Education Notebook
St. Patrick Catholic High School seniors Felix "Chet" Rodrigue IV, Ramsey Wagner and Elizabeth Zorich have been named 2015 school winners for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award, which highlights exceptional high school seniors and their achievements in the classroom, on the field and in the community.
Rodrigue has been a member of the St. Patrick baseball team since 2011. He played recreational baseball for the city of Ocean Springs from 2003 to 2010 and for the city of Biloxi in 2011. He has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 2012 and was the baseball representative since 2014. He is a member of the St. Patrick Catholic High School robotics team and was selected to attend Lead America Engineering and Technology Conference in 2013. He was selected for the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologist Award of Excellence in 2015. He is the son of Felix Rodrigue III and Mary Rodrigue.
Wagner was a double gold medalist and silver medalist in Mississippi girls 3A track in 2015 and triple gold medalist in Mississippi girls 3A track in 2014. She was named the Sun Herald Girls Player of the Week in May 2015. In July 2013, Wagner was the Mississippi representative to Downunder Sports, Australia, and was named international (under 16) girls cross country MVP. Wagner is a representative of the Student Council, president of Mu Alpha Theta and secretary of Spanish Honor Society. She is a member of the St. Patrick Catholic High School Campus Ministry Team and the St. James Parish Youth Group. In the fall of 2016, Wagner plans to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She is the daughter of Clay and Kathy Wagner.
Zorich is a three-time softball state champion. She has been named one of Max Preps Top 25 players to watch for 2013-2015. Zorich was awarded the .465 batting average award in 2013, the .458 batting average award in 2014 and the .368 batting average award in 2015. She was part of the 3A All-State tournament team in 2013 and 2014. Zorich has been a member of the Velocity Gulf Coast travel softball team since 2008. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Interact Club, and she is a member of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Youth Group. She is the daughter of Michael and Ellen Zorich.
Lawler receives Nissan scholarship, attending MSU
Tyce Lawler, the son of Robinette and Thomas Lawler of Waveland, was honored as the only 2015 graduate in the state to be awarded a full tuition scholarship from Nissan North America Inc.
Lawler graduated from Bay High in 2015 and is enrolled at Mississippi State studying mechanical engineering. The selective Nissan scholarship was based on academics, leadership, involvement in extracurricular activities and a submitted 200-word essay. The scholarship covers full tuition expenses and required fees, as well as a book stipend.
While at Bay High, Lawler was named valedictorian, a scholar athlete and was a leader in numerous campus organizations. Lawler was selected by faculty and staff for the Bay High Hall of Fame and nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman award. He received the academic medal for both Spanish and social studies. Lawler was involved in numerous activities at Bay High, including varsity soccer, the Spanish Club and the National Honor Society.
In addition to the Nissan scholarship, Lawler received an Engineering Excellence Scholarship to Mississippi State and was selected as a member of the Shackouls Honors College.
Get2College scholarship application deadline nears
Dec. 1 is the deadline for the Get2College Scholarship Competition, which will award $100,000 in scholarships to Mississippi high school seniors. One hundred seniors will receive $1,000 for their college or university of choice.
Applicants must be Mississippi residents graduating from a Mississippi high school in the spring of 2016 and planning to enroll in an accredited college or university as a full-time student in fall 2016. The application includes two short-answer questions about the students' college choice process and thoughts about transitioning to college.
Details and application: get2college.org.
Russell wins second in logo design contest
William Carey University senior Joshua Russell of Ocean Springs was awarded second place in a logo design contest held by the Mississippi Collegiate Art Competition. Russell is an art major with a graphic design concentration at Carey's Tradition campus in Biloxi.
The art competition is held annually among both public and private universities and colleges throughout the state.
MGCCC Jackson County campus holds luncheon
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Jackson County campus hosted a Legends Luncheon, honoring past administrators, former and current campus employees, alumni and community leaders who have contributed to the 50 years of excellence at the Gautier campus.
The luncheon was part of the many events planned throughout the year to honor the 50th anniversary of the Jefferson Davis and Jackson County campuses.
The luncheon, attended by more than 150 guests, was followed by the dedication and burial of a time capsule in front of the campus Bell Tower. Included in the capsule were commemorative coins; invitations to the dedication ceremony; memories solicited from campus retirees, employees and students; impromptu signature roll; campus brochures and a viewbook; a list of programs and classes for the campus; pictures of existing campus buildings; a photo of the 50-Year Committee members; selfies; Homecoming photos; an employee list, a daily newspaper; an MSU engineering program; press release on Dr. Carmen Walters' appointment to campus vice president; copy of the dedication speech; JC Chatter newsletter; tickets stubs from various athletic events; a list of athletic programs; and business cards. The time capsule will be opened Oct. 22, 2065.
Carey nursing students join honor society
Thirty William Carey University nursing students were inducted into the Carey chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing during a ceremony in Hattiesburg.
Membership is by invitation to students completing both undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees. Criteria include successful completion of at least half of the program; a 3.0 GPA on core nursing courses; inclusion in the top 30 percent of the nursing class; professionalism; and the display of Christian principles in nursing care and practice.
Susan Lacey, a nursing professor and the director of graduate studies, faculty development and planning for Carey's School of Nursing, was the keynote speaker. Carey's chapter of the honor society, Chapter 462, was chartered in 2007.
Inductees include LaQuisha Arbuthnot of Ocean Springs; Cathy Bates of Biloxi; Allison Blair of Jay, Florida; Carissa Martine Bolden of McHenry; Jennifer Maxine Cappel of Slidell; John Michael Churchill of Lauderdale; Ishanda Coleman of New Orleans; Jeffrey Vincent Collins of Saucier; Adriane Crabtree of Hattiesburg; Trish Elizabeth Dauphin of Gretna, La.; Traci Easterling of Gulfport; Andria Entrekin of Purvis; Vanessa Gibbs of Hattiesburg; Kamero Haverstic of Long Beach; Keishandra Houston of Slidell; Tamela Leshell Hyland of Poplarville; Michelle Ladreyt of Destrehan, La.; Emerald Lawrence of Hattiesburg; Lauren Martinolich of Hattiesburg; Ashley McCray of McComb; Jennifer Marie McDavid of Ocean Springs; Nar'Cissa McDonald of Gautier; Christopher Ryan McMillan of Hickory; Elizabeth Nicholson of Petal; Jon Parks of Saucier; Lucretia Moore Peters of New Orleans; Stacey Waldrop of Gulfport; India Natasha Webb of Summit; Amanda Williams of McLain; and Crystal Shawnta Williams of Marion.
OLA students enjoy pumpkin decorating contest
Our Lady Academy students celebrated Halloween with a pumpkin decorating contest sponsored by the Student Council. The pumpkins were posted on Facebook and open to voting, determined by the most likes. Twenty pumpkins were created by grade levels and school clubs.
The junior class entry titled "Popekin" was the winner. Entries were set up in the school hallways in October.
This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Education Notebook ."