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PAGE 12B PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. OCTOBER 5. 2023
PHS Court spotlights the best
and brightest
By Heather Fernandez
On the night of September 1st, 2023, PHS
celebrated one of its greatest traditions. PHS
Court is a court of 10 ladies and 10 gentlemen
from the senior class that represent what it
means to be a Dragon. They have integrity,
academic excellence, good sportsmanship,
and overall involvement with school and
their community. Out of these 10, the school
chooses a Mr. and a Miss PHS. They are rec
ognized to be the epitome of a high school
student and a representative of the school as
a whole for the 23-24 school year. This year,
our Mr. and Miss PHS are Isaiah Williams
and Tm Pack.
dent and plans to attend a four year university
to continue his career in football. He says, “I
am honored and humbled to be chosen as Mr.
PHS. It is a huge honor to represent my com
munity, my family, and most importantly my
school.”
Isaiah:
Photo by Cady Studios
Mr. Isaiah Williams is a four year member
of the varsity football team and a three year
member of the basketball team. He is in
volved with YoungLife and has committed to
leading WyldLife. Isaiah is an honor roll stu-
Photo by Cady Studios
Tru:
Miss Tru Pack represents the school in her
cheer efforts in the varsity sideline and com
petition cheer team. Tru is an honor roll stu
dent who is active in HOSA and FCA. She
received the REACH scholarship in 8th
grade. With that, her goal is to attend an SEC
school to continue her cheerleading career.
Tru feels honored to be able to represent
Pickens High School as Miss PHS. She says,
“Thank you to my peers for this amazing op
portunity and for the memories that will last
forever.”
Mr. Ryan Neill returns to
his alma mater
By Heather Fernandez
Mr. Ryan Neill is a first year teacher at
PHS. He graduated in 2012 from PHS and is
currently majoring in English education at
Reinhardt University.
Heather Fernandez:
What made you choose to be a teacher?
Ryan Neill:
So I chose to be a teacher because when I
was in the Army I learned that I had a very
big passion for teaching and training. It sort
of hooked me when I saw the light go off in
someone's head whenever they just got it and
it kind of made them passionate and that was
something I found to be fulfilling.
HF- Where did you go to college?
RN- So, I’m unique. I actually am still at
tending Reinhardt University. I am the first
teacher in Pickens and Reinhardt history to
be hired while still working on their four year
degree.
HF- That is very special. What is your fa
vorite memory from PHS?
RN- Oooh that’s a tough one. I would say
that my favorite memory from PHS would
probably be Friday nights, like football.
There was a lot of brotherhood that was built
on that field that has lasted for many many
years afterwards. If I had to pick a unique
moment it would be on senior night, inter
cepting a pass on my very last game.
HF- What advice do you have for students
wanting to pursue a career in teaching?
RN- My advice for students wanting to pur
sue a career in teaching is that the most im
portant thing you can do to prepare is to care.
There’s gonna be roadblocks, there's gonna
be times when even motivation itself won't
push you through the obstacles, but I’ve
found that the thing that's most important is
genuinely caring about your students. Real
izing that they are someone else’s son or
daughter and that's what really helps drive
you to be a good teacher.
HF- If you had to teach a different class for
the day what would it be?
RN- If I had to teach another class for a day
it would be between history or team sports.
HF- Team sports, good choice.
RN- Yeah I am very competitive. I like team
sports. Even to this day I would be the
teacher playing with everyone, but outside of
that I love history. I could’ve very easily
been a history teacher as well, but English is
really what I am called to do.
Photo by Tru Pack
HF- If you could take any class at PHS what
would it be?
RN- If I could take class at PHS I would love
to sit in at Dr. Hobgood’s class again. Like I
said I took her as an 11th and 12th grader and
it would be kinda funny to sit in again and
pretend to be a student because now I know
little pet peeves English teachers have and I
could kinda get back at her.
HF- Who inspires you?
RN- The person that inspires me the most
would be my daughter. I am a dad. I have a
two year old. Her picture is over there actu
ally, but there is nothing like becoming a par
ent to realize that you need to give it your all
because someone is always watching. At the
end of the day every decision you make is
going to greatly impact a life that has no say
in the matter.
HF- What country would you most like to
visit?
RN- The country I want to visit the most
would probably be France. The reason for
that being I am a history buff. I really want
to go to Normandy. I want to experience that.
It would also be very cool to check out Paris.
I am a foodie so whenever I went to Disney
we went to Epcot and France by far was my
favorite cuisine, so I could go pig out a little
bit in France.
HF- And lastly, what's your favorite band?
RN- I’m the type of person to not listen to
just one artist, I listen to songs and don't re
ally marry myself to an artist, but if I had to
pick one artist it would be Eminem. I have
listened to his stuff for as long as I can re
member. I was bumping to his stuff before
football games, and even to this day Eminem
is probably my most favorite consistent
artist.
Interview with Charlee Ray
Kinsley Hamilton, left, with Charlee Ray, right.
Photo by Marlen Rivas
By Kinsley Hamilton
Charlee Ray is a senior at
Pickens High School, and
she is very excited about
this school year. Kinsley
Hamilton wanted to inter
view Charlee to see what
her interests are inside of
school and outside of
school.
Kinsley Hamilton: What is
your favorite thing about
PHS?
Charlee Ray: Everyone is so
kind.
KH: What is your favorite
memory from high school?
CR: Homecoming.
KH: If you could play a
song each morning during
announcements, what
would it be?
CR: “Who Let the Dogs
Out” by Baha Men.
KH: If you could meet any
celebrity, who would it be?
CR: Steve Harvey.
KH: What is your favorite
joke to tell?
CR: What do you call a na
tion that drives red cars?
KH: I don’t know. What do
you call it?
CR: A red carnation.
KH: Ha, ha. I love that joke
Charlee. What teacher has
impacted you the most?
CR: Mrs. Nix.
KH: What is your favorite
thing to do on weekends?
CR: Sleeping in.
KH: Thank you so much for
your time Charlee.
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IN OBSERVANCE OF
COLUMBUS DAY, WE
WILL BE CLOSED ON
MONDAY OCTOBER 9f
Community Bank of Pickens
County wishes you a Happy
Columbus Day.
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