June 2021
Student Spotlights & Schoolbits!
Every month we compile a list of students doing great things across the Wiregrass. We have so many talented students in our area. Wiregrass Parents joins with their families and schools to celebrate their achievements!
Dothan Tech Graphic Arts Students Leave Mark on Downtown Alley
We are so excited to begin a new venture with Dothan Downtown! Starting April 21, Scout’s Alley is coming to life. Graphic Arts students are painting their original artwork on the street and walls. Our Scout’s Alley vision is an Alley of Dreams! Everyone has a different dream! Vibrant designs and out of the box concepts will adorn the alley. Special thanks to Jamie and Dothan Downtown for this amazing opportunity and for a chance to give back to our community through graphic arts and art!
Dothan Dolphins Bring Home Medals
Four of our Dothan Dolphins Swim Team members – Abry Jacobi, Ayla Bushong, Madelyn Bushong, and AJ Hallbert – competed in the 2021 Southeastern Age Group Short Course Championships in Huntsville. All four girls placed in the top 10, and brought home two gold and five silver medals!! Congratulations, girls!
Abbeville HS Top 10 Learn Rankings Through Scavenger Hunt
Our top 10 of the senior class had to work hard on their scavenger hunt to find their class ranking April 19, 2021. With 13 clues, 1 hour, and a lot of hard work they made it to the end. We are so proud of this bright group and their hard work to get to this point.
From left to right- Colby Hudson (valedictorian), Emma McCleary (Salutatorian), Sheniyah Howard (honor graduate), Caleub Grant (honor graduate), Karly Hall (honor graduate), Chantiess Lawrence, Jess Hoffman, Joshua Coxson, Shamiya Chitty, and Tamia Jones
Dothan Wolves Baseball Win 7A Area 3 Championship
Congratulations to our Dothan Wolves Baseball team! Help us send them a big CONGRATULATIONS!
Providence Christian Seniors Secure Scholarships
Congratulations to our 2021 seniors for accepting over $1.8 million in scholarships this year! We are proud of all your hard work.
Trenkler, Shakyra Named Daleville Valedictorians
Congratulations to the Valedictorians of the Class of 2021, Stephen Trenkler and Shakyra Pollard!
Student Advisors Present Concerns to Dothan School Board
At Dothan City Board of Education’s April Board meeting, members of Dothan City School’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) presented to members of the Board of Education.
The SSAC’s presentation included highlights and areas of concern that were discussed amongst the council at their Quarterly Council meeting with Superintendent Dr. Dennis Coe.
We are grateful for the insight of our young students and value their ideas and opinions.
Members of the SSAC include:
Athena H., 6th Grade – Selma Street Elementary
Jaydn H., 5th Grade – Morris Slingluff Elementary School
Gavin L., 6th Grade – Kelly Springs Elementary
Kamiah B., 6th Grade – Jerry Lee Faine Elementary School
Ariel L., 6th Grade – Highlands Elementary School
Payden R., 5th Grade – Heard Elementary School
Abby B., 6th Grade – The Carver School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology
Jordan E. R., 6th Grade – Beverlye Intermediate School for the Arts
Elizabeth (Reecy) B., 9th Grade – Dothan Preparatory Academy
Reagan M., 9th Grade – Dothan Preparatory Academy
Ella W., 10th Grade – Dothan High School
Liana S., 12th Grade – Dothan High School
The council was open to ALL interested DCS students in Grades 5 and above during the 2020-2021 school year.
The SSAC is made up of 13 delegates selected by school leadership to represent their school.
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Dothan-Houston Co. Library Names Picture Book Winners
Congratulations to all of our 2021 Picture Book Winners! Stop by any of our branches and checkout their books!
Eliza Joy Hunter – K-1st grade winner; The Bunny Who Finds a Good Friend
Ellie Alexander – 2nd-3rd grade winner; How to Care for a Chinchilla in Captivity
Isabella Lyles – 4th-5th grade winner; Bella and the Black Stallion
Angelina Li – Graphic Book winner: The Not-So Normal Trip to Alaska
Lilian Syfrett – 6th-8th grade winner; Star Wars and the Uncanny X-Men
Highlands Students Place in Lego Contest
These 5th graders placed in the Blocks Rock 4-H lego competition.
Logan Burkett placed first in the district and county.
Sofia Baldwin and Erin McKinley won 2nd place in the school district and 3rd in the county.
Way to go guys!!
Ozark Boys & Girls Club, UPS Teach Driving Safety to Middle Schoolers
Boys & Girls Club of Ozark-Southeast Alabama in partnership with UPS brought the UPS Road Code to teens at D.A. Smith Middle School last week. The goal of the program is to make teens safer on the road as new drivers and teen passengers. The more they know, the more safely they’ll go when they get behind the wheel or into the passenger’s seat.
Dothan High Student Awarded Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year
Congratulations to Dothan High and Dothan Tech Culinary Student, Javier Cepero. Javier was recently recognized as this Year’s Alabama-Florida Council Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Awardee!
If you remember, Javier used his skills in the culinary classroom and he along with his classmates prepared 100 meals as part of his Eagle Scout project.
The delicious Puerto Rican-inspired meals went to the residents at The Ark.
Congratulations Javier!
Early County 7th Grader Places in Ga. State Science & Engineering Fair
Evan Gregoire, seventh grader at Early County Middle School, received the Mercer University School of Medicine Award for the Junior Division in the 73rd Annual Georgia Science and Engineering Fair, held virtually this year. Submissions for competition included a pre-recorded video, electronic presentation, and virtual interview. Recipients of this award receive a cash award and certificate for middle and high school life sciences projects that focus on research related to the study of a disease process, the development of new therapies, or the understanding of social behaviors or environmental factors contributing to population health risks.
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Highlands Elementary Wins Science Olympiad
Highlands Elementary competed in the Wiregrass Area Science Olympiad Tournament on May 1st. They won overall 1st place! Congrats to each participant for their hard work!
Girard 2nd Graders Treated After Tests
Our 2nd graders enjoyed “testing treats” thanks to the generous donations of our local community. We are truly blessed to have supporters throughout the Wiregrass who pour into our children in so many ways! Thank you all!
Former Dothan Mayor Dedicates New Statue at Selma St. Elementary
Ex Mayor Larry Register could not wait until the official Dedication Ceremony to see the sculpture made possible on behalf of the Register Family to our students! Selma Street was pretty excited as well!
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3 Houston Co. FBLA Members Place in State Competition
The FBLA students from Ashford, Cottonwood, Houston County, Rehobeth, and Wicksburg all met at the Houston County Career Academy campus April 15, 2021, for their virtual State Conference. Three members were recognized for placing in the state competition.
Hannah Emerson (RHS) won 1st Place for Introduction to Business Communication and Clara Sasser (HCHS) placed 2nd for Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures. Gracie Bridges (HCHS) won 4th Place in Economics, which also qualifies her for participating in Nationals. Congrats, ladies!
Early County 8th Grader Wins Young Author Contest
Congratulations to Faith Mills, ECMS student, who was selected as the 8th grade Young Georgia Authors winner for Southwest Georgia RESA! Her entry will move on with other grade level winners to the state level competition.
Lakeside School Runner Named MVP at State Meet
Our very own Chloe Helms was awarded Overall MVP for this year’s AISA State Track Meet! We are so proud of Chloe! Please join us in congratulating her!
Highlands Students Place in State Math Tournament
Highlands Elementary participated in the Alabama Perennial Math Tournament on May 8th. There were a total of 182 students participating throughout the state. Phi Tran and Angelina Li in the 4th grade won 3rd place. Erin McKinley in the 5th grade won 3rd place. Wit Hammond and Teagan Bryant in the 6th grade won 2nd place. The 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade teams won 1st place. The 5th grade team won 2nd place. Congratulations! We are so proud of all of you!
Ozark Boys & Girls Club Tending Tomatoes at Vivian B. Adams School
A few of our members had a blast April 16, 2021, at Vivian B. Adams School! They planted some tomatoes and will go back each week to check and tend to them. Thank you Mrs. Susan Owens and Mr. O for helping our members! We are thankful for this wonderful partnership.
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Author: Ashton Wright
Ashton is the publisher of Wiregrass Parents magazine. She grew up in Blakely, GA. She graduated from Early County High School in 2005 and went on to graduate from Troy University in 2009. Ashton has been interested in journalism since high school where she was on the newspaper staff for three years. In college she worked with the yearbook and the Advertising & Public Relations Society. She interned with Dothan Magazine in the summer of 2008 and worked as a producer and Executive Producer for WTVY-TV for nine years. Ashton married her husband, Chris, in 2012. They welcomed their daughter, Alexis, in 2015. They also have a dog, Jackson, and cat, Cooper.
