34TH ANNUAL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Each year, The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Weyerhaeuser Co. honor the top 5% of the graduating classes from all seven public school districts in Garland County, including the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts.
This annual event was started in 1986 by Ray Owen Jr. while he was on the Education Committee for the Chamber of Commerce and the tradition has continued. Weyerhaeuser has been a sponsor of this event since 2006 and The Sentinel-Record is an in-kind sponsor.
With schools being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and based on the latest information from public health officials, the chamber and Weyerhaeuser Company decided to modify the Academic Excellence Banquet this year.
The students will still be honored for their accomplishments on Tuesday with a drive-through recognition event.
“Please come anytime between 5-7:30 p.m. with your family to Weyerhaeuser Co. headquarters at 810 Whittington Ave. There will be signs to guide you to the tent outside where you will be able to come have your picture taken, receive your certificate of excellence and pick up your special recognition gift compliments of Weyerhaeuser Co.,” a letter from the chamber sent to all the students states.
The following is a list of the students being honored this year. The biographies and photographs were provided by the Chamber of Commerce. (Information for Christopher Desfassiaux and Destini Nichols was not available). Yoo-Jin Ahn
Ahn is the daughter of Jeongho Ahn and Jeonghee
Choi. She attends the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, where she is an admissions delegate, plays violin in the orchestra and is a junior volunteer at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital.
She plans to major in chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis.
Ryan Avila
Avila is the son of Veronica and Emilio Avila. He attends Fountain Lake Charter High School, where he is a member of the National
Honor Society,
Beta Club and band.
He plans to major in biological sciences at Arkansas Tech University. Madison Bellomy Bellomy is the daughter of Jessie Lepitre and Steven Bellomy. She attends Cutter Morning Star
High School, where she is a member of
FBLA, FCA and the Lady
Eagles Volleyball team.
She plans to major in language arts/social studies for 4-8 education at National Park College.
Joseph Benson
Benson is the son of Gary and Christine Benson. He attends Jessieville High School, where he is president of FBLA, vice president of Student Council and a captain on the senior high football team.
He plans to major in business administration with a minor in marketing at Ouachita Baptist University.
Devin Wyatt Blythe Blythe is the son of Chris and Jodie Blythe. He attends
Lake Hamilton
High School, serves as squadron commander with the rank of captain in the
Civil Air Patrol, is captain of the LHHS bowling team and captain of the CS: GO E-Sports Team.
He has enlisted in the U.S. Navy with plans to study nuclear engineering.
Alyssa Brown
Brown is the daughter of Kristin McGraw. She attends Hot Springs World
Class High
School and is a member of
Hot Springs
Dance Troupe, National Hon- ors Society and Leadership Hot Springs.
She plans to major in finance at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Katherine Elizabeth Calandro
Calandro is the daughter of Tony and
Ann Calandro. She attends Lakeside High School, where she is senior class president, vice president of National
Honor Society and head drum major of the Show Band of Lakeside.
She plans to major in prelaw at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Rachel Caldwell Caldwell is the daughter of John and
Robyn Caldwell. She attends Hot Springs World
Class High School, where she is a member of Key
Club, Art Club and National
Honor Society.
She plans to major in biology at the University of Arkansas.
Isabella Calhoun Calhoun is the daughter of Blake Calhoun and Laurie
Bishop. She attends Lakeside
High School, where she is a member of the Lakeside
Tennis Team, National Honor Society and
Beta Club.
She plans to major in nursing at the University of Arkansas.
Amy Nicoleta Cofar Cofar is the daughter of Nicoleta Malan Socaci. She attends Lake Hamilton High School, where she is a member of Spanish Honors Society, National English Honors Society and Future Business Leaders of America.
She plans to major in respiratory therapy.
Mary Catherine Cowen Cowen is the daughter of Russ and Meg Cowen. She attends Lakeside High School, where she served as an executive member of Student Council for two years, treasurer one year and club president her senior year, was a participant in the Leadership Hot Springs Youth Program and is on the Lakeside volleyball and tennis teams.
She was chosen as the Garland County Tennis Player of the Year in 2018 and on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All Arkansas Preps Girls Tennis Team in 2019.
She plans to major in biology at the University of Arkansas Honors College.
Hattie Anne Douglas Douglas is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs.
Brien Douglas. She attends Lakeside
High School, where she is a member of the Leadership of
Hot Springs Partnership with Youth Program, National Honor Society and National Beta Club.
She represented Lakeside at Arkansas Girls State and at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar.
She plans to attend the University of Arkansas Honors
College and major in interior design at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. Madison Easley
Easley is the daughter of Jason Easley and
Kendra Easley.
She attends Lakeside High School, where she is a member of National
Honor Society,
Beta Club and Spanish Honor Society.
She plans to major in biology at Ouachita Baptist University.
Esther Filipek
Filipek is the daughter of Charles Filipek and Gina Filipek. She attends the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, where she is a member of the Ultimate
Frisbee Team, band and Chess Club.
She plans to major in Earth Systems at Stanford University. Mei-Ling Godfrey Godfrey is the daughter of Mark Godfrey.
She attends Mountain Pine
High School, where she is a member of the basketball team and co-captain of the softball team.
She plans to major in mechanical engineering at National Park College. Georgia Gooch
Gooch is the daughter of Don and Dana
Gooch. She attends Lakeside
High School, where she is a member of the Sister City Exchange Program, Lakeside
Choir and the Lakeside Tennis Team.
She plans to major in mechanical engineering at the University of Mississippi. Aaliyah Gray
Gray is the daughter of Melinda Gray. She attends Lake Hamilton High School, where she is a member of FCCLA,
Lake Hamilton’s choral program and president of the German Club.
She plans to major in biochemistry and minor in neuroscience at Hendrix College. Jack Griffin
Griffin is the son of Sally Esarey and the late Gillie Griffin. He attends
Lake Hamilton
High School, where he is a member of Mu
Alpha Theta
Club, National Honor Society and the cross-country team.
He plans to major in supply chain management at the University of Central Arkansas. Pearson Hafer
Hafer is the son of David and Amy Hafer.
He attends Lake Hamilton High School, where he is a member of the football team, the Quiz
Bowl team and National Com- puter Science
Honor Society.
He plans to major in biology at the University of Arkansas. Chase Hartsell
Hartsell is the son of Shane and Deana Hartsell. He attends Lakeside
High School, does broadcasting on Lakeside
TV, is on the
First Baptist
Church Student Impact Team and helps with the Special Olympics.
He plans to major in sports media and sports management with Ouachita Baptist University. Colby Heaton
Heaton is the son of Kelly and Angie Heaton. He attends
Cutter Morning Star High School, where he is a member of the basketball team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and
Beta Club.
He plans to major in political science and history at Ouachita Baptist University with plans to attend law school.
Miles Hermann Hermann is the son of Marcia Hermann and Jason Hermann. He attends Hot Springs World
Class High School, where he is a member of National
Honor Society, Spanish Club and the TB Diploma Program.
He plans to major in mechanical engineering at Arkansas Tech University.
Victoria Hwang
Hwang is the daughter of Charlie and Madison Hwang. She attends the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, and was involved with the Korean
War Project, writing thank you letters to Arkansas Korean War veterans with photos of modern Korea taken by her, a UAMS research project, researching the survival mechanisms of brain tumor cells, and plays violin in competitions and with orchestras. Matthew Kalahiki Kalahiki is the son of Ken and Doris Kalahiki. He attends Lakeside
High School, where he is a member of the Lakeside Football Team,
Boy Scouts of America and
National Honor Society. He plans to major in finance. Zoie Keys
Keys is the daughter of Candyce Keys.
She attends
Lake Hamilton
High School, where she is co-chair of the Computer Science Honor Society, president of FBLA and a member of
FCCLA and National English Honor Society.
She volunteers at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, was a National Hispanic Scholar and attended the Hugh O’Brian
Youth Leadership Conference and Arkansas Girls State.
She plans to major in computer science at Hendrix College.
Olivia Lawrence Lawrence is the daughter of Shannon Shannon and Jason Lawrence.
She attends Lakeside High School, where she is a member of the student council, the Lakeside Chamber Singers, where she was All Region Choir three years, and All State her sophomore and senior year; and team captain of the Lakeside Volleyball Team.
She was 5A All Conference and 5A All State in volleyball her junior and senior years and an Under Armor Watchlist nominee and finalist her senior year.
She plans to major in accounting at the University of Arkansas Honors College. Minola Lee
Lee is the daughter of Charles Lee and Catherine Lee. She attends the Arkansas School for Mathematics,
Sciences, and the Arts, where she is vice president of the Human
Rights Club, a member of Interact Club and a Hot Springs National Park volunteer.
She plans to major in environmental studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Carter Manatt
Manatt is the son of Taylor and Natalie Manatt. He attends Lake Hamilton High School, is on the Youth Advisory Council for Hot Springs, the cross-country, track and swim teams, a member of the Lake Valley Community Church youth group worship band and is a seventh- and eighth-grade boys small group leader.
He plans to major in mechanical engineering at Arkansas Tech University.
Hadley Medlock Medlock is the daughter of Carole and
Todd Medlock.
She attends the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, where she is student government treasurer, a student ambassador and a member of the ASMSA Ocean Bowl team.
She plans to major in English with a minor in environmental studies at Rice University.
Andrea Mogovan Mogovan is the daughter of Daniel and Daniela Mogovan. She attends Lake Hamilton High School, where she is president of Mu
Alpha Theta and a member of National
Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa.
She plans to major in nursing at National Park College. A.J. Navarro
Navarro is the son of Alex
Navarro and
Jenny Navarro. He attends the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, where he is involved in Advanced Research into Entrepreneurship Capstone, the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra and ASMSA Jazz and Chamber Ensemble.
He plans to major in international finance and business at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Marcus Needles
Needles is the son of Kenneth Kirby and Rodonna Ranola Needles.
He attends Fountain Lake Charter High School, where he is a member of the student council, the varsity basketball team and the band.
He plans to major in health sciences at University of Cen
tral Arkansas.
Matthew Novak
Novak attends Lake Hamilton High School, where he is a member of the Power
Band of Arkansas, the track and field teams and student council.
He plans to major in premed/ROTC at the University of Central Arkansas.
Benjamin Oliver
Oliver is the son of Timothy and Rebecca
Oliver. He attends the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, where he is a student ambassador, a mem- ber of Future Business Leaders of America and on the Ultimate Frisbee team.
He plans to major in international studies at the University of Mississippi or University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Jeremy Peret
Peret is the son of Florin and Estera
Peret. He attends Lake Hamilton High School, where he is drum major for the Powerband of Arkansas, president of National Honors Society and vice president of Mu Alpha Theta.
He plans to major in biomedical engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Luis Perez
Perez is the son of Jose Perez and Haydee Perez. He attends
Hot Springs
World Class
High School, where he is a member of National Honor
Society and Key
Club.
He plans to major in marketing.
Baylee Petty
Petty is the daughter of Blair and Terri Petty. She attends
Lake Hamilton
High School, where she is a member of the Computer Science Honor Society, National English Honor
Society and Mu
Alpha Theta (Math Club).
She plans to major in political science and prelaw at the University of Central Arkansas. Victoria Pike
Pike is the daughter of Charles and Tonya Pike. She attends Fountain
Lake Charter
High School, where she hosts Fountain Lake’s weekly news show, “The Cobra Update,” and is a member of National Honor Society and president of Interact Club.
She plans to major in broadcast journalism at the University of Missouri.
Anacaren Ramos
Ramos is the daughter of Fidel Ramos and
Petra Ramos.
She attends
Lake Hamilton
High School, where she is president of the student council and the Environmental
Club and ran cross-country and track for six years.
She plans to major in interior design at the University of Central Arkansas Honors College. Isabel Ritter
Ritter is the daughter of Bill and Melony Ritter. She attends
Hot Springs
World Class
High School, where she is a member of band, student council and the tennis team.
She plans to major in chemistry at Hendrix College.
Jacob Semmier
Semmier is the son of Drs. Mike and Susan Semmier.
He attends Jessieville
High School, where he is the Youth Advisory Council multimedia chair and a Search Team member for Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, a guitarist for Team Jesus Youth worship band at Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock and a youth music leader for St.
Mary of the Springs Catholic Church in Hot Springs.
He plans to major in aerospace (professional pilot) and audio production at Middle Tennessee State University. Madalyn Rose Simmons Simmons is the daughter of
Amy Simmons and Travis Simmons. She attends Hot Springs World
Class High School, where she is a member of the I.B.