Newsmakers

Honor graduate

Mary Tyler Minus has graduated summa cum laude from the College of Charleston (S.C.) and was named the most accomplished French major.

The college's School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs also honored Ms. Minus' former French teacher at South Aiken High School, Lily Baumil, with the K-12 teacher recognition award.

College recognition

The following area students have been recognized at their schools:

- Furman University, Greenville, S.C. -- Keegan A. Dyer, Breighanna L. Faugl, Alexander H. Henderson, Kimberly M. Hoover, Sally A. McKinsey, Jennifer G. McNamee and Sinziana Ungureanu , Aiken; and Kathryn E. Conyers , North Augusta, dean's list.

Also, Keegan A. Dyer and Sinziana Ungureanu , Aiken, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society induction.

- Columbia College degrees -- Katherine Marzie Abney, Kristen Toole Buice, Emile Tucker Crenshaw, Deborah Curton Freeman, Amanda Nicole Garvin, Kimberly Michelle Kendrick, Angela Weaver Moore, Sarah Elizabeth Northington, Gail Jean Brounce Sintich, Pamela Gaither Sweeney, Gail Elizabeth Wilkinson and CaraLynn Patrice Williams , Aiken; and Elizabeth Stewart Jennings, Mary Catherine Shankle-McCartha and Bobby Summers Noe , North Augusta, master's of education in divergent learning.

Also, Kristin Marie Bowman , Aiken, bachelor of arts in contractual studies, honors program, magna cum laude; and Sandra Rebecca Hall , Johnston, S.C., bachelor of arts in elementary education, and Christine Michelle Shirley , Johnston, bachelor of arts in English, honors program.

Teacher gets award

Laura Bacon , a teacher at Kennedy Middle School, has been selected as the winner of the 2007-08 Sertoma International Serteen Advisor of the Year Award.

Band gets top rating

Merriwether Middle School Honors Band participated in the South Carolina Band Directors Association's Concert Festival recently at Lugoff-Elgin High School and received an overall Superior Rating.. Band members are Heather Meyer, Shelby Simmons, Jennifer Rutland, Maci Wheeler, Jackie Polz, Haley Swires, Keondra Griffin and Emily Cartrett , flute; Haley Willis , oboe; and A'Dreanna Truesdell, Brandie Lowery, Sicilee Macklin, Jack Bernard, Shelby Collier, Brianna Carpenter, Maggie Blocker, Kyra Mathis and Summer Payne , clarinet.

Also, Kimberly Barnes , bass clarinet; Miller Thompson, Micaela Bell, Matthew Calliham, Seth Lathan, Brice Morgan and Sara Loper , alto saxophone; Eathan Cameron , tenor saxophone; and Sean Hudson , baritone saxophone.

Also, Will Hoffmann, Rachel Litke, Ginny Simmons, Jeremy Weeks, Lawrence Broom, Chris Baldwin, Miranda Coughenour and Chad Burrows , trumpet; Nic Hoffmann, Brent Williams and Stephan Bowe , trombone; Aleesa White and Ben Rohr , baritone; Justice Dennis , tuba; and Haley Bryant, Kayla Cook, Tyler Dixon, Carlton Wren and Akeiah Young , percussion.

ROTC units honored

Aiken High School, Silver Bluff High School and Midland Valley High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units were selected as Distinguished Units this school year by Cmdr. Griffith Jones, manager of NJROTC Area Six, based in Charleston, S.C.

Showing leadership

The following people have graduated from Junior Leadership Aiken:

Robbie Horton, Danielle Smith, Mary Kate Hardy, Stephanie Ling, Dylan Gunnels, Qwaneshia Matthews, Andrew Lee, Victoria Jacks, Gray Johnson, Derek Berry, Brianna Hancock, Gabrielle Holloway, Thomas Rapp, Nicole Harvin, Deanna Jolley, Jonnie Williams, Collin Ray, Nicholas DeLoache, Thomas Platt, Kota Aranda and Shannon Strong .

Gets promotion

Michael B. Brown , a 2001 graduate of Aiken High School, has been promoted to the rank of senior airman in the Air Force. He is a fuels laboratory technician assigned to the 437th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.

Plenty of pull

The Wagener-Salley High School Tractor Operators Team took first place in South Carolina FFA Association State Finals in Columbia.