CONCORD — Cannon School welcomed its seventh head of school, Christopher Jones, on July 1.

A veteran independent school leader, Jones comes to Cannon School from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (Lab), where he was assistant head of school. Lab is an independent, nonsectarian school enrolling more than 2,160 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Jones, a Texas native, earned bachelor of arts and master of business administration degrees from the University of Chicago.

“(My wife), Allison, and I are humbled by my opportunity to serve Cannon School as your head of school,” said Jones. “Our family is excited to be Cannon Cougars just as we embark together on Cannon’s 50th year.”

Matt Gossage retired June 30 after serving as head of school at Cannon for the 13 years.

Cannon School is a private independent junior kindergarten through 12th-grade college-preparatory institution. It serves 1,000 students from Concord, Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Mooresville, Charlotte, the University City area, Kannapolis and Salisbury.

Local students earn Golden LEAF scholarships

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Education Assistance Authority has announced the 215 rural students who will receive a Golden LEAF Scholarship valued at as much as $12,000 each.

Rowan County recipients include Spencer Blackwell, a graduate of Salisbury High School, and Kathryn Eller, a graduate of East Rowan High School, who both plan to attend North Carolina State University,

They will receive a $3,000 scholarship each year for up to four years to attend a participating North Carolina college or university. Recipients are from rural counties that are tobacco-dependent and/or economically distressed counties.

Students are selected based on career and education goals, a review of school and community service activities, academic performance, length of residence in the county, and expressed intent to contribute to the state’s rural communities upon graduation from college.

The Golden LEAF Foundation created the scholarship program to broaden education opportunities and provide support to students from rural counties with the hope that after graduation recipients will contribute to those communities.

Students receiving Golden LEAF Scholarships are also eligible to participate in the Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership Program. The program provides leadership training at the Center for Creative Leadership, paid internship opportunities in rural communities, and stipends in addition to Golden LEAF Scholarship funding.

NC State scholarship benefitting West Rowan High School grads grows

RALEIGH — A scholarship supporting graduates of West Rowan High School enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering or the College of Sciences at N.C. State University has grown to offer more student support.

The N.C. State University Science and Agriculture Scholarship aids West Rowan graduates pursuing careers in science, engineering or agriculture. Awards are made annually and are renewable.

Although the scholarship has been awarded since 2012, the donor — a graduate of West Rowan and N.C. State who wishes to remain anonymous — endowed the scholarship fund in 2016 and recently contributed $100,000 to increase the fund’s reach.

Since 2016, the scholarship has provided eight students from West Rowan High with scholarships – many receiving multiyear financial support.

Parker Greene, one of this year’s scholarship recipients, said the scholarship has allowed her to focus on classes.

“Receiving this scholarship is important to me because it allows me to continue focusing on my academics instead of having to work overtime in order to relieve the stress of paying for school,” said Greene. “N.C. State has become a second home for me, and in just my first year here I’ve had opportunities I never could’ve thought possible. The staff is like family and do everything they can to give you every opportunity to succeed and excel at this school. From joining clubs, attending sporting events, and receiving a great internship. There’s no other school I feel like I could thrive at the way I have at N.C. State.”

Greene is majoring in agricultural education and on track to graduate in May 2022.

Catawba College professor of psychology publishes paper

Sheila Brownlow, chairwoman and professor of psychology at Catawba College, recently had a scholarly paper published in the peer-review journal “Social Behavior Research and Practice.”

Brownlow’s paper with co-authors Makenna Pate, Abigail Alger and Natalie Naturile is titled “What Were They Thinking? Analytic and Cognitive Language in Instagram Captions.”