Senior awards
Carla Gwaltney Owens Sentinel Writer

Hayesville High School principal Dr. Gail Criss and HHS Guidance Counselor Karen Nicholson said they felt like it was Christmas Monday night at the Senior Awards as they helped share the good news of scholarships with students they had watched work hard and grow over the past four years.

The emotions for Criss and Nicholson, who work many hours with their students as they maneuver through the four years of high school, became very apparent near the end of the night Monday, when a representative from the U.S. Air Force Academy presented Michael Glatthar with his commission to the Air Force Academy. Criss could not hold back tears as Glatthar received a standing ovation from his classmates.

School Superintendent D. Scott Penland put it this way, "This is what we are all about. Academics are why we are here…and it's what we are really good at." Penland added that he looks forward to the Senior Awards presentation each year.

It took two hours to present the numerous scholarships to the HHS Senior Class, with members of the community presenting scholarships totaling over $100,000. In addition, scholarships received from universities, colleges and the military totaled almost $1 million.

In addition to Glatthar's acceptance into the Air Force Academy, which is worth a total of $387,000, Jared Ashe received an ROTC Scholarship to Georgia Tech which is worth $180,000.

Outstanding senior Ann Guggisberg, who applied and was accepted to Harvard University, received numerous local scholarship awards totaling almost $10,000, including a Wal-Mart Scholarship for $1,000 and the runner-up Beal Scholarship for $5,000. Guggisberg, who will be attending Clemson University in the fall, will also receive a National Merit Scholarship through Clemson University.

For the first time, the Beal Scholarships, which includes five scholarships totaling $50,000, were awarded by Mr. Ron Beal and the Beal Scholarship Selection Committee. Criss announced that HHS senior Nathan Bourne, who will attend College of the South in Suwanee, TN, will receive a four-year, $40,000 scholarship thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Beal. The remaining Beal Scholarships went to Ann Guggisberg, $5,000; Bethel Bower, $2,500; Ryan Gentle $1,000; Levi Gentle, $500; and Aaron Rogers received the $1,000 technical scholarship..

One of the larger scholarships awarded Monday evening went to Senior Blake Mosteller. The $10,000/4-year scholarship is funded by the State Employees Credit Union and was awarded to Mosteller by a SECU representative and HHS teacher Jim Saltz.

Also coming away from Monday night with substantial scholarship money was Andrea Ball who plans to pursue a career in the healthcare field. Ball received four separate scholarships totaling almost $4,000.

Twelve students from Hayesville will attend Young Harris College in the fall and each received scholarship awards Monday evening, totaling $108,000.

A $500 scholarship in honor of Chief Parker, who would have graduated from HHS next month, was awarded to Kyle Ingram.

Also awarded Monday night were two teaching awards. The HHS Teacher of the Year Award was presented by Student Council President Craig Shook and went to Senior English Teacher Ms. Karen Hazelwood.

The Beal Excellence in Teaching Award, in honor of Ron Beal's father who served the Clay County School System for many years and which includes a $1,000 check, was presented by Mr. Beal to Hayesville Middle School teacher Guinnell Hunter.

Four students received the HHS Citizenship Award which is voted on by members of the HHS Faculty. Dr. Criss explained that normally only two awards are given each year, but with such an outstanding class this year the faculty felt that four should be awarded. Nathan Bourne, Michael Glatthar, Andrea Ball and Billie Jean Curns were all recognized for their outstanding leadership.

Dr. Criss also presented Glatthar with the Principal's Leadership Award.

Two students held fund raisers as part of their senior projects to help provide scholarship money for fellow HHS seniors. Amanda James hosted a basketball game and raised $1,100 in memory of the late Becky Bradley who taught at Hayesville. James presented two Legacy Scholarship for Future Teachers in the amount of $550 to Carissa Dancer and Erin Layton.

Brendon Gray also set up a scholarship as his senior project through money he raised by hosting a three-on-three basketball tournament. Gray presented Ricky Davis, a member of the men's basketball team, a $750 scholarship.

Two teaching fellows were also named at Monday night's awards program, including Amanda James and Billie Jean Curns who will each receive a $6,500 per year scholarship.

National Merit Scholarship Commendation went to Nathan Bourne, Brendon Gray and Evan Leinbach.

Wendy's Heisman Nominees were Amanda James and Blake Mosteller.

The Daughters of the American Revolution award was presented to Billie Jean Curns and the Prudential Spirit of Community Award went to Ann Guggisberg.

Acomplete list of all scholarship recipients and senior academic awards will be included in the Sentinel Graduation Edition on June 6.

To comment on this article, email Carla at carlagowens@hotmail. com.

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