Newspaper Page Text
February 25. 2009
PAGE 5C
^Reporter
Monroe County Achievement Center
Campbell named
teacher of the year
Dr. Margie Campbell was
recently named teacher of
the year at Monroe County
Achievement Center. Dr.
Campbell has been in the
Monroe County school sys
tem for more than 30 years.
She has worked as a janitor,
paraprofessional, secretary,
and finally a teacher. It is
that steadfast determination
that propelled her academi
cally to the point of earning
her most recent accomplish
ment, a doctoral degree.
Dr. Campbell is devoted to
her students, often sacrificing her own time and assist
ing students by volunteering for tutoring sessions during
holidays and weekends. In these times of tight purse
strings, Dr. Campbell does her part in raising money for
MCAC with a myriad of fundraising projects. She is one
educator who believes in going the extra mile for her stu
dents.
Students, faculty, staff, and administration are proud of
her for achieving this award and know that it is well-
deserved.
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Celebrating
black history
month
Black history month is this February
and schools around the county and na
tion are paying homage in a variety of
ways. Monroe County Achievement
Center is no exception as they have an
exhibit on inventions by African-Amer
icans. Some notable inventions on
display are: the golf tee, peanut but
ter, and potato chips to name a few.
Other goings on at MCAC during Black
History month include: guest speak
ers, puzzles and games, and student-
centered skits on historic events in
American history as it relates to
African-Americans.
Former NFL player visits
Dennard: perseverance pays off
No one told Herbert
Dennard that he couldn’t
start a newspaper, espe
cially since he had no for
mal training at it. With the
grit and determination he
has, it wouldn’t have mat
tered. He would have done
it anyway and still been
successful.
Herbert Dennard, influ
ential and motivational in
many ways, spoke to stu
dents at Monroe County
Achievement Center in cel
ebration of black history
month. Dennard is well-
known in Macon, having
served as tax assessor and
on the commission on
urban development.
“Don’t let anything hold
you back. You gotta adjust
sometimes,” said Dennard.
Adjust he did. After expe
riencing difficulties at
home with his father, he
joined the military and
was sent to Vietnam.
Dennard returned to the
U.S. after being wounded.
The country was in the
middle of an unpopular
war and the civil rights
struggle.
Under the guidance of
renowned Macon civil
rights leader, Billy
Randall, Dennard partici
pated in marches, picketed
businesses and restau
rants. His luck eventually
ran out when he was
arrested for trying to inte
grate a YMCA in Macon.
Dennard was fired by the
railroad when a photo of
his arrest appeared in the
local paper. He later
reached a settlement with
the railroad and was rein
stated. He remained
employed there for more
than 37 years.
On a whim, Dennard
started the “Georgia
Informer” in 1982 after he
attempted to publish an
article in the paper and
was refused. His main pur
pose in starting the paper,
which focuses primarily on
African-American issues,
was to give blacks more of
a voice in the community.
The Informer has been
going strong from the out
set and has successfully
transitioned over to an
internet news source as
well.
If you’re a true Denver
Broncos fan, you’ve probably
cheered for Roger Jackson.
Roger played cornerback for
the Denver Broncos for five
seasons beginning in 1982.
Students at Monroe County
Achievement Center had the
chance to cheer for him
when he spent a few
moments from an extremely
busy day sharing some of his
life’s experiences.
The product of a single-par
ent home, Jackson learned
early on in life the virtues of
hard work. He got his first
job at the age of fourteen at
an area car wash. Jackson
saved his money and pur
chased the body of a 1967
Camaro. Over the next three
years, he bought parts for
the car until it was fully
restored. Roger urged stu
dents to stop looking at oth
ers to blame for their mis
takes. “If it is to be, it is up
to me”, Jackson said.
Although the car was fin
ished, Roger was still not
allowed to drive the car. Like
a lot of teenagers, Jackson
lost the battle with tempta
tion and would sneak and
drive the car to school from
time to time. After numerous times
of driving the car without permis-
an entire year. A difficult
lesson to learn at the time,
Roger credits that one
experience with teaching
him patience and an
appreciation of the little
things in life.
Roger Jackson was an
impressive athlete on the
football field, but did not
take his academics serious
ly at the time. He credits
his teachers for believing
in him, when he was
unsure of himself.
“Teachers do not get the
credit they deserve,” he
said. Jackson earned an
athletic scholarship to
Bethune-Cookman, where
he graduated on time and
was then drafted by the
Denver Broncos.
Jackson called it quits
after five NFL seasons and
immediately accepted a job
in Denver’s administrative
office. He continued in that
capacity for another thir
teen years. He again calls
Macon home, where he has
established an investment
center to teach others
about investing and man
aging money, as well as a
tutoring program for at-
risk children.
- Submitted by Joel Smith
Roger Jackson shared insights with students at MCAC
sion, he was eventually caught and
forbidden from driving the car for
Mary Persons High School
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The 2009 Beta Club Induction was held last month at Mary Persons High School. The following 28 MP
students (above) were inducted: Samantha Allen, Kristen Bell, Sarah Bennett, Houston Cass, Rachel
Clark, Russell Dye, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Ham, Marleigh Harris, Ashleigh Hightower, Destiny
Holden, Jessica Horne, A. J. Hunter, Martha Lawrence, Kaleb Lee, Lauren Lightsey, Jennifer Martin,
Amber Mayo, Richard McLendon, Christopher Mullis, Taylor Pack, Hank Patterson, Zach Rigole, D. J.
Sexton, Kirsti Slaughter, Allyson Snyder, William Threatt and Lauren Walters.
Students shadow «im Cole
Mary Persons seniors Haleigh Herring
and Jeffrey Elrod shadowed Georgia
House senior floor leader Rep. Jim Cole
on Feb. 2 as part of National Job
Shadow Day. Haleigh and Jeffrey also
met several members of Gov. Sonny
Perdue’s staff and toured his offices.
They got a glimpse behind the scenes
as well as seeing state legislators work
on the House floor. Unfortunately, the
Governor was out of town that day but
they did take their photo with Rep. Cole
in the Governor's office.
After graduation Haleigh is planning
to attend North Georgia College & State
University and join the Corp of Cadets.
Her intended major is International
Affairs and Political Science. She is the
daughter of Jay and Denise Herring.
Jeffrey will be attending the
University of Alabama and also plans to
study political science. He is the son of
Rev. Rick Elrod and Faye Elrod.