Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Crowd Watched As Students Recognized For Achievements
Education 6A
PRAIRIE GROVE — The Prairie Grove School Board had to move the location for its March 11 meeting to accommodate a standing- room crowd of teachers, students and parents.
The board used the meeting to recognize numerous students for special achievements and high honors and it took 45 minutes to complete the presentations.
The board also approved the 2013-14 academic calendar. The first day of school will be Aug. 19 and the last day will be May 23.
In addition to all the students, the board also recognized two teachers. Dustin Seaton, the district’s gifted and talented teacher and coordinator, was named “Outstanding GT Teacher of the Year” at a recent state conference and high school teacher Dickie Thomasson was recognized by the College Board Southwestern Region for his commitment to excellence in the Advanced Placement program.
The following students were recognized:
• Geography Bee: Andrea Hankins won the School Geography Bee and will compete in the State competition in April at the University of Central Arkansas.
• History Bee: Roy McKenzie, Avery Roton, Beau Foster and Carter McKenzie won the School History Bee. Roton and McKenzie competed in the regional competition on March 1.
• Young Entrepreneurial Showcase ( Y. E. S.) Business Plan Competition: Fifth graders Carter McKenzie, Kade Mitchell, Griffin Roton and Atticus Warren won first place and $ 200 each for having the Most Innovative Product and Best Marketing Plan in the state in January.
The junior high Quiz Bowl team placed third at the regional 4A tournament and third at the state tournament held Feb. 23 in Arkadelphia. Quiz Bowl members are eighth graders Roy McKenzie, Avery Roton, Micah Duncan, Matthew Haley and Zeke Laird, and seventh graders Lawson Smith, Paul Cole, Brandon Middlebrook, Mark Dorey, Abbie Murdock, and John David Elder. McKenzie also made the All-Tournament team and earned the highest point score in the 4A state tournament.
• National Essay Winner: Roy McKenzie won an allexpense- paid- trip to New Orleans in January for his essay about Arkansas during World War II.
• High School Academic Competition in Education and Quiz Bowl teams: Members are John Vinzant, Will Pohlman, Zack Galligan, James Middlebrook, Spencer Erdman, Wade Pierson, Charlie Swearingen, Jeremy Guthrie, Dakota Davis, Jeff Frerking, and Miles Lowe.
• Chess Tournament: Prairie Grove students placed in their divisions in the Feb. 9 regional chess tournament, sponsored by Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative. Winners: Ella Nations, Carter McKenzie, Ben Beason, Vol Woods, Roy McKenzie. Ethan Beason received one of two “Best Sportsmanship” awards given out to all students present.
• State House Pages: Seniors Will Pohlman and Tania Herrera and eighth graders Zeke Laird and Roy McKenzie served as House pages for State Rep. Charlene Fite on March 6 at the State Capitol. They were able to see the legislative process as well as have their photos taken with Gov. Mike Beebe.
• National History Day regional winners: Prairie Grove sent 85 students in grades 4-12 to compete in the Regional National History Day competition at NWACC in Bentonville. These students competed against more than 450 students from other northwest Arkansas school districts. Prairie Grove had 11 entries and 18 students place in the top 3 and qualify for the state competition at UCA on April 20.
Prairie Grove had more junior high students qualify for the state than any other school in northwest Arkansas
Students advancing to the state History Day competition: Will Pohlman, Tania Lopez, Emily Grant, Noah Akey, Eralise Mauk, Cameryn Curtsinger, Maria Akey, Katharine McConnell, Baylie Lanier, Lawson Smith, Clay Fidler, Roy McKenzie, Zach Smith, Jayde Tindall, Grace Mertz, Zeke Laird, Joanna Herrera and Karina Lopez.
Regional History Day winners ( for younger grades): Knox Laird, Kennedy Conrad and Kelsey Pickett, Cole Vertz and Alex Edmiston.
In addition, Prairie Grove’s GT program was awarded $3,000 and the Act 56 Award for “Best GT Program in Arkansas” for middle sized school districts in the state. Seaton said this award reflects all the hard work that students and parents have put into revitalizing the district’s GT program.