CCSD Recognizes 148 Students as Superintendent’s 2015 Key Scholars
The Cherokee County School District annually recognizes outstanding high school juniors as Superintendent’s Key Scholars, and 148 students earned this honor for the 2014-15 School Year. Each of these outstanding students has scored at the 90th percentile or above on the Grade 11 PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
During the 10th Annual Superintendent’s Key Scholar Recognition Ceremony held on Tuesday, March 4, at Creekview High School, the students received a School District Certificate of Achievement and a letter jacket patch that reads “Superintendent’s Key Scholar.” Each student will also be honored at their school’s year-end awards ceremony as a Superintendent’s Key Scholar.
“As academic leaders, these outstanding students have the potential to continue distinguishing themselves as high school seniors and in their college pursuits and chosen careers,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo said. “We also extend our congratulations to all of the individuals who stand behind and support these students’ efforts, including parents, grandparents, teachers, school administrators and all others who have made and continue to make an impact on their education and their lives.”
The Key Scholar Program is a districtwide academic recognition plan that begins in elementary schools with students qualifying for the nationally recognized Duke University Talent Identification Program (or TIP). Over the last 10 years, more than 1,500 Cherokee County School District students in Grades 4 or 5 qualified for the Duke TIP program by achieving exceptional scores on either the Cognitive Abilities Test or the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.
Each student receiving this recognition received a Certificate of Achievement at his/her school’s year-end awards ceremony; and the Cherokee County School District has received special recognition from Duke University for having the largest number of students identified in the State of Georgia.
At the middle school level, the Key Scholars Program also includes Duke’s TIP, through which eligible students have the opportunity to get a head start on SAT and ACT testing… which usually does not begin until high school. Seventh-grade students participate in this nationally standardized testing, with many receiving State Recognition; and they are also recognized at a School Board meeting and at a special Duke University ceremony in Atlanta.
For high school students, the Key Scholar Program focuses on the Preliminary SAT (or PSAT). Freshmen scoring at the 80th percentile or above on the PSAT receive a Certificate of Achievement at their school’s year-end awards ceremonies. Sophomores scoring at the 85th percentile or above on the PSAT receive a Certificate of Achievement at their school’s year-end awards ceremonies.
The top award in the Key Scholar Program goes to seniors who qualify as National Merit Scholars. Over the past nine years, these academically outstanding students have led their classes as they marched across the stage at graduation wearing a special gold medallion.
The recognition ceremony on Tuesday evening also featured a performance by Creekview HS choral students, the presentation of colors by the Creekview HS Air Force Junior ROTC and remarks by School Board Chair Janet Read.
Please see the lists below for the names of recipients from each high school:
Cherokee High School
Sarah Jayne Burgess
Blake Chester
Austin Duncan
Joshua Freeman
Dalton Hutchison
Rian James
Rachel Odendahl
Austin Parris
Conner Stevens
Jessica Wenclawiak
Rebekah Williamson
Creekview High School
Nathan Allen
Anneliese Conrad
Brian Dunn
Grant Foster
Alexander Francoletti
Jamie Haley
Julianne Hartman
Peyton Heath
Madeline Holman
Shae Jolly
Andrew Jones
Dylan Kennedy
Amber Kidd
Anthony Lockard
Philip Lucksinger
Sydney Matyczynski
Madison Moak
Alyssa Powell
Shari Recinos
Mackenna Reddy
James Roberts
Madison Roop
Jacob Sokolove
Michael Stapor
David Wang
Etowah High School
Olivia Armstrong
Sarah Autry
Nicole Booth
Sara Brockmeier
Alexander Diaz
Mark DiMilia
Makenzie Donaldson
Samuel Donley
Robert Durham
Hannah Fowler
Shaina Futch
Daniel Gonzalez
Gunther Gossmann Torres
Ryan Grigsby
Davis Henderson
Lucas Hildebrandt
Logan Johnson
Jordan Kalteux
Autumn Kealy
Warren Kuhnel
Galen Lee
Apple Liu
Savannah Milligan
Haley Mummert
Jacob Nagy
Jessica Nicholson
Patrick Oliver
Kyla Resnick
Lillie Russell
Brett Setchfield
James Shaw
Jake Stuart
John Summers
Daniel Zimny
River Ridge High School
Kaila Banker
Devin Bresser
Katherine Carlsen
Christopher Fisher
Felix Johnston
Nicole Korch
Rebecca Mayer
Kelly Mayes
Raymond Molina
James Orgeron
Ian Ownby
Emily Pesch
Kathryn Popp
Maddison Smith
Amelia Smith
Jordan Sollie
Elias Sommer
Allyson Surovchak
Ivie Uwaifo
Matthew Wang
Olivia Webb
Sequoyah High School
Ashley Alderman
Amanda Barber
Caroline Bennett
Brianna Betor
Sarah Cottrill
Nicholas Duclos
Donovan Giardina
Yeseul Heo
Mackenzie Joy
Stephen Keller
Caroline Kraczon
Preston Lowry
Sydney McHugh
Austin Morrison
Alicia Morrison
Taylor Mullen
Nicolas Papasidero
Sierra Pelkey
Kyle Renner
Jenna Rich
Ashley Starnes
Madison Stout
Mason Trimbach
Elias Wheeler
Woodstock High School
Kendall Alsup
Bryce Bergman
Nelson Blais
Connor Booz
Noah Callahan
Lauren Case
Kyle Confer
Sara Duque
Michael Gustafson
Victoria Halbrook
Justin Heimerl
Brandon Hitchcock
Alexandra Ianitello
Mark Keenum
Nicole Kirby
Ben Le
Daniel Maloney
Christopher Mathis
Ryan McCall
Griffin McNamara
Claudia Miklosik
Kyle Pawlowski
Taylor Poole
Noah Robinson
Paula Ruiz
Stivens Salazar
Sergio Tuberquia-Acosta
Julia Tully
Eric Vizcaya-Eternod
Grant Witten
Kellie Wydrinski
Elijah Yurkevitch
Alexander Ziemeckiv