Education briefs: Local students among Western Carolina grads

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Western Carolina University fall graduates include Lagrand Evan Andrews of Kannapolis, with a B.S. in psychology; Hunter Alan Thompson of Kannapolis with a B.S. in education and a concentration in mathematics education; Stephanie Michele McConnell of Mooresville with a B.S. in communication; Jason Paul Stanley of China Grove with a B.S. in education and a concentration in social sciences; Heather Nicole Steen of China Grove with a B.S. in history; Katherine Suzanne Honeycutt of Rockwell, B.S. in education, concentration in Spanish, magna cum laude; Nicholas Edward Vincent, Rockwell, B.S. in criminal justice, magna cum laude; and Jonathan Michael Harding, Salisbury, B.S. in business administration, management.
‘Boat for Goats’
CONCORD รณ “Boat for Goats” is the theme of a community service project led by Cannon School students Maggie Peterson of Cornelius and Molly Frowine and Elizabeth Rubens of Davidson to help impoverished Third World families.
In developing countries, one goat can considerably help a starving family. The animals provide food such as cheese, yogurt and milk that can feed the family and be sold in the market. Fertilizer helps increase crop yields, and offspring can be sold at the market or given to other families in need.
“These fuzzy little creatures are much more than your average farm animal,” said Peterson. “They can provide food and fertilizer for their owner, who can sell excess products at the market for a stable source of income.”
Last spring, the three students designed the program with the nonprofit organization World Vision to raise awareness and funding with a goal of raising enough money to fund 20 goats at $75 per animal. They raised approximately $50,000, enough to fund more than 660 goats.
“Our whole service project started because we knew that we wanted to do something beyond Cannon School’s minimum community service requirement,” said Frowine. “With a few basic ideas and a lot of help along the way, we developed our own sort of chapter of the World Vision charity called ‘Boats for Goats.’ ”
This year, Peterson, Frowine and Rubens have already raised enough money to fund 32 goats. The “Goat Girls” are partnering with radio personality Brent “Bandy-boo” O’Brian of 107.9 The Link to raise awareness of the Boats for Goats 2009 fundraising campaign.
The students will host their culminating event, the Boats for Goats Paddle Boat Regatta, on Saturday, March 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Dave’s Paddle Boats at the Shoppes at University Place in Charlotte. The students are looking for donors to form teams with a donation of $75, which enables the team to compete in a paddle boat regatta.
For more information: www.boatsforgoats.com.
China Grove Elementary
Character education is a component of the educational program at China Grove Elementary School. This year the focus will be on the theme “Mr. Floyd’s Heavenly Helpers.” Each month, classroom teachers will select two students from their classes that exhibit the traits associated with the monthly character word. For February, those recognized include:
More @ 4: Davin Garcia, Mac McNair.
Kindergarten: Hannah Canupp, Kelsey Carlson, Makyna Graham, Haley Hargraves, Alex Hyatt, Cody Josey, Brandon Keith, Aiden Strickland, Ryan Sy, Kayley Wilcox.
First grade: Miranda Anderson, Caleb Burch, Veronica Guerrero, Michaela Hallman, Jasmine Holland, Harlee Honeycutt, Anahi Mata, Cheyenne Reeder, Jay Smith, George Rutherford, Bryson Sanders, Alex Soto.
Second grade: Elizabeth Barry, Ryan Brooks, Mauricio Cardenas, Invictus Collins, Austin Cooke, Bailey Corriher, Emily Hall, Monica Huffman, Logan King, Ashlyn Meece, Ashley Reid, Lexi Smith.
Third grade: Summer Blais, Alanah Cline, Nathaneal Groll, Katelyn Hagler, Jake Higgins, Taylor Jordan, Gavin McCulloh, Michelle Rivera, Rebecca Rousey, Christopher Simerson.
Fourth grade: Scott Ascencion, Chase Castor, Jessica Davis, Madison Fuller, Mahaley Humphreys, Chandler Norton, Bailey Phillips, Nsyah Seward.
Fifth grade: Alysia Hall, Taya Hanno, Casey Josey, James Keopaseut, Brennan Lambert, Darren Lee, Dylan Livengood, Erika Meadow, Zach Wheeler.
Azusa University
The following students made the spring 2008 academic dean’s list at Azusa Pacific University. They are honored for semester grade-point average of 3.5 or above. These students are joined by 1,475 receiving the same honor.
Christopher L. Speed, Kannapolis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lake C. Speed. He is a theater arts major; Maurie R. Speed, Kannapolis, theater arts major; and Heather M. Sweeney, Kannapolis, the daughter of Mary B. Johnsonand a pre-nursing major.
Azusa Pacific University is a comprehensive, evangelical, Christian university located 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles.