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About Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2023)
PAGE 8B THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2023 o o School It was the largest regional graduation held so far for Foothills Education Charter High School with 71 stu dents receiving a diploma to a standing-room crowd of more than 550. Two Jackson Foothills graduates, Merissa Men doza and Wren London, received scholarships at the ceremony from site directors Rachel Parr and Mary Ann Hale and graduation coach Christy DeLay. The Regional Graduation was hosted by Walton Foot hills on Dec. 15 and held at 1025 Church in Monroe. Students from any of the sites can participate in re gional graduations, which are held in August and De cember. Graduation ceremo nies are held at each site in late May and early June. Highlights at the Decem ber regional graduation included remarks from a Foothills graduate who re ceived his diploma while in jail who has now gone on to get a college degree and be gin his career, as well as the “open mic” portion of the ceremony where students thanked their families and Foothills staff who helped them on their journey. GUEST SPEAKER Dawn Meyers introduced guest speaker, Jordan De- Salvo, and said he “is the perfect example of a student who learned how those life skills (he learned through the Foothills program) will make you successful in life.” “I am a Foothills graduate who also wore a blue cap and gown,” DeSalvo said. “The only difference is that I completed my high school diploma while incarcerated at a state prison at Burruss Correctional Center.” DeSalvo said he made a “big mistake that changed my life in a big way” and Foothills gave him a “sec ond chance.” “Foothills was a get-away for me but it also taught me so much,” he said. “I came home motivated to contin ue my education and I en rolled in college. I am now a college graduate with two associate degrees and work- Merissa Mendoza is shown with her mentor, Emily Wangenheim, at the recent regional grad uation. ing in my major. I am now a service tech for a global company.” He credits his accomplish ments to Foothills. “I am now able to do things I always wanted to and it all started with Foot hills.” he said. He told the graduates, “Be proud of your Foothills di ploma. It can open so many doors for you.” OPEN MIC Foothills regional grad uation ceremonies always include an “open mic” time where graduates can come to the stage and speak on their Foothills experience. Bill Ruma, Walton Foot hills site director, invited the students to do this and 20 students came forward. Stu dents thanked counselors, mentors, teachers and all of the Foothills staff members who encouraged them. SUPERINTENDENT SPEAKS Superintendent Dr. Sher rie Gibney-Sherman spoke and offered congratulations to the students. “Thank you all for giving us a reason to celebrate.” she told the students. “You are the reason we are here. You have earned this. The feeling you have tonight, don't ever let that leave your memo ry. You worked hard to be here.” Dr. Gibney-Sherman also spoke on legislative efforts that will keep Foothills in operation across the state. Photos by Angela Gary Two Jackson Foothills graduates, Merissa Men doza and Wren London, received scholarships at the ceremony from site directors Rachael Parr and Mary Ann Hale and graduation coach Christy De- Lay. Jackson Foothills graduate is recognized by grad uation coach Christy DeLay (left) and site director Mary Ann Hale at the recent regional graduation. She introduced Rep. Spen cer Frye, who attended the graduation ceremony. “Rep. Spencer Frye will be working with other legis lators in January to address a law to ensure that Foothills stays open forever and ever so that students like you will have this opportunity,” she said. “Let your legislators know that Foothills was im portant for you.” She also said, “We need to remain an institute that is independent. We also need to continue to have a state wide attendance zone. We want to work a way that our funding is sustainable and our legislators can budget it every year and plan for that. Please help us help other students across the state to have this opportunity. Con tact your legislators and let them know Foothills needs to stay.” Foothills opened in 2015 and there are currently 3,020 Jackson Foothills graduates recognized at regional graduation By Angela Gary angela@mainstreetnews. com Local News - In whatever format you prefer Yes! Sign me up for one year of: The Jackson Herald Please mail to: Subscriptions The Jackson Herald P.O. Box 908 Jefferson, GA 30549 LOCAL NEWS ' □/ YEAR - 52 issues* (55 and older is just $40/year) Taxes and USPS delivery is included in prices. Offer is good for new & existing customers. Please allow two weeks for processing. Or mail in this coupon Name_ Phone Delivery Address_ City State -ZiP- Check Enclosed $_ _ Email (for access to web site)_ Or charge to: _ Visa □ MasterCard CAMXCard# Billing Address (if different from delivery address) City State_ _Amt Charged_ Zip Exp. Date_ Signature_ students enrolled. Students come from 70 counties throughout the state. There are 21 total sites: 15 at cam puses owned by school dis trict partners, three at state prisons, two at Youth Chal lenge Program facilities and one 100 percent virtual site. JCSS students to compete at state tech event The Jackson County School System had 22 students qualify for the Georgia Student Technology Competi tion. following the regional competition held in Winder on Jan. 21. The state competition will be held March 11 at Ken- nesaw State University’s Marietta campus. Students first competed at the school system level before advancing to the regional competition. Stu dents competed across various categories, including 3D Modeling, Animation, Audio Production, Digital Game Design. Graphic Design, Internet Applications. Multimedia Applications, Productivity Design, Project Programming, Robotics and Video Production, among others. The following JCSS students finished in first place in their respective categories: Keylee Reed (3D Modeling, 5th/6th grade); Emma Ervine (Animation, 7th/8th grade); Eva Fincher (Audio Production, 3rd/4th grade); DeEric Burns (Digital Game Design, 9th/10th grade); Maelynn Marcotte (Graphic Design, 3rd/4th grade); Sophia Dozer (Graphic Design, 7th/8th grade); Baileigh Cox (Graphic Design, 9th/10th grade); Violet Brooks & Elbe Rankin (Internet Applications, 3rd/4th grade); Benjamin Max McEver (Internet Applications, 5th/6th grade); Jacob Mack (Multimedia Applications, 3rd/4th grade); Silas Black (Multimedia Applications, 5th/6th grade); Jaden Bowles (Multimedia Applications, 11 th/12th grade); Daniel D’Arienzo (Productivity Design, 3rd/4th grade); Miriam Rangel (Productivity Design, 11th/12th grade); Diego Uribe (Project Programming. llth/12th grade); Dylan Gierum (Robotics. 5th/6th grade); Dennis Cooper & Tyler Johnson (Robotics, 11 th/12th grade); Charleigh Kayumova (Video Production, 3rd/4th grade); Rylie McFarland (Video Production, 7th/8th grade); Grecia Avellaneda-Castro (Video Production, 9th/10th grade). 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