Oxford Preparatory School

The Griffin Golf Team of Oxford Preparatory School (OPS) competed for the third time in as many years at the NCHSAA 1A Men’s Golf Championship at Foxfire Golf & Resort (Red) on May 7th and 8th. After the final day of competition, Oxford Prep finished #8 out of 12 teams with a two day total of 737, improving the day 1 score by 23 strokes.

Sophomore Wesley Aitken finished tied for 13th place adding a second round score of 82 to his Day 1 round of 83. Junior Jacob Bliss finished in a tie for 21st improving his day 1 score of 90 by 7 strokes for an 83 and a two day total of 173.

Rounding out the OPS team, Junior Adam Sizemore finished tied for 67 with a 2-day score of 201; Capers Pendergrass finished in 77th with a 2-day 216.

Senior Christian Furr, who broke his ankle just before the season began, returned to play six weeks later in the last few matches of the season and earned his way into the Regional and State competitions. Furr managed a 63rd place finish with a total score of 198 in his final high school golf match. Full field results may be viewed by clicking here.

NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie 05/09/18

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I Voted Sticker

2018 Democratic Primary Election Results

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Kerr Lake Country Club Set to “Crush Cancer”

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Donald Sanford, president of Kerr Lake Country Club (KLCC), was recently on air to discuss the club’s Relay for Life team, aptly named the Kerr Lake Cancer Crushers.

The “Crushers” will hold a prime rib dinner and reverse raffle at KLCC at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2018. The dinner will be catered by Gavin Jackson with Gavin’s Grub Hub. Tickets are $150 a piece and buy dinner for two with open bar and a chance to win several prizes, including a cash giveaway of $5,000.

“We are trying to have enough prizes donated by area merchants that we can give away a prize every tenth ticket,” Sanford said.

This event is open to the public and tickets may be purchased at KLCC or by calling (252) 492-1895.

“We hope you’ll join us for dinner under the stars and by the pool, weather permitting,” said Sanford.

This year’s Relay for Life event will be held, for the first time, in downtown Henderson on Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Specifically, the event will be held in the square between the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department.

The opening ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m. Cancer survivors will walk the first lap shortly after the opening ceremony concludes at approximately 11:30 a.m. with the caregiver’s recognition to follow.

In another departure from past years, the 2018 Relay for Life will not be an overnight event.

A new registration process will also be used for this year’s Relay event. Survivors, caregivers and walkers may register for Relay for Life online at www.RelayForLife.org/VanceNC or by calling 1-800-227-2345 and choosing option number two from the menu.

According to Sanford, Relay for Life Chairwoman Christy Bennett was instrumental in the push to move the event from its previous location at Southern Vance High School to the downtown area.

“It was her goal to make the event more accessible to residents and is also a good change of pace and has breathed new life into Relay,” Sanford explained.

The theme for this year’s Relay is the yellow brick road from “The Wizard of Oz.” Yellow bricks may be purchased in memory or honor of a loved one. June’s event will feature all of the bricks laid out to form a “yellow brick road” of those who have fought cancer.

Sanford stated that the goal for this year is to raise $100,000 for cancer research – $25,000 higher than last year’s goal.

“The funds that are being raised through Relay for Life will be used for research to try to cure this deadly disease,” said Sanford. “There are strides being made every day. Without the money Relay raises, such strides would not be possible.”

Other upcoming Relay fundraisers include:

  • Angels Among Us will host an auction on Saturday, May 19 at Eaton Johnson Middle School on Beckford Dr. Preview begins at 5 p.m.; auction begins at 6 p.m.
  • A plant sale will be held in the Tractor Supply parking lot, Dabney Dr., on Saturday, June 9 starting at 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit Relay for Life.
  • M.R. Williams, Raleigh Rd, will be hosting a quarter auction on Saturday, June 9 at the Church of the Holy Innocents on Chestnut St. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. with the quarter auction to follow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 to get in the door and everyone is asked to bring at least two rolls of quarters to participate in the auction. Tickets may be purchased by calling Charlene Sanford at (252) 438-1153.
  • North Henderson Baptist Church, Garnett St., will hold a pig-pickin’ on Saturday, June 16. Time is to be determined.
NC Coop Extension

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 05/08/18

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