‘We’re really proud of them’: GMC wins state title at State Literary Competition

Georgia Military College Prep School won first place in the Single-A Public division at the State Literary Competition March 16, and multiple students won individual awards.

“We’re really proud of them. They worked countless hours,” said Jenny Morris, the co-coach of the team and the assistant fine arts director at GMC. “As a teacher and as a fine arts person and as a coach for students, it really makes ... what you do worthwhile and makes you happy.”

The students won first place in the categories boys quartet, dramatic acting, humorous acting and both extemporaneous speaking categories. The students also received awards in the categories duo acting, girls solo, boys solo, girls trio, rhetorical essay and argumentative essay, according to a news release.

Although this is the fifth year GMC won the state title, Morris said this is one of the first times the entire team made it to state.

“It makes you excited that your hard work as well as their hard work paid off, and you always want your students to be successful, so that’s always so rewarding,” she said.

Morris said she coaches the students alongside Mark Weaver, GMC’s fine arts director.

“It feels amazing to win a State Championship again,” Weaver said in the release. “Our students really worked hard to maintain this streak and compete well.”

Joseph Maerz Award

The Morning Music Club of Macon announced the winner of the Joseph Maerz Award, which includes a $2,000 scholarship, according to a news release.

Hannah Dickerson, who attends Telfair County High School, won the competition, and she plans to study music education at Columbus State University, according to the release.

Leah Duval won first runner-up and a $250 award, and Nicholus Jackson won $250 as the second runner-up. Kamari Hardee won $100 as the third runner-up, according to the release.

Amgen Scholars

Mercer University juniors Amanda Cimino and Molly Parrish will spend 10 weeks at prestigious institutions conducting research as part of the Amgen Scholars program, according to a news release.

Cimino, who will spend the summer at Duke University, conducts research in the lab of Joanna Thomas, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Mercer, involving drug-releasing polymers, according to the release.

“I’m thrilled Amanda has been selected as an Amgen Scholar at Duke,” said Thomas, in the release. “She is an exceptionally bright and determined student.”

Parrish, who will spend the summer at Yale University, conducts research in the lab of Garland Crawford, associate professor of chemistry, according to the release.

“I am really proud of Molly for all her work at Mercer and for pursuing this outstanding professional opportunity,” said Crawford in the release. “She is an exemplary student in the classroom and in the research lab. This program will allow her to explore other areas of biomedical research while adding to an already impressive resume.”