Students Recognized at PACS 2015-16 Honors Day

May 11, 2016

Prince Avenue Christian School students were recently recognized for their many accomplishments and achievements throughout the 2015-16 school year at the annual Honors Day program.

Senior Rachel Brannen was given the 2016 Epistle Award, recognizing her dedication and commitment to her relationship with the Lord, as demonstrated through her Christ-like character and servant spirit. Rachel is the daughter of Phillip and Jill Brannen and has attended PACS for 12 years. She is graduating with honors, with a cumulative GPA of 4.34. She has been involved in the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Cheerleading, and Interact Club and is a Georgia Merit Scholar. She attends Redeemer Presbyterian Church where she volunteers at various activities. Rachel plans to attend the University of Georgia where she will study pre-nursing with the plan to become a pediatric oncology nurse.

Due to the generosity of friends and alumni, several scholarships for students are available to student applicants. The following scholarships were awarded: The Kathy Stamatinos Geyer Memorial Scholarship was presented to freshman, Lillian Renn. The Asher Foundation Scholarship was given to sixth grader, Caleb Andrew Wilson. The Ruby Evelyn Brown Memorial Scholarship was presented to freshman, Roderick Platt. The Shoff Foundation Scholarship was given to fourth grader, Lukas Smith, and fifth grader, Sam Smith. The Jon Desso Scholarship was given to junior, Isabelle Renn and senior, Allison Shirley. The Chick-fil-A Christian Service Scholarship was awarded to seventh grade,r Kevin Shawn Bailey. The Reg Gattie Sing Strong Memorial Scholarship was presented to junior, Isabell Renn. The William H. Ricketts Scholarship was awarded to junior Megan Schwartz. The Christopher Lee Newcomer Memorial Scholarship was presented to third grader, Gideon Garland, and the Missionary Emergency Fund Awarded by the Richard S. Reynold Foundation was given to third grader, Noah Wade Snow, fourth graders Michael Fletcher, Jr. and Sara Kate Marable, and 7th grader, Anna Grace Marable.

A number of high school honors were awarded during the ceremony. Wolverine Academicians are those students who earned the highest grade point average during the first three quarters of the year in each grade. They were recognized with Gold, Silver and Bronze plaques. Gold award winners were Mary Martin Harper (senior), Chase Deatrick (junior), Emily Weaver (sophomore), and Sarah Kelley (freshman). Silver award winners included Jessica Bond (senior), Kevin Li (junior), Luke Wells (sophomore), and Abby Frost (freshman), while bronze awards went to Madeline Jackson (senior), Samantha Richt (junior), Meg Garrett (sophomore), and Danny Lee (freshman).

Students who scored the highest this year on the ACT, SAT, and PSAT were recognized with Wolverine Scholar Awards for their achievement. Students recognized with these honors included sophomore, Emily Weaver and junior, Chase Deatrick.

Other achievement recognitions included the presentation of the 2016 UGA Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi award given to the top student in both the senior and junior classes, which went to senior, Mary Martin Harper and junior, Samantha Richt; the DAR Good Citizen Award to Gabby Sims; UGA Certificate of Merit Award recipients Chase Deatrick, Macy Frazier, Isabelle Renn, and Samantha Richt; Rotary Club Student of the Semester award winners Sarah Beth Johnson and Zach Ware, and Star Student, Will Douglas. The Star Student program recognizes the senior with the highest SAT score in one sitting.

Juniors Virginia Beth Butler, Palmer Heath, Forde Norris, and Sam Todd were recognized for their participation in Youth Leadership Athens. YLA is a program designed to develop leadership skills and community awareness for high school juniors. The program includes a leadership retreat and learning sessions that include topics such as volunteerism, public service, government, arts, and business.

Also recognized was junior, Macy Frazier, for being an active member of the Junior Board of Directors for Oconee State Bank, an organization comprised of high school students who are highly conscientious, industrious, respectful, academically motived individuals who are interested in the field of banking.

The OES Hedbring College Scholarship requested that senior Ethan Houseman be recognized as the recipient of one of only two scholarships awarded within the company. This scholarship is given based on the criteria of academic success, community involvement, integrity, and work ethic.

The Prince Avenue Christian School Fine Arts Department awarded the Exodus 35 honor for visual arts leadership, character, and excellence in visual arts to Peyton Ricketts; the Levite Award for performing arts, band, praise team, character, and excellence in visual arts to Will Douglas and Macy Frazier, and the Candy Todd Best Actor and Best Actress awards to Will Douglas and Macy Frazier.

The Wolverine Band presented the Patrick Gilmore Band Award to Jared Gilstrap; the Woody Herman Jazz Award to Brad Bennett; and the John Philip Sousa Band Award to Ethan Houseman. The Yearbook Editor Award was presented to Gabrielle Sims.

The Wolverine Athletic Department presented the Wolverine Christian Character Award to Warren Albert, the Wolverine Scholastic Award to Sarah Beth Johnson, and Wolverine Commitment Awards to the athletes who participated in three sports during the academic year to Noah Campbell, Shelby Davis, Harrison Jump, Buck Leffingwell, Kaitlyn Padgitt, Grant Roland, Allison Shirley, Mack Simmons, and Emma Taylor.

High School students who earned the highest average for the first three quarters in each subject area by grade were also recognized during Honors Day.

Lisa Ricketts, Director of Academic Counseling, presented the school with overall statistics for this year’s senior class. The Class of 2016 will graduate 69 students. The total number of AP classes taken by the Class of 2016 is 79, totaling 592 college semester hours completed. Based on college decisions thus far, the Class of 2016 has been offered approximately $875,652.00 worth of scholarship money to attend college in the fall. Many of these scholarships are renewable and upon the completion of four years of college, Prince graduates for the class of 2016 may well earn in excess of $2.9 million dollars.

This year’s seniors applied to 193 colleges. Members of the Class of 2016 will matriculate to the following colleges in the coming academic year: Anderson University, Birmingham Southern College, Carson Newman University, Duke University, Georgia College and State University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, Johnson and Wales University, Lee University, Lenoir Rhyne University, Mercer University, Piedmont College, Reinhardt University, Samford University, Truett McConnell College, University of Georgia, University of Maryland, University of New Orleans, University of North Georgia Oconee and Dahlonega, University of West Georgia, and Young Harris College.

Click here to view all pictures from Honors Day: Honors Day 2016 Pictures