Education Notebook: Midstate students honored by National Merit program

Several midstate students have been recognized as Commended Students in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

While the students will not go on to compete for National Merit Scholarships, they scored in the top 5 percent among the 1.5 million students nationwide taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Ellyson Glance and Tanner Pruitt were named Commended Students at Central High School.

Glance is currently ranked first in her senior class and is enrolled in Central’s International Baccalaureate program.

She is also the co-editor in chief of the The Central Post, the school newspaper, among other activities, and plans to study international relations in college.

Pruitt, also enrolled in the school’s IB program, is a member of the State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council this year, among other activities, and plans to pursue an education career.

The Westfield School seniors Drew Forrester, Maggie Hammerle and Rebekah Moredock also were named Commended Students.

Forrester has been recognized as an AP Scholar and as a member of the Georgia Independent School Association All Select Chorus. He is also graduate of the Perry Youth Leadership Program and is a member of the Upper School Chorus, Beta Club, Key Club, Foreign Language Club, and the varsity football, wrestling and soccer teams.

Hammerle has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor, Wofford Scholar and Georgia Merit Scholar. In addition to receiving numerous academic awards, Hammerle also has received a number of athletic awards in basketball, softball, track and soccer.

Moredock has been recognized as an AP Scholar, University of Georgia Certificate of Merit winner and Wofford Scholar. She has received the Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony Award and serves in leadership roles, including class chaplain, vice president of the Prayer Club and president of the chorus.

Mercer names new provost

D. Scott Davis will serve as Mercer University’s provost beginning Jan. 1, succeeding outgoing Provost Wallace Daniel.

Davis served as the university’s senior vice provost for research and dean of graduate studies before Friday’s announcement.

Davis began working at Mercer in 1991 as an assistant professor of chemistry. Through the years, he served as associate professor, chairman of the chemistry department, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and associate executive vice president.

“The opportunity to work with such a gifted group of deans, faculty and staff on a daily basis to enhance student learning will prove to be the highlight of my academic career,” Davis said in a news release.

Daniel will become a Distinguished University Professor of History at Mercer after stepping down from the provost’s job, which he has held since 2008.

In addition, Daniel, a historian who focuses on Russia, will finish a biography of Orthodox priest Aleksandr Men.

Before his time as Mercer’s provost, Daniel worked for 30 years at Baylor University. While he was provost, the university established four of Mercer’s six Ph.D. programs, as well as two of its professional doctoral programs, among other accomplishments.

“It has been my privilege to serve our students, faculty and staff as university provost for the last three and one half years,” Daniel said in a news release.

Peach County educator finalist for state award

Ben Maddox, assistant principal at Peach County High School, is one of two finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year at the high school level.

He was selected as a finalist for the Georgia association of Secondary Principals award based on the impact he makes in providing collaborative leadership, involvement in curriculum, instruction and assessment, and in personalizing education for students, according to a news release. The winner will be named Monday at an awards luncheon.

Twiggs County receives literacy grant

The Twiggs County school system received a $12,000 Progressive Reading Grant to aid student literacy.

With the grant, Twiggs County students will be able to use an online personalized library with more than 1,500 fiction and nonfiction books. Teachers will be able to create reading programs for students, and administrators will be able to monitor student reading progress.

“We believe this will encourage students to read more books, and develop (and) expand their love of reading,” Twiggs Superintendent Valya Lee said in a news release.

Twiggs County’s three schools are among six in the state that received the grant.

Northeast High math teacher receives award

Northeast High School math teacher Josh Hollar has been named the 2011 Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ Teacher of Promise.

The council gives the award every year to a teacher with up to three years in the classroom who shows excellence in teaching math. Hollar, a second-year teacher, received his bachelor’s degree from Georgia College & State University and is pursuing a masters degree from the university.

Tattnall Square math team bests competition

A team of Tattnall Square Academy students won first place in the High School Berry College Mathematics Contest this fall.

The Macon school bested second-place Whitewater High School in Fayette County and third-place Rome High School, according to a news release from the college.

Tattnall Square’s Taylor Holloway and William Jackson also were recognized as the competition’s first- and third-place individual student winners, respectively.

Tattnall Square Academy’s team was one of 11 participating in the event.

Compiled by Telegraph staff Andrea Castillo and Caryn Grant.

This story was originally published November 14, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Education Notebook: Midstate students honored by National Merit program."