Cannon Schoolrunners finish relay
CONCORD ó A team of Cannon School faculty and staff, aptly named ěCannon Fodder,î completed the two-day Blue Ridge Relay on Sept. 10 in Asheville. This 208-mile test of endurance is one of the longest running relay races in the U.S.
Veteran relay runners and longtime Cannon School teachers Monty Coggins and Ginger Holloway led the team, offering words of encouragement, expert running advice and navigational skills.
Coggins and Holloway were joined by Todd Hartung, Cannon Schoolís director of advancement, and teachers Shanel Hine, Chris Taylor, Haley Todd, Joe Trojan and Laura Trojan.
Running in gorgeous weather, the team rotated in a set order through 36 legs as they ran the back roads of the Blue Ridge and Black mountains.
ěEveryone ran faster and longer than each dreamed possible and returned a different person on Saturday evening,î said Laura Trojan.
The race started on Sept. 9 at Grayson Highlands State Park, which is near the base of Mount Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia. The mountainous course featured spectacular scenery, including the balds of Grayson Highlands State Park, the New River, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, and Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 feet, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
Cannon School is an independent junior kindergarten through 12th grade college-preparatory institution. It is the Charlotte areaís fourth-largest independent school and attracts students from Concord, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Mooresville, the University City area, Kannapolis and Salisbury.
Granite Star students
Granite Quarry Elementary School September Star Students, based on good judgment, include Hailey Fesperman, Katelyn Byrd, Dawson Propst, Nevaeh Price, Neosha Price, Jason Do, Brooke Riggs, Zoe Schwartz, Alicia Bostian, Adam Fesperman, Hannah Larson, Sofia Graham, Spiriten Bowers, Brandon Buck, Brendan Hawley, Sarah Margret Dyer, Chance Mako, Evan Porter, Morgan Padgett, Landon Kesler, Logan Dyer, Addison Duncan, Krisily Bulla, Nathan Waller.
Student to attenddiversity summit
The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) has announced that Kelsie Gibson has been chosen to represent the society on their National Student Council Board. Gibson has been an ambassador and member of the NSHSS for the past three years and received two of their scholarships.
Gibson, the daughter of Alisa Gibson of Kannapolis, is a recent graduate of A.L. Brown High School and is a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill where she plans to major in journalism and political science.
As a member of the NSHSS National Student Council Board, Gibson has been selected to represent the society at the World Diversity Leadership Summit to be held in New York City this month. Ambassadors, heads of state and CEOs from all over the world will attend.
Gibson will have the opportunity to attend all conference events including receptions at the United Nations and the U.S. Open. Two keynote luncheons will honor tennis great Billie Jean King and business and basketball legend Irving ěMagicî Johnson. Gibson is also invited to attend all diversity leadership seminars.
Launched in 2004, the World Diversity Leadership Summit is a gathering of senior corporate, government and non-governmental organization officials focused on the challenges and opportunities related to global diversity management.
National Meritsemifinalists
CONCORD ó Cannon School seniors Cassie Calvert of Concord and Connor Lippincott of the University City area have been named semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. They will now compete with about 16,000 others from across the U.S. for scholarships totaling more than $34 million.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a nonprofit organization that has offered annual scholarship opportunities for high school seniors since 1955. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Approximately 1.5 million juniors sat for the preliminary SAT last year, and those who scored highest in their state achieved semifinalist standing. Less than 1 percent of high school seniors nationwide make up this exclusive group.
Cannon School is the only independent school serving Cabarrus County and the Lake Norman area to enroll a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist this year.
Western Carolinagraduates
CULLOWHEE ó Western Carolina University conferred degrees on approximately 395 students who completed their studies during the summer school sessions of 2011.
A total of 178 undergraduate students received academic honors, with 81 graduating summa cum laude (with highest honors), 67 graduating magna cum laude (with high honors), and 29 graduating cum laude (with honors).
Students who complete degree requirements during summer school sessions are invited to participate in WCUís December commencement ceremony.
Salisbury ó Lauren Elizabeth Flynn, Master of Physical Therapy; Aaron Michael Glisson, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
China Grove ó Kaci Randall Daugherty, Bachelor of Science Sport Management NC-Cabarrus.
Concord ó Andrew Malcolm Albritton, Bachelor of Science Sociology; Brian Gluf, Bachelor of Music, Lauren Elizabeth Parker, Master of Physical Therapy.
Kannapolis ó Gloria Shae Cantrell, Bachelor of Arts English.
Cleveland ó Langdon Elizabeth Moeller, Bachelor of Arts English.
Mooresville ó Javin Tyne Sterner, Master of Physical Therapy.