Shuford awards
Two Catawba College trustees and the school’s retiring 20th president and first lady were honored May 14 as recipients of the prestigious Adrian L. Shuford Jr. Award for Distinguished Service.
The award presentations were made to trustees Charles G. Potts, Class of 1953, of Charlotte and Wade Hampton Shuford Jr., Class of 1950, of Hickory and to President Dr. Robert E. Knott and First Lady Brenda S. Knott during the annual President’s Circle dinner.
The award is given each year to one or more persons who have played a major role in supporting the college and its programs through their time, talent and resources. It was established in 1983 in honor of trustee emeritus Adrian L. Shuford Jr. of Conover, who died in 2000.
Knott presented the awards to Potts and Shuford and said they are men “who have greatly enhanced the institution by their willingness to commit to long-term service on the Board.” Potts joined the Catawba College Board of Trustees in 1988, while Shuford joined it in 1960, elected to the post by the Southern Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church.
Tom Smith, Class of 1964 and trustee’s chairman, presented the Knotts’ awards. They plan to retire to Brevard at the end of this academic year. Knott served six years as Catawba’s 20th president. Smith called the couple “a team which has enriched Catawba College greatly with its service and dedication.”
Knollwood Knight Out
The Salisbury Police Department and Knollwood Elementary School PTA sponsored Knollwood “Knight” Out May 1.
The event included a performance by the Knollwood Handbell Choir and a spaghetti dinner and was designed to enhance positive relationships with parents, provide parents with information from various agencies and organizations and share strategies with them on ways to help their children achieve academic success.
Community agencies shared information on resources available to parents and students. There included Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, courses for English language learners; Head Start, enrolling preschoolers; the Adolescent Family Enrichment Council, services available to students; Rowan Public Library, the summer library program; and the Salisbury Police Department, gang awareness.
Students and parents also visited classrooms and explored academic expectations through a variety of activities, including End of Grade test, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, Jeopardy and the use of math manipulatives.
Campbell award
Dan L. Gray, executive director of the Cannon Foundation, received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award from Campbell University during the school’s 122nd graduation exercises May 12.
Named for the 19th century New York lawyer and noted philanthropist, the award is given by the Sullivan Foundation to recognize students whose lives reflect the nobility of character of Sullivan’s life.
A native of Belmont, Gray earned a bachelor of science degree from Appalachian State University. He is also a graduate of Campbell University’s Southeastern Trust School and the Kennedy Sinclair Inc. Trust Sales Training program.
He began a lifelong association with the Cannon Mills Co. and the Cannon Foundation in the early 1960s. He also worked at Cabarrus Bank and Trust Co. for several years before becoming the first full-time employee and executive director of the Cannon Foundation in 1983.
He is an active member of the community, serving in several civic organizations, including the boards of trustees of Cabarrus Memorial Hospital/Northeast Medical Center and Wingate University and as a member of the board of directors of Citizen’s Savings and Loan, Omni Capital Bancorp, Security Capital Bancorp and the Central North Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
He is also a past president and director of the Kannapolis Rotary Club.
Salem College awards
Julie Bigsby of Salisbury and Mary Margaret Hudson of Mount Ulla have received student leadership awards from Salem College.
The awards were presented during a recent ceremony held to honor students in various areas of excellence, from the arts and sciences to school spirit and community service.
Students were nominated for the honors by staff, faculty and their peers.
Roller coaster winners
Seven fifth-graders from North Hills Christian School won two one-day passes to Carowinds as overall winners of the elementary division of the 2008 “Roller Coaster Mania” contest.
They are Jay Wood, Allison VonCanon, Will Cody, Logan Miller, Joshua Robar, Brandon Lottes and Katie Queen.
The students built their coasters from scratch. The models were judged on dynamics, creativity, use of materials and name.
Also, all North Hills’ fifth-graders celebrated graduation from the DARE program with a day at Carowinds.
Drivers of the month
Johnny Brown, director of Transportation for Rowan-Salisbury Schools, has recognized employees for exemplary service as bus drivers for the month of May.
A bus driver must adhere to all the duties and responsibilities set forth by the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Transportation Department and are nominated by their bus coordinator for this honor each month.
May honorees are:
– North Area: Minnie Hill, North Middle/North High (Bus 199)
– East Area: Kimberly Leonard, Shive Elementary (Bus 138)
– Salisbury Area: Terry Clodfelter, Isenberg Elementary (Bus 14)
– Special Needs: Tracy Lacks, Special Needs (Bus 325)