Chick-fil-A awards scholarship

Stephanie Banks of Salisbury has received a Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship for being an exemplary student and community member.

Banks is the 14th scholarship student at the free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant on East Innes Street. She plans to use the $1,000 scholarship to study nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The national scholarship program supports restaurant employees seeking higher education.

Landis good citizens

Landis Elementary School recently recognized the following students as January Good Citizens:

Kindergarten: Cristian Chavez, Krista Sechler, Anna Blume and Mitchell Juchno.

First grade: Bobbie Dutton, Fernando Ortiz, Allison Smith and Dylan Herlocker.

Second grade: Austin Kelly, Ja’Querius Bost, Sarah Ford, Aisha Caldwell and Sierra Phillips.

Third grade: Cristian Guevara, Jazarie Earl, Damian Campbell, Shelby Donaldson and Alex Deal.

Fourth grade: Patrick Viars, Hayden Faulkenbury, Avery Locklear and Destiny Whitman.

Fifth grade: Damian Powell, Kenny Halstenberg, Hailey Kelly, Jordan Wise and Cooper Morrison.

Millbridge citizens

Millbridge Elementary School recently recognized the following students as January Good Citizens:

Kindergarten: Richard Pineda, Faith Fisher, Riley Owens, Kyndall Seller, Elijah Godfrey, Victoria Pennington, Brenden Tyson, Allison Williams and Tyler Hobenicht.

First grade: Tyler Barbee, Quinn Kelley, Veronica Sanchez, Kaleb Isenhour, Scott Cline, Riley Corriher, Katherina Mysayakham and Andrea Goodson.

Second grade: Lindsey Cole, Austin Love, Evelyn Garcia-Ortega, Alexis Solis, A.J. Knight, Skylar Cook, McKenzie Miller and German Delgado.

Third grade: Larry Berry, Sam Hager, Erin Kelley, Autumn Dishman, Allyson Shulenburger, Colson Childers, Anna Cox, Tanner Bailey and Abygail Rohletter.

Fourth grade: Tyler Karriker, Olivia Sides, Kayley Sellers, Stone Stancil, Matthew Trexler and Cassidy Chipman.

Fifth grade: Jenna O’Brien, Shane Furr, M.J. Barker, Aspen Mushala, Courtney Dickson and Dillon Johnson.

Special: Madison Collins and Jackson Hurst.

NASA contest win

MISENHEIMER — Students from Gray Stone Day School’s advanced algebra class recently took a challenge issued by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The contest pitted school groups from around the state against each other in an effort to turn a standard shoebox into a glider.

Using some class time to incorporate real world mathematics into calculating the distance to height ratios, charting and measuring total distance traveled, proved to be a valuable experience.

“It was a tremendous opportunity for our students to challenge themselves in a new arena,” said senior math teacher Robin Dassler. “This is one of the reasons Gray Stone exists.”

The class attempted three different designs before combining concepts to create the Stealth bomber look-alike design that eventually placed them first in the state among high schools. Without altering the shoebox, the group added material in an effort to keep the glider flying. Releasing the glider at a height of 58 inches, the group’s final product was kept aloft for a total of 62.5 feet.

Due to the students’ outcomes, the group was asked to make a presentation to NASA, which was broadcast live over the Department of Public Instruction’s Web site. With the help of Stanly Community College and its Interactive Distance Learning Center, the students were able to present their findings to the Challenge Masters at NASA without traveling to either Houston or Raleigh.

The group’s presentation can be viewed at www.graystonedayschool.org under School News.

Rockwell competition

Rockwell Elementary School recently completed its annual academic competitions.

Ten students participated in the National Geographic Geography Bee. Fifth-grader Harrison Bell was selected as the winner, with fourth-grader Jeffrey Stanton as runner-up.

Bell will compete for a position as the North Carolina representative to the National Geography Bee through completion of a written examination.

Other students participating were Bryant Stewart, Jimmy Ritchey, Remi Adams, Austin Johnson, Jake Emmary, William Sigmon, Kaleigh Troutman and Michelle Sterner.

Ten other students competed in the schoolwide spelling bee. Rebecca Agner was the first-place winner, with Kirk Kovach receiving second place and Danielle Smith third.

Agner will compete in the Rowan County Spelling Bee at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Feb. 15.

Other students participating were Jospeh Lopez, Kali Devos, Karleigh Wike, Makayla Freeman, Dalton Rowland, Kayla Swaringen and Courtney Mishak.

National honor roll

Ella D. Woods, a master teacher level II and the academically intellectually gifted (AIG) facilitator at North Rowan Middle School, was recently inducted into the National Honor Roll’s Outstanding Teachers in New York.

Students and other individuals identified Woods for having had the greatest influence on their lives and helping them to reach their full potential and to make great contributions to society.

Woods has received numerous other awards, including Top View Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Golden Dustpan Award for maintaining an environment conducive for learning, several listings in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Center Court recognition by the Charlotte Hornets and Duke Power of Charlotte as one of 20 outstanding educators in both North and South Carolina and nomination for Outstanding North Carolina English Teacher of the Year.

She is among North Rowan Middle School’s Teachers of the Year and serves as a Teacher Mentor, a Maverick Mentor, First Priority Adviser and part of the Leadership Team. She is writing a book, “Making a Difference with Differences Among Children.”