Education Notebook: Northeast grad receives Jack Kent Cooke scholarship

Auriel Wright, a Harvard University freshman and Northeast High School's Class of 2015 valedictorian, has been selected into the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's College Scholarship Program.

Cooke College Scholars, outstanding students from across the country, receive up to $40,000 a year for up to four years to complete a bachelor's degree at any accredited college or university. Scholars are automatically eligible to receive continued graduate school funding of up to $50,000 a year for up to three years.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation seeks students who stand out from their peers based on ability and academic achievement and who have financial barriers to achieving their full potential.

MGA NURSING PROGRAM HOLDING INFO SESSIONS

Middle Georgia State University is hosting a series of information sessions for anyone interested in pursuing a bachelor's or associate degree in nursing.

University nursing faculty members will cover everything from admissions criteria and cost estimates to class schedules, and they will answer questions about other topics.

The session schedule is as follows: Cochran campus from 11 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m. on Monday, Roberts Library, Room 104; Warner Robins campus from 10-11 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Thomas Hall, Room 132; Macon campus 3-4 p.m. Wednesday and 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Jones Building, Room 102; and Dublin campus from 11 a.m.-noon Monday, Dublin Campus Annex, Room 208.

Campus maps and directions are at www.mga.edu/about/maps.aspx. For more information, call (478) 471-2761.

MERCER HOSTING SOUTHERN STUDIES LECTURE

On Wednesday, Mercer University's Center for Southern Studies will welcome Randall J. Stephens, reader in history and American studies at Northumbria University in England, to deliver a public lecture. (A reader is a senior academic with a distinguished reputation in research or scholarship.)

The lecture, titled "The Beatles, American Evangelicals, and the Fear of Corrupted Youth," will take place in Connell Student Center Conference Room 3 at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the community.

HOUSTON COUNTY CAREER ACADEMY HOSTING OPEN HOUSE

The Houston County Career Academy will host a campus visitation Thursday from 4-6 p.m. This is an opportunity for Houston County parents and students in grades 8 through 11 to learn about the careers and opportunities offered by the academy. HCCA enrolls students from across the county.

Each program will feature a hands-on activity to provide a first-hand look at the various career options. HCCA is located at 1311 Corder Road in Warner Robins. For more information, call 478-322-3280 or email Principal Sabrina Phelps at Sabrina.Phelps@hcbe.net.

LINDSEY ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL PROMOTED

The Houston County Board of Education appointed Anisa Baker-Busby as principal of Lindsey Elementary School at a recent board meeting. She is currently the school's assistant principal.

Baker-Busby has worked in the Houston County school system for 12 years. She holds doctorate and specialist degrees from Argosy University and master's and bachelor's degrees from Alabama State University.

INGRAM-PYE GARDEN RECEIVES AWARD

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recently recognized Ingram-Pye Elementary School with a second place Community Greening Award for its community garden. This state award recognizes the efforts of a group to improve, beautify and preserve the quality of life in a community. Nominated for the award by Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful Commission, the Ingram-Pye Community Garden was a project initiated by a grant from the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. The garden was a collaborative effort among United Way of Central Georgia, Leadership Macon's Class of 2014 and the Bibb County school district.

BOOKS NEEDED FOR MENTORING PROGRAM

The Mentors Project of Bibb County is co-sponsoring the "I Believe in Me" concert for teenagers Feb. 26 from 4-7 p.m. at Central City Park. The organization needs about 500 new or gently used books to give to children and teenagers as they leave the concert. The grade level for books is seventh through 12th. Donations may be delivered to The Mentors Project office at 484 Mulberry St., Suite 220. For more information, call (478) 765-8624.

MERCER GRAD PLACES IN RED CROSS MAKEATHON

Mercer University alumnus Gary Wall recently traveled to Bangalore, India, where he and teammate Rochelle Dumm won the $10,000 third-place prize in the inaugural International Committee of the Red Cross Enable Makeathon.

The ICRC and its partners invited people with disabilities, designers, engineers, humanitarians and entrepreneurs to join forces for the competition in an effort to develop affordable devices for those with disabilities living in rural areas. A total of 150 teams entered the "makeathon."

The entry by the RightFit Prosthetics Initiative, the name of Wall's team, included a prosthetic foot design that he created after graduating from Mercer. In addition to winning the third-place prize, ICRC and Mobility India, a rehabilitation research and training center, expressed interest in launching a small field study using the design at the ICRC's prosthetic facilities.

Telegraph writer Jeremy Timmerman compiled this report.

This story was originally published February 14, 2016 at 9:30 PM with the headline "Education Notebook: Northeast grad receives Jack Kent Cooke scholarship ."