VALEDICTORIAN: Jennie Kyu-Yeon Lee

SALUTATORIAN: Elena Mary Bergstrom

HONOR GRADUATES

Cara Nicole Adams
Daima Esi-Nsafowa Atinkah

Amin Ali
Nathan Robert Baldwin
Faith Carmichael Barron
Brandon Russell Belveal
James Cameron Boling
Marlon Quin Bryan

Jonathan Cyril Abell
Bethany Joy Abresch
Maria Mercedes Acheson
John William Ackman
Damien Nathaniel Adair
Allison Renee Adams

Satrice Tia Adams
Olutosin Olusegun Ajayi
Aren Patrick Alvarez
Jarrell LaShawn Bankhead
Sierra Nicole Bivins
Rebecca C. Blackerby

Bethan Eileen Adams
Anna Marie Alexander
Nadina Elizabeth Alvarado
Randall Lloyd Anglin, Jr.
Taylor Leigh Arnold
Alejandra Durán Arreola

Sarah Jane Abrams
Marie Ivanna Acalin
Kalie Jeanne Aiken
Emilia Grace Amalfitano
Danielle Marie Amella
Jesse John Amtmann

Grace Erin Abshire
Amanda Kiyoshi Adams
Derek Jerrell Adams
Jade Miranda Ah-low
Jessica Jacquelyn Aikin
Samuel Ryan Akins

Phil Cook (volunteer from the Real Life Center) and Bob Romeo (US Post Office) unloading food from the Peachtree City Post Office.  The Peachtree City Post Office alone collected approximately 6,250 lbs of food to help stop food pantries all around the United States. This was more than double the amount than last year!  For information on how to get help or ways to get involved contact the Real Life Center at 770.631.9334.

With spring upon us, are you looking through your closet and realizing that you need to clean clothes you have not worn in a while? Here is a suggestion on where to donate those clothes so they will help people in Fayette County and in other parts of the world.

As investors pull their money away from the stock market, some savvy high school students prove that investing is profitable, even in tough economic times.

Fit 4 a New Life will offer a summer enrichment camp, June 1-Aug. 7. There will be Math, Reading and English daily with fun and exciting field trips. Orientation is May 23 and 30 from 12-4 p.m. The fee is $85 per week and a $50 application fee. Phone 770-719-1838 or www.fit4anewlife.com

Fayette’s middle school students recently showed off their knowledge of various academic and performing art subjects at the PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) Region 6 Academic Bowl for Middle Grades.

Nine students from the Association of Village PRIDE, Inc. Youth Leader’s Program decided in January to help support a project in Nigeria, Africa to build and equip a library in the town of Umuaka. It is a large town of 10 villages, 10 elementary schools and two high schools that has no community library. Consequently, illiteracy is a major problem in the region. The students leading this project feel very privileged and wanted to help those folks less fortunate in the world. Challenged to take on a community service project, these students invited other high school students in Fayette County to join them in a fundraising effort. Together, the students from four different local high schools have set a goal to raise $10,000 by August, 2009. They had their first Coffeehouse in March and will have the 2nd one this Saturday at the Fayette Family YMCA at 215 Huiet Road from 7:00-9:00 pm.

Fayette’s school counselors celebrated their craft and honored their colleagues during the ninth annual Fayette School Counselors Association (FSCA) Installation of Officers and Awards Ceremony.

Four young women from Fayette County were among 81 Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. who recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award girls can earn in Girl Scouting.

Gifted students at Fayetteville Intermediate are helping Fayette Countians conserve water, one flush at a time.

You might have seen them at the Home Depot in Fayetteville handing out the Flush Flow Fixer, an empty water bottle which recipients fill with water and place in the tank of their toilets. The bottle displaces the water each time the toilet is flushed, resulting in less water usage.

Georgia writer Lynn Coulter, author of “Gardening with Heirloom Seeds,” will appear at the Fayette County Public Library on Saturday, May 16 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. She will talk about her book, answer audience questions, and sign copies of “Gardening with Heirloom Seeds,” which will be available for sale at the event. The program, sponsored by the Friends of the Fayette County Public Library, is free and open to the public. Sales of the book benefit the Friends of the Fayette County Public Library.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce recently honored members of the business community who have made outstanding contributions to the Fayette County school system through the Partners in Education program. On Friday, May 1st at New Hope Baptist Church, three outstanding business partners were recognized for their contributions of time, talent, and treasure to enhance the educational opportunities of Fayette students.

Cheryl Vickers has been named Newnan-Coweta Art Association’s Artist of the Month for the month of May.

As an artist , Vickers likes to bring something special to the painting, whether it is enthusiasm for the subject, imagination to make changes in what is seen, or the courage to paint something that is important to her. She says that most ideas have been painted many times, but what makes each idea worth painting is what the artist brings to the subject on the canvas.

William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", will come to life this July at Newnan Community Theatre Company.  However, the auditions must come first.  Auditions will take place May 11 and 12 at the theater.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers (GWISR) is expanding its mission services into Newnan, Georgia during a critical time in our nation’s history. On Tuesday, May 12, Goodwill will open its new Career Center located inside its recently renovated retail store at 228 Bullsboro Drive. The opening will kick off with a VIP Open House from 11 a.m.-noon, giving invited guests the opportunity to tour the new facility. Then at noon, to mark the official grand opening of the Career Center, Goodwill will release 2,197 butterflies into the air. Each butterfly represents a person GWISR placed into employment in 2008. Collectively, these placements generated an economic impact of $48.1 million.

Fourth and fifth grade teams from all of Fayette’s elementary schools participated in the seventh annual Fayette County Reading Invitational, with each school walking away with awards in both grade levels.

Flat Rock Middle School eighth grader Karson Bobbitt knew his project was good, but he didn’t know it would be good enough to win second place in the state competition held at the University of Georgia.

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland congratulates Newnan High School senior Jasmine Thrasher on winning the 2009 3rd Congressional District art competition with her painting “Study of Light.” Another Newnan senior, Madison Welch, finished second with her artwork titled “Frosted Berries.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class Quintin Bohan, Newnan, Ga. was awarded the Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal by the Navy League of the United States.  The Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal was established to honor those who best exemplify Roosevelt’s values of energy, spirit, competition and fair play.  Petty Officer Bohan was also awarded the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze Good Citizenship Medal & Ribbon.   His nomination for this award was a result of his leadership, dependability, good character and military discipline.  Bohan has served as the Leading Petty Officer and understands the importance and fundamentals of a patriotic organization such as the Naval Sea Cadet Corps.  His effort, academic ability, pride, professionalism, and can-do spirit are models for all to follow, and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Navy, Sons of the American Revolution and the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

John Akin, a Sandy Creek graduate and fourth year Economics and Internatonal Affairs Major at Georgia Tech with a minor in Law, Science and Technology, is a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship.

A day filled with bowling, great food and prizes, was the most recent fundraiser to help Promise Place continue to serve victims of domestic violence in Fayette, Upson, Spalding and Pike counties.  Held at Magnolia Lanes in Griffin, bowlers came from all four counties to compete for trophies donated by Vision Trophies & Engraving.

Fayette County has a brand new networking group for the young professional community. Young Professionals of Fayette County is an up and coming organization for individuals between the ages of 21 and 39 that will focus on networking, community involvement and leadership development. The group was initiated by Kristin Rosati and Michael Pope of BB&T in Fayetteville in collaboration with the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. Events will be held once a month, alternating between business and social events. The next event will be Connecting through Cocktails! at El Reposo in Peachtree City on May 12, 6pm. For more information, contact Kristen Rosati 770-716-4034 or krosati@BBandT.com or visit ypfayette.com.

U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland congratulates Caleb Brown of Fayette County High School on finishing third in the 3rd Congressional District art contest. Caleb’s pencil sketch portrays two football players grinding it out against one another on the gridiron.