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PAGE 12B
THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
JHS among ‘Best High
Schools’ in national ranking
Jefferson High School has been named a 2023-2024
Best High School in the U.S. News & World Report
rankings.
Jefferson High School also achieved a ranking of 35
within the State of Georgia. This places them firmly
within the top 10% of all high schools in Georgia. The
school also ranks in the top 10% of all ranked U.S. high
schools.
“We are honored to receive such esteemed recogni
tion for our efforts in delivering exceptional education
to our students,” said Jefferson schools superintendent
Donna McMullan. “This achievement would not have
been possible without our talented educators who go
above and beyond every day. Our school system re
mains committed to maintaining its reputation for ex
cellence while continuing to provide an enriching edu
cational experience for its students.”
Olivia Duitsman
East Jackson Elementary
School establishes
first Junior Beta Club
in Jackson County
East Jackson Elementary
School recently inducted
the first-ever Junior Beta
Club members.
EJES students Levi
Mckenney, David Cisne
ros, Vanessa Booker, and
Gracie Hunter, introduced
the Beta Club pillars to the
new members dining the
induction ceremony. David Cisneros
Gracie Hunter Levi Mckenney
Vanessa Booker Riley Parker
Braylon Gary
o
Rotary Club of Jefferson honors students of the month
The Rotary Club of Jeffer
son has named its September
Students of the Month. This
month’s honorees include:
JP AGUILAR
JCHS
JP Aguilar is the honoree
for Jackson County High
School. He chose Alex
Nichols as his most influen
tial teacher.
Aguilar’s activities in
clude: National Senior Beta
Club, president, llth-pres-
ent; National Honor Soci
ety member, lOth-present;
French Honor Society, pres
ident, 11th; Student Coun
cil Class Representative;
and Environmental Club
member, llth-present. He
also plays saxophone and
is a backup pianist in his
church’s worship band. He
tutors in a variety of sub
jects, focusing on math.
Additionally, he’s a Fu
ture Christian Athletes
member; HOSA, Future
Health Professionals mem
ber; translates for members
in his family/community; is
working on publishing a pa
per over three-player rhom-
bination in combinatorial
game theory in conjunction
with Professor Bill Shilito.
He shadows Emergen
cy Medical Services on
weekends, 11th to present,
120+ hours; is a former
Papa John’s ,anager/shift
lead, June, 2022, to April,
2023 (30 hour weeks); and
worked as a residential aid
at “Walden’s Cove Person
al Care Home,” April, 2023
(25 hour weeks) where he
takes care of residents in
cluding feeding, bathing,
administering medications
and transportation.
His sports include weight
lifting and bodybuilding and
plans to enter competition
next year.
Aguilar’s honors and
awards include: Georgia’s
Governor’s Honors Pro
gram Finalist, 11th; Georgia
Certificate of Merit; Rotary
Student of the Month; IB
Diploma Candidate; six IB
Classes; AP Scholar Dis
tinction twice; 6 AP Classes;
CollegeBoard National His
panic Recognition; College-
Board National Rural and
Small Town Recognition;
All A’s honor roll 9th-12th;
and multiple awards from
various classes as an excel
ling student.
He is planning to attend
Emory University for un
dergraduate, then hopefully
Harvard Medical School.
“I have dreamed about
becoming a doctor and then
specializing in cardiotho-
racic surgery,” Aguilar said.
“While I still want to pursue
those dreams, I have also
expanded. After spending
a lot of time with Jackson
County’s EMS, I’m very in
terested in emergency med
icine, possibly pursuing a
position as medical director
of an EMS system. This way
there is a great possibility
to help people as much as
possible before they reach
the hospital, increasing the
rate of successful transpor
tations.”
SARAH KATE GIDDENS
EJCHS
Sarah Kate Giddens is
the honoree for East Jack-
son Comprehensive High
School. Giddens chose Tia
Turco as her most influential
teacher.
Giddens’ activities in
clude: President of EJCHS
BETA Club; Student Coun
cil member; and Jackson
Student Leadership Team.
Her sports include: Cap
tain of the varsity sideline
cheer team; varsity flag
football team; and varsity
girls tennis team.
Giddens has received the
following honors/awards:
Governor’s Honors Pro
gram finalist in communi
cative arts; A Honor Roll (3
years); University of Geor
gia Certificate of Merit; Tri
ple Threat Athlete (2 years);
and Eagle Spirit Award.
After graduating, Giddens
plans to attend the Univer
sity of Georgia to major in
public relations with a minor
in international affairs and
study abroad with Grady
College of Journalism and
Communication at Oxford.
“After college my plans
are to work in the public
relations field with either a
school system or with a pro
fessional sports team. I also
have an interest working in
politics,” Giddens said.
Giddens is the daughter of
Kendra and Kevin Giddens.
ANNA KATE POWELL
CHS
Anna Kate Powell is the
honoree for Commerce
High School. She chose
Tommy Palmer as her most
influential teacher.
Powell’s activities in
clude: FCCLA (compe
titions and officer); Beta
Club; Yearbook; and NCHS
(National Computer Honors
Society).
Her sports include: Var
sity Football Cheerleading
and Gameday Cheerleading.
Powell has received the
following honors/awards:
Highest Average in Horti
culture and Food Science;
Georgia Certificate of Mer
it; all A’s all four years of
high school; National Rural
& Small Town Recognition
Program by CollegeBoard;
2nd in state in Gameday two
years in a row; 3rd in state in
girls trio (literary club); first
in region in chapter service
project display in FCCLA;
3rd in state in chapter ser
vice project display for FC
CLA; President of FCCLA;
and President of NCHS.
After graduating, Powell
is planning to go to Georgia
Tech and major in biomedi
cal engineering.
“I plan to be involved in
the oncology department
once I get my doctorate,”
Powell said. “I would love
to work in cancer immuno
therapy and dedicate myself
to lessening the toll cancer
takes on the body.”
Powell is the daughter of
Joni and Phillip Powell.
CALEB RUDISILL
JHS
Caleb Rudisill is the hon
oree for Jefferson High
School.
Rudisill’s activities in
clude: FCA Leader; Mu
Alpha Theta; Robotics;
Beta Club officer; Summer
League swim coach; 4-H
(District Project Achieve
ment), Total Person Pro
gram; and Youth Group
member.
His sports include: Varsity
Soccer, team captain; Club
Soccer, team captain; and
Varsity Swim, team captain/
state finalist.
Rudisill has received the
following honors/awards:
Georgia Certificate of Mer
it Recipient; Chick-fil-A
Character Award; JHS 3D
Award; AP Scholar with
distinction; and was select
ed and completed summer
leadership experience at
West Point.
He wants to attend either
the United States Military
Academy at West Point or
the University of Georgia
and study engineering.
His future plans include
serving as an officer in the
U.S. Army.
Rudisill chose Ms. Rob
erts as his most influential
teacher.
“Throughout my high
school career I have had
some extraordinary teach
ers,” Rudisill said. “How
ever, one teacher I’ve had
has truly stood apart. Ms.
Roberts taught analytic ge
ometry my freshman year.
She was always so upbeat
each day and really sparked
my love for math. Since
then, she has remained an
active part of my life. She
always greets me in the
hallway with a smile and a
hug. She will check in on
me with my sports, activi
ties, and just life in gener
al. There is truly no other
teacher like Mrs. Roberts,
and I’m so thankful for the
impact she has had on my
life.”
Rudisill is the son of Reu
ben and Robin Rudisill.
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