Re] orter
Monroe County Middle School 8th graders recognized at the 2018 Rising Star Program were Haley Baswell, Ballin Bell, Johona Braswell, Moriah Germany, Caroline Hampton, Jacob
Hanson, Matthew Henderson, Logan Hickman, Maradeth Leverett, Ansley Maddox, Kayla Matthews, Basia McBride, Jacob McGourik, Gillean Michael, Matthew Morris, Divya Patel,
Ronald Shipman, Eric Snow, Austin Starr, Madison Whitehead.
Monroe County Middle School 7th graders recognized at the 2018 Rising Star Program were Zachary Acosta, Ellen Adams, Madelyn Emami, Abigail Etheridge, Samantha Fussell, Jesse
Garza, Elizabeth Gavin, Mary Katherine Geer, Drew Grant, Jayden Gray, Piper Haworth, Faith Jones, Donivan McBride, Lily McBride, Jordan McCord, Gabriella Miller, Michaela
Mullis, Chloe Myers, Jeremiah Ochieng, Lola Reyes, Sydney Stapleton, Mary Take, Lauren Thomas, Mary Waldrep.
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Monroe County Middle School 6th graders recognized at the 2018 Rising Star Program were Madeline Anthony,
Chipman, Mackenzie Cruz, Karlie Dell, Jessica Goodwin, Emily Grant, lan Lewis, William Little, Javier Locus, Ella
Isabel Sneddon, Vangel Take, Donovan Williams, Alanna Wood.
Evan Barnett, McKenzie Bass-Gainey, Cole Battles, Ella Brit, Jesse
Magda, Mary Marks, Hunt McAteer, Zoe Oglesby, Michaela Perry,
By Diane Glidewell
news@mymcr.net
The Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber
of Commerce presented the Annual Rising
Star Program on Friday, May 11 to recog-
nize students at Monroe County Middle
School who have maintained all A'S on
their report cards throughout the school
year. The Chamber began the program to
recognize academic excellence in students
early in their academic careers and encour-
age them to do their best. The recognition
includes a luncheon, certificate, recogni-
tion ceremony to which family members
are invited and gift bags.
The program continues through the sup-
port of corporate, business and individual
sponsors. The major sponsors for the event
are Oglethorpe Power, Central Georgia
EMC and Southern Rivers Energy. Stu-
dents were asked to write thank you notes
to the sponsor listed by their name in the
Rising Star event program.
Diane McLearen, director of Commu-
nity & External Relations for Oglethorpe
Power, said that behind every good student
are partners like parents, grandparents and
teachers. She told the students that they
have worked really hard and to keep up
the good habits, work ethic and planning
through their academic careers and into
the work world.
The keynote speaker, Madeline Cope-
land, 2018 Mary Persons STAR student,
had stood in the position of the middle
school Rising Stars just a few years ago. In
introducing her, Chamber of Commerce
President Cheri Sparks emphasized that
Copeland has not only excelled in academ-
ics but has also taken advantage of many
other opportunities at Monroe County
Schools and in the community. While
taking AP, Honors, Accelerated and dual
enrollment classes and maintaining a 4.652
GPA Copeland has served on Student
Council, been a member of Academic
Team/Quiz Bowl and Interact/Rotary
Club, worked with and completed service
hours for BETA Club, FBLA, Best Buddies,
volunteered with Anchor of Hope's Parents
Night Out, played on Mary Persons tennis
team and worked at Dickey Farms.
"Be determined and confident;' Cope-
land told the Rising Stars. "High school
isn't all about grades. I learned about
balance. There's something for everyone
Continue what you're doing, but have fun
doing it:'
Copeland talked about her experience
playing tennis at Mary Persons, starting as
manager her freshman year and being "ter-
rible" so that she did not get to play in any
matches. With a lot of practice, lessons and
time in the Georgia heat, she made it to
playing first doubles and helping her team
finish 2rid in region and go to the "Sweet
16" this year.
Sparks thanked Georgia Department of
Corrections for the use of Roberts Chapel
at its Tift Headquarters campus for the
Rising Stars award ceremony. Plaques were I
presented to 8th grade students who had :
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maintained all A'S all three years of middle
school: Haley Baswell, Ballin Bell, Mofiah ',
Germany, Caroline Hampton, Matthew
Henderson, Logan Hickman, Maradeth
Leverett, Basia McBride, Jacob McGourik,
Ronald Shipman, Eric Snow, Austin Starr.
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