Academic All-Stars-5287
Published December 13, 2012
This award is given to students who exhibit a positive attitude and a commitment to excellence in the classroom. Each Academic All-Star is chosen by his or her principal and receives a $10 gift card to Sonic Drive-In and a free gift courtesy of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More in Franklin.
Dalton Scott - College Grove Elementary
Those who know him describe 10 year-old Dalton Scott as an exceptional role model who is always willing to lend a helping hand. So it's no surprise that Dalton was recently named the Academic All-Star for College Grove Elementary School.
"Dalton is an amazing young man," said Fifth Grade Teacher Ginger Goad. "He is trustworthy, loyal and dependable and he's the kind of person who always does the right thing if someone is watching or not."
Dalton has attended College Grove since his days in pre-K and says his favorite subject is math. When he's not studying, Dalton enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
When he grows up, Dalton hopes to be a mechanic and says he especially wants to work on Ford trucks and cars. In the meantime, Dalton plans to study hard and stay focused on his classwork.
“I think it's important to do well in school," said Dalton. "A good education can help you get into a good college and get a good job when you grow up."
Ruth Ann Sewell - Fairview Middle
Fairview Middle School Seventh Grader Ruth Ann Sewell is the kind of student every teacher wants to have in their class. She's polite, studious and always focused on the task at hand. That's why teachers say she's the perfect choice for this year's Academic All-Star.
"Ruth Ann is an amazing student with a wonderful attitude," said Principal Gary Shrader. "We are all so proud of her here at Fairview Middle."
Now in her second year at Fairview Middle, Ruth Ann says she has enjoyed getting to know so many of the wonderful students and staff.
"This is a great school," said Ruth Ann. "I really like how nice the teachers are at Fairview Middle."
In her free time, Ruth Ann likes to read, ride her horse and compete on the Fairview Middle basketball team.
"I'm on the junior varsity team," said Ruth Ann. "I like basketball because it gives me a chance to shine and show the coach what I can do. After high school, I want to get a basketball scholarship to Belmont University."
Until then, Ruth Ann says she feels honored to be named an Academic All-Star and intends to keep up the good work. "I'm really proud of myself and glad the teachers elected me," said Ruth Ann. "This is very exciting."
Damien Tidwell - Fairview High
What a difference a year can make. Just ask Fairview High School Junior Damien Tidwell. In the last few months, Damien has shown dramatic improvement in the classroom, which led administrators to nominate him as this year's Academic All-Star.
"Damien faced many challenges both in school and outside of school when he first came to Fairview High," said Principal Dr. Juli Oyer. "This year he has turned it around. Not only is he an A/B student, he has worked hard at capturing credits he didn't earn previously. Through his hard work, he is on track to graduate and has become a true Academic All-Star."
Damien moved to Fairview in 2011 and admits he came in with a wrong attitude. But after a year of struggles, Damien made the decision to turn it around.
"I got tired of disappointing everyone," said Damien. "I wasn't living up to my potential and I thought school was just something I had to do. Now I take pride in my work and I come here each day ready to listen and be respectful."
Damien credits the teachers at Fairview High with helping him make the change. "The teachers here care," said Damien. "They're not just here for the job. They're here for the kids and I like that."
After high school, he plans to either go to college and train to be a therapist or enter the military. Either way, Damien says he's glad to be doing well in school and making those around him happy.
"It feels good to bring home a report card with A's and see the joy it brings my mom," said Damien. "It's nice to not only make myself proud but to make other people proud as well."
Meredith Sherwood - Franklin High
Franklin High School Senior Meredith Sherwood is a student who loves to learn. Whether she's studying biology or math, Meredith embraces the challenge of learning new concepts.
"I just like to learn new things," said Meredith. "I like the satisfaction of doing well and I feel like it's important to get as much knowledge as you can."
With that in mind, it's no surprise that the faculty at Franklin High School selected Meredith to be this year's Academic All-Star. Having attended FHS since ninth grade, Meredith says she has gained a true appreciation for the incredible teachers and staff at the school.
"We have really good teachers who are great at being personal with the students and helping us understand things," said Meredith. "My favorite class is AP biology which is hard but I love it."
Meredith's love for biology has carried over to her time outside of school. This year, she began working as an intern for a local research and development lab. Meredith says she enjoys the job so much she may want to pursue a career in the same field.
"I definitely think I'm going to go into something like that either in a laboratory or maybe go into the medical field and specialize in biology," said Meredith. "I just think it's interesting to see how things work."
Another passion of Meredith's is bowling, which she says is something of a family tradition. "My two older brothers bowled before me and my sister who's a freshman is also on the team," said Meredith. "There's just something about being able to work hard and be good at something that I really enjoy."
After graduation, Meredith hopes to attend Brigham Young University in Utah, a move that will allow her to continue her love for learning.
"I think education is important because you can be an athlete now but you're not always going to be able to compete athletically," said Meredith. "But if you get a good education you can always have that knowledge."