Outstanding students recognized at NAHS
North Augusta High School each year recognizes 10 outstanding seniors who have not only displayed exemplary character but also brought "positive recognition to our school and community through their extracurricular and academic pursuits," explained teacher and program coordinator Susan Davis as she announced the 2010 Hall of Fame last Friday.
Davis explained that students in the school nominated a total of 34 students for the honor and then the final 10 were chosen by a plurality of votes from the school's faculty.
This year's honorees are Aubrey Anna Lamar, Frederick Martin Grimm Jr., Emily Claire White, Nicholas Phillip Gamble, Jennifer Leslie Price, Jessica Victoria Kaczmarek, Chukwuemeka John Okafor, Stacey Belinda Scaggs, Kay Elizabeth Meyer and Kayla Leigh Davis.
During an assembly of the entire student body, Davis commented, "These young people epitomize the character, integrity and attitude that the faculty wishes all students to emulate."
The teacher pointed out some of the traits demonstrated by the 10 Hall of Famers include commitment, courage and honor. She concluded, "A wise person once said, 'The future is purchased by the present.' These Hall of Fame winners are definitely procurers of the future."
During a reception for the students and their parents following the assembly, Principal Kyle Smith reminded the gathering that the students should thank their parents for "staying on you." He also asked that they not forget where they came from. "To whom much is given, much is required," Smith quote.
He also asked that the 10 chosen be sensitive to the feelings of other outstanding students who were nominated but were not among the top 10.
Ebele Okafor, mother of one of the Hall of Famers, suggested that while it is good to thank the parents and the students for the children's successes, she added, "We also need to give thanks to the school. North Augusta is one of the best, and the leadership is awesome."
Hall of Fame inductees and some of their accomplishments over the last four years include:
* Emily White -- NAHS Senior Class secretary,Sandspurs photography editor, 5-2 Break Bible study leader and founder; member of Beta Club, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Student Council vice president and representative; participants in "The Last Act Drama Society," Young Americans, Kool Serteen Club, Mu Alpha Theta Math Club, Spanish Club, Powder Puff football; co-captain of JV cheer squad; mayor of her Palmetto Girl's State city; junior marshal; volunteer for North Augusta Tour of Homes, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Relay For Life, Augusta Urban Ministries, Helping Hands adult day care; recipient of News Channel 12 Time to Care Award, Augusta's Young Woman of Distinction, S.C. Outstanding Teen 2008, S.C. Junior Miss Top 8 and academic scholarship winner.
Emily plans to attend College of Charleston and major in communications. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger White.
* Stacey Scaggs -- Lady Yellow Jackets varsity soccer team with records including least goals allowed, most wins/least losses in a single season, first playoff win, second place in the region, 10th place in the state and beating Irmo for the first time; three-time varsity soccer defensive MVP, Chronicle All-Area team; led Class of 2010 Powder Puff team to two championships; member of student council, Senior Advisory, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Sandspurs yearbook staff and Kool Serteen Club; first and second place awards in word processing I and II with FBLA; USC Aiken Scholar, Columbia College Scholar; volunteering at Grace UMC annual Valentine Banquet, RECing Crew Winter Ball, Fall Carnival, Master's Table soup kitchen.
Stacey will attend either Presbyterian College, Winthrop College or Clemson University and will major in biology. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Scaggs
* Jennifer Price -- President of Beta Club, president of National Honor Society, vice president of FBLA, S.C. State Parliamentarian for FBLA, advertising editor for Sandspurs yearbook staff; member of the Drama Club, varsity tennis team, Mu Alpha Theta Math Club, Kool Serteen Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, treasurer of the Sophomore Advisory; volunteer with Augusta Rescue Mission, Children's Tennis Camp, Adopt-a-Grandparent Program, Community Ministry of North Augusta, Relay For Life, North Augusta Tour of Homes; reads children's stories in local day care centers; FBLA first place in community service project presentation in 10th and 11th grades, first in impromptu speaking, second in public speaking; Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Award; mayor and president pro-tem of the Senate at Palmetto Girls State.
In the fall, Jennifer plans to attend either Anderson University or Presbyterian College, where she may major in education (with an eye toward teaching gifted and talented middle school students English or science). She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Price.
* Emeka Okafor -- International Baccalaureate diploma candidate; student body president and treasurer of the Beta Club; member of Sandspurs yearbook staff, Future Business Leaders of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Environmental Club and Literary Club; three-time varsity letterman for Yellow Jackets football and soccer; USC Aiken Scholar, Furman Scholar, New College of Florida Scholar, Augusta State University Scholar, USC Upstate Scholar; Palmetto Boys State; winner of Community Partners Scholarship program; third place at FBLA national convention in emerging business issues, News Challenge Six Scholar Athlete, Chronicle football player of the week, Aiken Standard "Student to Watch for in 10 years"; volunteering more than 200 hours at Community Ministry of North Augusta, Salvation Army, baking pumpkin pies for homeless at Thanksgiving, VBS leader, volunteer at University Hospital; Grace UMC acolyte, torchbearer, crucifer.
Emeka plans to attend University of Florida or USC, where he will major in biomedical engineering and minor in Spanish in preparation for medical school. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Okafor.
* Kay Meyer -- Vice president of Fellowship Christian Athletes, reporter for FBLA, business editor of Sandspurs; member of National Honor Society and Beta Club; delegate to the 2009 Palmetto Girls State; director of parks, recreation and tourism for Youth Appreciation Day; varsity basketball team; Wofford Scholar, College of Charleston Cistern Scholar, Presbyterian College Fellow, Columbia College Scholar, Augusta State Scholar, USC Aiken Scholar; FBLA district, state and national awards in computer applications and Word Processing I and II; volunteer with conducting basketball clinics for 4- and 5-year-olds, North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Colonial Times at Living History Park, Augusta Rescue Mission and North Augusta Christmas Tour of Homes.
Kay plans to attend Clemson University and major in nursing. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rick Meyer.
* Aubrey Lamar -- Secretary for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, NAHS tennis team, cross-country team; co-captain of Lady Jackets varsity softball team; served as freshman, sophomore and junior adviser; 2008 and 2009 All-State, All-Region and High School Sports Report All-State softball teams; two-year recipient of Sertoma Athlete of Distinction Award; NAHS Varsity Softball Hitting Award, 2009 NAHS varsity softball MVP; volunteer efforts with homeless dinners, roofing with United Way, Laces4Love, RECing Crew.
Aubrey will attend the University of Kentucky on a softball scholarship where she plans to major in kinesiology with a goal of becoming a college softball coach. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lamar.
* Jessica Kaczmarek -- 2010 NAHS valedictorian; vice president of National Honor Society; member of FBLA, Beta Club, Literary Club; editor of "The Painted Quill," developing final layout and preparing for its first publication; FBLA first place winner in computer applications and business communications at the 2008 national convention; third place in North Augusta Optimist Club Essay contest; participant in U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad; top freshman score in American Mathematics Competition and third overall; University Hospital Junior Volunteer Scholar; volunteer with Golden Harvest Food Bank, baking pumpkin pies for homeless; senior crucifer and incense bearer at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church.
Jessica plans to attend either Clemson University, Georgia Tech or USC, where she will major in biochemistry and minor in business administration. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacek Kaczmarek.
* Frederick Grimm -- FBLA school chapter president and parliamentarian, S.C. president and parliamentarian; senior class president, co-captain of the Academic Team, captain of the varsity swim team, vice president of International Club, captain of the Science Bowl; member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mu Alpha Theta and varsity tennis team; volunteer with Augusta Rescue Mission, Community Ministry of North Augusta, Golden Harvest Food Bank, Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, Laces4Love, North Augusta Tour of Homes, North Augusta Small Business Exposition and Stop IT! (an identity theft prevention project; secretary of finance at Boys Nation, city party chair at Palmetto Boys State; 2010 state winner for S.C. DAR Good Citizenship Award; West Point Leadership award; Energy Solutions Foundation scholarship; first place in Optimist Club essay contest; many FBLA accomplishments at state and national level
Frederick plans to attend a four-year university and double major in electrical engineering and business administration. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Grimm Sr.
* Nicholas Phillip Gamble --executive officer and color guard commander of NAHS NJROTC; treasurer and webmaster of FBLA; member of The Yellow Jacket newspaper staff, National Beta Club, NJROTC Academic Team and NJROTC Varsity Drill Team; attended Palmetto Boys State, Air Force Academy Summer Seminar and 2008 Congressional Student Leadership Conference; National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and National Society of High Schools Scholar; volunteer in Adopt-a-Highway program, Christmas Tour of Homes, Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, Junior Achievement awards dinner, Colonial Times, U.S. Army Family Readiness Teen Council, Augusta Rescue Mission.
Nicholas will attend USC, where he will major in business and minor in a foreign language (most likely Japanese) and participate in the Air Force or Army ROTC. He is the son of Phyllis Gamble and Eddie Lee Gamble Jr.
* Kayla Davis -- Student Council treasurer, president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes; member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish Club, Sandspurs yearbook staff; participant in Youth Appreciation Day; delegate to Palmetto Girls State; JV and varsity cheerleading captain (for four years); volunteer with Adopt-a-Child Christmas Project, Salvation Army Christmas Feeding, Special Olympics, North Augusta Tour of Homes, American Legion Auxiliary poppy distribution, Golden Harvest Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity; major role in developing children's program at TrueNorth.
Kayla plans to attend NewSpring Community Church while pursuing a degree in communication studies at Clemson University. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Davis.