Business students advance

Sandy Creek High School’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter had 24 students competing at the FBLA Region 9 Leadership Conference on Jan. 24, and several took top honors and will head to the 2017 State Leadership Conference March 12-14 in Athens. They are: Megan DeErrico, first place, graphic design; Amber Sullivan, second place, personal finance; Kiara Alston and Meredith Raines, second place, public service announcement; Vincent Bartolomei and Hannah Zeiler, second place, hospitality management; Phaidra Buchanan, fourth place, economics, and fourth place, business calculations; Paul Buchanan, fourth place, journalism; Nathan Brown, Cole Neely and Hannah Zeiler, fourth place, sports and entertainment management; and David Zeiler, 17th place, intro to IT. Other students who brought home awards include Andrew Spencer, third place, future business leader; and Rachel Hartfield, fifth place, client services. Melanie Duncan, business education teacher, is the school’s FBLA adviser.

North Gwinnett teacher honored for innovations

North Gwinnett Middle School’s Cheri Nations is a 20162017 Innovation in Teaching Competition winner. The Georgia Department of Education award honors teachers who implement innovative strategies to advance student achievement. Nations is one of three winners in the state. The eighth-grade science teacher was selected for her work in applied learning with a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). Each winner will receive a $3,000 stipend and a $4,000 school grant. Georgia Public Broadcasting will film each of the winning educators teaching and interview them about teaching preparation. The videos, the teachers’ unit plans and supplementary materials, will be made available to other educators, parents and colleges.

Fayette grants reward students’ good behavior

The Fayette County Education Foundation has awarded more than $1,300 to schools using the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program, based on the philosophy of recognizing students’ contributions. Twelve schools — North Fayette Elementary, Fayetteville Elementary, Inman Elementary, Bennett’s Mill Middle, Flat Rock Middle, Fayette County High, Sandy Creek High, Alternative School, Cleveland Elementary, Robert J. Burch Elementary, Huddleston Elementary, and Whitewater Middle — received a $114 grant. Most schools will use the money to purchase reward incentives for students.

Kinetic art considered for Parsons Alley Plaza

The Duluth Public Art Committee has selected a piece of kinetic art for placement in the Parsons Alley Plaza. Developers of Parsons Alley have also indicated approval of the sculpture choice.

The Seattle, Washington-based artist, Andrew Carson, titles the 18-foot tall ‘wind sculpture’ Phoenix. According to his website, “I create my sculpture to interact with people and solve riddles of landscape both interior and exterior. Using a varied palette—electronics, illustration, the camera and mechanical systems I work very hard for elegant solutions for demanding problems of space.”

The $22,800 kinetic sculpture will be purchased through the Public Art Acquisition Funds. If approved by the city council, as expected, on Feb. 13, the art

Associate judge appointed to court

The Suwanee City Council voted unanimously recently to appoint Kimberly Gallant to serve as Associate Judge for the city’s municipal court. Gallant fills a vacant seat previously held by Associate Judge William Brogdon.

The Suwanee municipal court consists of Judge Norman Cuadra, and three associate judges. Gallant will join Associate Judge David S. Lee and Associate Judge Richard Ryczek Jr. The Suwanee municipal court is located within the Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway, on the other side of the fire department from the police department.