Awards and Accolades
Published August 2, 2013
Below is a list of recent accomplishments by Williamson County students and staff in the areas of academics, athletics and the arts. They are listed in alphabetical order according to school.
Brentwood High Grad Recognized at National Forensic League Tournament
Brentwood High School Class of 2013 Graduate Natalie Bennett was named a semifinalist in Congressional Debate at the National Forensic League National Speech and Debate Tournament in Birmingham.
The National Forensic League National Speech and Debate Tournament marks the capstone of high school speech and debate activities for nearly 120,000 students around the country. To attend, students must place among the top competitors at one of 109 District Tournaments. Qualifiers compete for more than $200,000 in college scholarships in a variety of speech, debate, and performance events.
In addition to being named a semifinalist in Congressional Debate, Natalie received a Senator Karl E. Mundt medal for outstanding Representative in the House at the national student congress sponsored by the John C. Stennis Center. Her coach is Harriet Medlin
Fairview Middle Student Earns Recognition at National Conference
Fairview Middle School student Blake McKinney was among those recognized at the annual National Conference for Technology Student Association in Orlando June 28-July 2.
More than 5,500 middle and high school student members competed in more than 60 competitive events based on principles and concepts learned through projects during the school year in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
Franklin High Wrestling Team Lends a Helping Hand
The Franklin High Wrestling team did some community service hours at Walnut Grove Elementary School July 29 by helping Assistant Principal Kathy Hall move new textbooks into her teacher's classrooms before the elementary students return to school.
"The wrestlers got a good work-out by moving the books around the school," said FHS Head Wrestling Coach Frank Barbrie. "When the boys do this type of community service it helps strengthen team bonds while building team unity. The kids had fun and enjoyed helping Assistant Principal Hall."
Grassland Middle Students Impress on Foreign Language Exams
Four Grassland Middle School students earned special recognition for their performance on foreign language exams during the 2012-13 school year. The students listed below who took the National French Contest were among the top scorers in the state in their levels. Their teacher is Suzanne Lange.
Student School Test Language Level Award
Louanne Maes Grassland Middle National French Contest Level 1B 3rd in TN
Erika Drugeot Grassland Middle National French Contest Level 1B 8th in TN
Trudy Zou Grassland Middle National French Contest Level 1A 7th in TN
Sarah Inman Grassland Middle National French Contest Level 1A 8th in TN
Hunters Bend Hot Shots Compete at National Tourney
Four members of the Hot Shots Jumprope Performance/Competitive team were honored July 23-25 at the AAU Jr. Olympics jumprope competition in Detroit. Davis Beasley, Jacob Weatherford, Sydney Harris and Sara Smith represented the Hot Shots team. All four attend Hunters Bend Elementary School in Franklin.
Sydney Harris placed 3rd in single rope freetyle earning a bronze medal
Sydney Harris and Davis Beasley place 8th in pairs freestyle
Sydney Harris placed 7th in single rope power
Sara Smith placed 9th in single rope freestyle
Ravenwood Forensics Team Participates in National Speech Competition
Five students from Ravenwood High School recently competed in the 2013 National Forensic League National Speech and Debate Tournament in Birmingham.
The team was represented by Alyssa Stockard and Ivy Rhodes (Duo Interpretation), Alyssa Miller and Andy Gordon (Duo Interpretation), and Ross Hildebrand (Congressional Debate). Miller and Gordon were named quarterfinalists and finished ranked 15th in the nation; Stockard and Rhodes finished ranked among the nation's top 60 teams; and Hildebrand was named a semifinalist and ranked 10th in the nation.
Nearly 3,000 students participated in the 2013 NFL National Tournament, billed as the world's largest academic competition. The event drew visitors and competitors from across the country as far as Hawaii, Alaska and Guam.
Their coach is Kelly Duyn.
WCS Students Earn Trip to Southeast Region Little League Baseball Tournament
Several Williamson County students will be playing in this year's Southeast Region Little League Baseball Tournament in Georgia.
WCS students Robert Hassell (Heritage Middle), Brice Russell (Spring Station Middle), Zane Denton (Woodland Middle), Blake Money (Spring Station Middle), Chris McElvain (Spring Station Middle) and Trae McLemore (Spring Station Middle) play for the South Nashville Little League Team. They defeated Goodlettsville to win their district. They also won the State Little League Tournament in Winchester by beating Spring Hill.
The Southeast Region Little League Baseball Tournament began August 1 and will run through August 9.
WCS Teachers Picked to Serve on AOSA National Committee
The National Committee for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) has asked Clovercroft Elementary School teacher Lauren Baker and Winstead Elementary School teacher Mallory Yerger to serve as committee chairs for the 2014 National Conference in Nashville.
The AOSA is a professional organization of educators dedicated to the creative music and movement approach developed by Carol Orff and Gunild Keetman. The national conference will be held at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Hall in November 2014.