Student Spotlights August 2022

Davidson High School student Blessings Kibet is having an exciting summer! She will complete an intensive eight-week U.S. Navy Summer Flight Academy aviation program at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, N.C., achieving her FAA Private Pilot’s license upon completion of the training. Kibet is one of just 20 high-ability 11th and 12th graders throughout the United States selected for the elite program.

About 150 JROTC cadets from around the county participated in the JROTC STEM Leadership Academy coordinated by Mobile County Public Schools in June. The Leadership Academy is a weeklong residential summer camp that blends STEM instruction and hands-on challenges with JROTC activities such as rappelling and orienteering. Students also visit local industry sites and workplaces to learn about STEM careers. The theme for this year’s camp was the maritime industry. Last fall, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $6 million grant for MCPSS to expand the Leadership Academy to school districts in other states.

Throughout the spring semester the middle school art class worked diligently to create an art experience based on the paining “The Waterlilly Pond” by Claude Monet. The class painted, crafted, and created during each art class period to produce this beautiful walk through experience. CHCA is proud of the hard work and efforts put in by these students under the direction of Mrs. Roberts.

Congratulations to St. Mary Catholic School eighth graders who received honors at the McGill-Toolen Foundation Scholarship Breakfast on May 11.

St. Mary students received the following scholarships: The Amy Hand Perry Scholarship for Spanish, Stewart Carroll; The Coach Peter Banks Scholarship for Track/Overall Student Achievement, Jennifer Dolan; The Henry E. Reimer Academic Scholarship for Highest Overall Score on the McT Placement Test, Rodrigo Sanchez Roca; The Mitzi Z. Wolfarth Scholarship for Overall Student Achievement, John Carter Conger; The Ruth W. and William J. O’Connor Scholarship for Highest Math Score one the McT Placement Test, Connor McCorkle; and The St. Augustine Scholars for Overall Student Achievement, Lucy O’Donnell, Connor Ollis, Joshua Sasser, and Deria Scott. Submitted by Marcelle Naman.

Mobile County Public Schools Superintendent Chresal D. Threadgill and the Mobile County Board of Education recognized educators, counselors and administrators who have earned statewide or national awards over the last three years by placing their names on The Giving Tree at Central Office. The honorees are:

Nicole Baranov, Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 2020

LTC Robert F. Barrow, JRTOC Director of Army Instruction of the Year, 2021

Stacey Dillard, State’s outstanding elementary science teacher, ASTA, 2021

Jessica Ellzey, Finalist, Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 2020

Malinda Gray, RAMP Award, American School Counselor Association, 2021

Darlene Lewis, RAMP Award, American School Counselor Association, 2021

Larry Mouton, Lifetime Achievement Award, Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education, 2021

Denise Riemer, School Social Work Association of Alabama Change Agent Award, 2021

Apryle Williams, RAMP Award, American School Counselor Association, 2021

Teachers of the Year 2021:

Julie Neidhardt, Hutchens Elementary, Elementary Teacher of the Year

Anna Mouton, Clark-Shaw Magnet, Middle School Teacher of the Year

Deborah Pippin, Citronelle High, High School Teacher of the Year

Teachers of the Year 2022:

Kelly Parker, Tanner Williams Elementary, Elementary School Teacher of the Year

William Edmonds, Barton Academy for Advanced World Studies, Middle School Teacher of the Year and Alabama’s Secondary Teacher of the Year

Jamie Bosarge, Alma Bryant High, High School Teacher of the Year

Local School Students joined the STEAM fun at Acton Academy in West Mobile for engaging and interactive learning experiences. Campers made lava lamps, s’mores ovens, puppet theaters and so much more. STEAM Camp gives kids an opportunity to experience and enjoy STEM learning, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity.

The faculty and staff of CHCA gathered at the end of the school year to reflect on the year together and celebrate all the Lord has done in and through the Warrior family. CHCA recognized the faculty and staff who have served for at least 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years at Cottage Hill. This will be an annual tradition to show the love and appreciation CHCA has for those who serve in Christian education as a part of the Warrior family!

Mobile County Public Schools celebrated 3,392 graduates in the Class of 2022, who received their diplomas in graduation ceremonies held in May. Before graduation, many of them returned to their elementary schools during Senior Walk activities held around the county. These events give the graduates a chance to visit former teachers and classrooms, while providing an example to the elementary students at each school. Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

Corpus Christi Catholic School librarian, Mrs. Mansfield, spent a few of her summer days at the ASLA 2022 Summer Conference.

LBA’s Summer Day Camp is running full speed! Each week has had a different theme, and the summer staff has been pouring many hours into teaching and creating crafts for the children. The weekly field trips are always a highlight, and in June, the children enjoyed Pump it Up, laser tag, bowling, and a trampoline park.

Davidson High student Dakota Perry received a Judges’ Award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta. Perry designed a system that corrals floating trash from rivers and streams by creating a curtain of bubbles to guide it to the shoreline.

We are so thankful to Lieutenant Perrin, Corporal Nelson, and the Mobile Police Department for taking the time out of their busy schedule to come visit our Summer Camp.

The children learned a lot about what great things an officer does to help us in times of need. They also learned how to distinguish a police officer from another person and how to ask for help.

St. Dominic Catholic School Summer Campers enjoyed a monumental experience during the Parish’s Annual Vacation Bible School.  They participated in games, drama, music, special snacks and outdoor activities.   Thank you to all of our participants who donated to Goodwill Gulf Coast as part of our service project for this year’s Vacation Bible School!

St. Dominic Catholic School buddy families have been busy delivering special welcome yard signs to our new families for the 2022/2023 school year.  We welcome all of our new Soaring Eagles!

Several St. Dominic Catholic School teachers enjoyed attending the “Nuts and Bolts” Professional Development Conference over the Summer. They have learned new skills and are excited to implement them into their classrooms for the 2022/2023 school year.

St. Luke’s student, Megan McDonough, received a PERFECT score on the 2022 National Latin Exam! The National Latin Exam (NLE) is a test given annually to Latin students across the United States and around the world. Congratulations to these students for being recognized for the National Latin Exam.

Gold medals and Summa Cum Laude certificates:
Megan McDonough (perfect score)
William McDonough
Kevin Ori
Joshua Green

Silver medals and Maxima Cum Laude certificates:
Sophie Abel
Jake Davis
Andrew Thomas
Murray Goodman
Jackson Tapscott
Hallie Dickinson
Sophia Bitzer

Magna Cum Laude certificates:
Morgan Haynes
Jacob Musial
Peighton Matheny

Cum Laude certificates:
Hazel Pitsios-Luther
Mason Brown
Carsten Kennedy

McT Catholic Junior Maggie Heller traveled to DC to advocate for Cystic Fibrosis at the US Capitol in DC. She met with Nicholas Ayers, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Jerry Carl, to discuss the importance of the Pasteur Act to CF patients. Maggie’s sister Lilly has Cystic Fibrosis.

Congratulations to Sophie Ward who was the St. Dominic Catholic School Reverend Monsignor William Skoneki Scholarship Award recipient.  This scholarship is awarded annually to the graduating eighth grader with the highest GPA.

As a result of their hard work and determination, St. Luke’s Elementary archery team recently went to Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky. This year alone, the team won several local tournaments, placed top 3 at regionals, placed top 3 at state, and was a top 3 team from Alabama at Nationals. Way to go, Wildcats!

Congratulations to these St. Luke’s students for making the Mobile All County Teams:

Soccer: Ella Ferebee, Ally Grace Lowell, Kiley Hawarah, Bianca Tapscott and Abigail Sadler.

Track & Field: Maddie Hurt, Kennedy Johnson, Taylor Jackson and Rowan Yeager.

Tennis: Anna Marie Bentley and Ella Bentley.

Congratulations to McGill-Toolen Catholic Senior Award Winners!

Back Row: McGill Award, Cole Blaize Hall; Ideal Graduate, Bennett Katz; Salutatorian, Beau Brechtel; Outstanding Female Athletes Ella Keaton and Laura Burch; McAtee Distinguished Service Award, Matthew Collings; Outstanding Male Athlete and Kaitlyn Marie Overstreet Spirit Award, Barry Dunning; McAtee Distinguished Service Award, Nina Poiroux

Front Row: Ideal Graduate, Grace Greenwood; Toolen Award, Janie Dunwell; Paul Joseph Bueche, Jr.  Service to God and Country Award, Hayden Ward; Kaitlyn Marie Overstreet Spirit Award, Samantha Collins; Salutatorian, Isabela Flores; Valedictorian, Milligan Grinstead

Congratulations to the St. Mary Class of 2022! We are proud of you and hope you will come back home and visit often. Congratulations to our 8th grade award recipients included in this album to include The Rev. Msgr. Peter J. Cunningham Awards, Model Christian Students, 4.0 Awards, Marian Honors, and Altar Server Awards. Pictured here: St. Mary Peter J. Cunningham Award Recipients, Emma Grubbs and Charlie Warner with KOC Member, David Wallace, St. Mary Principal, Debbie Olllis, and St. Mary Pastor, Father Stephen Vrazel

The St. Mary Catholic School Performing Arts Company presented their annual School Musical, Alice in Wonderland! Under the direction of St. Mary’s Director of Performing Arts, Hannah Mansfield, 23 students from 5th through 8th grade put on both a student and public performance. Submitted by Marcelle Naman. Photo by Hannah Mansfield.

One of the most popular traditions at St. Luke’s is the Maypole dance at Spring Fest. The Maypole is a tradition that dates back centuries that was used as a reminder that spring has sprung and rebirth has begun. Each year, our 5th grade students dance in a pattern that weaves the colorful ribbons around the Maypole and then reverse their steps to undo the ribbons. This is said to represent the lengthening of the days as summer approaches.

Congratulations to St. Pius X alumnus, Nate LaRue, and the Auburn University baseball program on their 2022 season! Picked to finish seventh in the SEC West, the 2022 Auburn Tigers finished tied for fifth nationally, ending their season at the College World Series with an 11-1 loss to Arkansas at Charles Schwab Field. Nate, your SPX family is so very proud of you and cannot wait to watch what you accomplish next year.

St. Mary Catholic congratulates their 8th Grade Students who were selected as McGill-Toolen Aquinas Scholars! Stewart Carroll, Emma Grubbs, Connor McCorkle, Jude Moore, Rodrigo Sanchez Roca, Evan Stein, Macy Tobias “The Aquinas Academy is designed to challenge the most gifted and motivated students in a demanding course of study. The development of the students’ abilities in all areas of the academic curriculum is emphasized along with various outside reading, writing, and extra activities” (McGill-toolen.org). Submitted by Marcelle Naman