Upper School News

The Tragedy of Thebes has proven to be a success for Athens Academy. We are this year's One Act Play region champs! Billy Pate received "Best Actor" and Christine Shaw received "Best Actress"! Ansley McAlister, CJ Brown and Nicky Bradfield won acting awards as well!

We now go on to compete at State One Act Competition on Nov. 14 in Warner Robins. Lorraine Thompson spoke of their success and said "Our kids were wonderful today.... not only on the stage either.... they did a wonderful job engaging the other schools in games and conversation during all the breaks. They were wonderful examples of good sportsmanship."

Congratulations again to our thespians! Through your tears, you made us all proud.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 12:04 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to Upper School Spanish teacher Carmen Sherer, whose mini short stories ("microcuentos") have been published in the journal of the Cervantes Institute of Chicago.

To see her stories (in Spanish) here (go to p. 25):

http://issuu.com/bibliotecaicervanteschicago/docs/relatos_participantes_2009

Posted by Mr. Sears at 1:15 PM | Permalink

On September 19th, after a week on the road visiting colleges, members of SEEDS and other volunteers supported Keep Athens Clean and Beautiful by picking up trash and recyclables on their assigned stretch of Athens highways, Milledge Extension. SEEDS has committed to carry out this task four times over the course of the school year. The team is led by Junior, Kristin Lawson - who did a great job of organizing the activity.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 7:25 PM | Permalink

Everett Young, Class of 2009, was one of the 48 GE Healthcare GE STAR Award winners! There were a total of 274 winners across GE and applications were received from 31 countries and every GE Industry Focus Group was represented.

The GE Foundation established the GE STAR Awards program in 1984 to provide competitive awards to children of GE employees and retirees around the world. Since then, more than 10,000 student and teacher awards have been given worldwide for a total of $11 million.

The winners are chosen based on their academic record, extracurricular activities, community service, and personal experiences and goals as described in a written statement. The awards are used by the students to help meet their first year higher education expenses. Each students was recognized with a $3,500 GE STAR Award.

Congratulations to Everett and the Young family, as well as to Julie Boyd for being the teacher Everett honored with a $500 gift to Athens Academy.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 10:43 AM | Permalink

Athens Academy participated in Georgia Shakespeare's Second Annual High School Competition on Saturday February 21, 2009. Several of our Upper School Students competed with a scene or monologue from the works of William Shakespeare. There were 78 students from across the state of Georgia competing in this year's event. Students participating were Billy Pate, Mary Katerine Malone, Christine Shaw, Libby Hansen, Cate Jackson, Sofie Wasserman-Smith, Ansley McAlister, and Anne Lanier Gilbert. The day's competition concluded with a showcase of selected monologues/scenes and the award ceremony. Two Athens Academy students were selected to perform in the Showcase. This honor was bestowed on Anne Lanier Gilbert and Libby Hansen. Anne Lanier was also awarded the second place medal in the female monologue division. Athens Academy, as a school, was awarded the 1st Place School Award. This ranking reflects the school with highest overall average. This indicates that the scores of the Athens Academy competitors were consistently high. Congratulations to these Spartans!

Posted by Mr. Sears at 5:56 PM | Permalink

For the fourth year in a row, the Athens Academy Mock Trial team has won the Northeast Georgia Regional Championship. Ten public and private schools participated in the first two rounds of competition, culminating in a final round against Clarke Central High School.

The participants on this year's Mock Trial team are: Ella Douglas, Margaret DuBose, Madison Eberhardt, Anne Lanier Gilbert, Ben Glauser, Drew Jacoby, Mary Katherine Malone, Meagan Marshburn, Ned McGregor, David Richman Millard, Jane Robbins Mize, Elizabeth Newcomer, Adam Sapp, Christine Shaw, Karishma Sriram, Ayman Tartir, Bethany Varnado.

Many of the participants won awards for their performances, including: Margaret DuBose, Best Defense lawyer; Anne Lanier Gilbert, Best Defense Witness; Mary Katherine Malone; Best Plaintiff Witness; Christine Shaw, 2 Best Plaintiff Lawyer awards; Ayman Tartir, 2 Best Defense Witness awards.

Mock Trial allows students to sharpen their speaking skills, their ability to persuade, and their knowledge of law. It also provides a unique simulation of a case actually playing out in a courtroom. Several local attoneys have come to each one of the rehearsals to coach the students and have provided invaluable help, including Ernie Harris, Eric Eberhardt, Alison Spiers and Rich Connelly. In addition, Mrs. Thompson, the drama instructor, has helped out greatly by coaching the witnesses.

The State finals will take place on the 14th and 15th of March in Lawrenceville. We hope that everyone who can will come out to support the team.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 9:02 PM | Permalink

Drew Jacoby, Jordan Richardson, Tori Owers, Mike Callinan (sponsor) and Sarah Yoder are pictured here with Abdul Yaro (far left), regional director and Pat Bassett (far right), the President of NAIS.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 8:52 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to Daniel Masciadri for winning a position in the double bass section of the GMEA 2009 9-10 All-State Orchestra. Daniel auditioned and was selected from orchestra students across the entire state of Georgia. He will travel to Savannah, GA to rehearse and perform March 5-7.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 9:17 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to upper school band students Esther Deaton, Eric Perkerson, Aneet Patel, Tavish Gantz and Shida Chen. They were selected to perform at the UGA January High School Band Festival. Their performances in Hugh Hodgson Hall in the UGA Performing Arts Center will occur on Sunday, January 18th. These free concerts begin at 11:30am and run until 5:00pm. They are open to the public.

Based on his December audition, senior Eric Perkerson was selected to play 1st chair flute in the Georgia Music Educator's District #13 Clinic Band which will perform in the sanctuary of Smokerise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain on February 21 at 2:00pm. The concert is free and open to the public. Eric will also audition for the GMEA All State Honor Bands and Orchestras in Houston county on January 10.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 6:12 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to Blake Sinyard for being selected as the winner of
the DAR Good Citizen Award for the DAR Oconee Chapter. Her
application will now be under review for district consideration.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 5:29 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to Athens Academy senior Emily Rea for being named the Oconee County Rotary Student for the fall semester. Based on Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” this award is given to students who have excelled in the classroom while giving of themselves generously in the community. Emily selected Thom Beaulieu as her Rotary Teacher for his influence on her life at Athens Academy. The two were recognized at the November meeting of the Rotary Club of Oconee County.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 12:41 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to Will Harris for being named as the Region 8A Football Scholar Athlete by the Georgia High School Association. He will be competing with the other 39 region winners from all classifications for a scholarship sponsored by the Atlanta Chapter of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 12:08 PM | Permalink

Congratulations to sophomore Jane Robbins Mize for being selected as Athens Academy’s representative to the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar. Jane Robbins will participate in the Georgia seminar at Berry College from June 12-14, just after school ends for the year. Carey Stewart was selected as the alternate and will be invited to participate if additional spots are opened.

Posted by Mr. Sears at 11:48 AM | Permalink