Bibb FFA student wins state honor
A Bibb County student is among 12 FFA students from Georgia named as State Star finalists who will receive the state designation at the organization's convention in April.
Northeast High School's Rachel Solomon is a finalist for the State Star in Agriscience. For the past two years, she has maintained a research Supervised Agricultural Experience focusing on the effects of the microbial fuel cell on kalanchoe plants and how to calculate chlorophyll content of a plant using Arnon's equation. Solomon, who plans to pursue a career in agricultural communications, said she became intrigued with the concept of researching the current state of the world's energy reservoir. She began to create a plan for displaying the qualities of the microbial fuel cell that could improve the agriculture industry and become a new source of electricity.
Each Star finalist has submitted an extensive application highlighting their finances, hours worked, skills developed and Supervised Agricultural Experience growth.
MIDDLE GEORGIA STUDENTS CHOSEN AS GEORGIA SCHOLARS
Nine students from Middle Georgia schools have been chosen as Georgia Scholars, according to a news release from the Georgia Department of Education.
Included in the 151 students who were selected statewide are Jacob Cardis, Emily Culpepper, Lizzie Reed and Nicholas Shealy from First Presbyterian Day School; Raymond Bryant, Emily Davis, David Forsee and Matthew Lawson from Perry High School; and Tyler Frye from Veterans High School.
According to the release, Georgia Scholars are "high school seniors who exhibit excellence in all phases of school life and in the home." The honor comes with a seal for each student's diploma.
MERCER NAMES NEW LIBERAL ARTS DEAN
Presbyterian College historian and academic administrator Anita Olson Gustafson has been named dean of Mercer University's College of Liberal Arts, the institution's oldest and largest academic unit. Her appointment is effective July 1.
Gustafson succeeds Lake Lambert, who last summer assumed the presidency of Hanover College in Indiana after serving as dean of the College of Liberal Arts for five years. Keith Howard, chairman and professor of mathematics, has been leading the college as interim dean since July 1, 2015.
In addition to serving as professor of history at Presbyterian College since 1997, Gustafson also held terms as interim provost from 2010-2012, interim dean of academic programs from 2005-2007 and chairwoman of the history department from 2000-2004.
BIBB COUNTY SENIOR AMONG COLORED ROCKS SCHOLARS
Rutland High School senior Gabriel Burgos was among 14 Georgia students selected for the Colored Rocks Prize, which honors "outstanding ethnic male students," according to a news release.
The honor comes with a $3,500 scholarship from the Colored Rocks Foundation. Burgos is the second student from Macon to pick up the scholarship, following Central High School's Oluwatosin Olagunju in 2014.
Burgos has a 3.9 GPA and hopes to study mechanical engineering to prepare for a career with NASA or Boeing.
HOUSTON STUDENTS WIN SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Northside Elementary School placed first in the Middle Georgia RESA Science Olympiad Regional Competition held March 5. Northside's team was the best out of 20 teams competing from eight school districts. The school's Science Olympiad Team now advances to the state competition, which will be at Kennessaw State University on May 14.
The following students also won individual first-place awards: Abigail Langlois and Emily Brooks in Leaf and Tree Finder; Elaina Haygood and Damon Smoot in Elements, Compounds and Mixtures; Dorothy Collins and Madison Altimirano in Straw Egg Drop; and Peyton Clements and Dominick Williams in Tennis Ball Catapult.
These students placed second: Sharai Colindes and Nevaeh Watters in Can Race, and Madison Altimirano and Nick Murphy in Grasp a Graph.
In addition, Gage Langdale and Nathan Felch placed third in Water Rockets.
This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 9:17 PM with the headline "Bibb FFA student wins state honor ."