R. Thomas Ballard has been named as a STAR (Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student for the 2006-2007 school year by the Mississippi Economic Council’s M. B. Swayze Educational Foundation, sponsor of the STAR program.The Cathedral High School senior was honored during the 17th annual Education Celebration on March 23 at Mississippi College in Clinton.
STAR Students are selected on the basis of academic excellence. Both American College Test scores and scholarship averages are compared to determine the school’s STAR Student, explained Cynthia McMillian of Jackson, director of the STAR program. “The STAR program encourages and promotes academic achievement among Mississippi’s high school seniors,” she said. Thomas scored a 30 on his ACT and has a grade point average of 4.087.
Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher, the classroom teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student’s scholastic achievement.
Thomas Ballard chose Kenneth L. Beesley as his STAR Teacher. Thomas chose Ken Beesley, a seven-time recipient of the STAR Teacher Award, because he has influenced him more than any other teacher. “I have learned math from Coach Beesley in the classroom every day for the past three years as well as life lessons on the football field and the baseball diamond. While in high school, Coach Beesley has influenced me more than any other person other than my family,” said Thomas. Thomas plans to major in pre-med or biology at Mississippi College. After completing his undergraduate degree, Thomas plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.
Ken Beesley feels Thomas Ballard was an excellent choice for the STAR Student. “He is a very conscientious student. Math may not be his strongest subject, but Thomas always works to the best of his ability. He works for the grades he receives and does the best possible. I’ve taught Thomas three different math classes and have enjoyed teaching him,” said Beesley.
Nearly 500 STAR Students and STAR Teachers received recognition from MEC’s Swayze Foundation at the Celebration; and the top 20 STAR Students, named ALL-STAR Scholars, and their STAR Teachers will be presented Scholarship awards provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation.
Co-sponsors of this prestigious event were Entergy Mississippi, AT&T, Mississippi Power Company, and Bancorp South. Additional local support for the STAR program is provided by MEC members from communities across the state.
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Mrs. Denise Thibodeaux’s Biology Classes enjoyed a visit from Natchez Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation Staff. Students were given mock situations where different parts of their body were disabled due to a stroke or other medical conditions. Physical and occupational therapists as well as speech pathologists worked with the students, as if they were patients, showing them the different steps in the rehabilitation process. Therapists spoke with students regarding the physical and emotional challenges their patients face on a daily basis, pointing out the many obstacles their patients must overcome in an attempt to regain their independence.
1 - Not able to use the whole left side of their body due to a stroke, Physical Therapist, Michelle Kaiser, shows students how to put on slacks/pants as well as socks. L-R Catherine Cardneaux and Sarah Zuccaro.
2 - Unable to speak due to the loss of voice box perhaps due to the effects of smoking, Thomas Rodgers experiment with the use of an electrolarynx (artificial voice box) with the assistance of a Speech Pathologist as Julian Stubbs looks on.
3 - Due to a “stroke,” Alex Letard, unable to utilize the right side of her body, attempts to learn to maneuver a wheelchair around a home that is not wheelchair accessible while Physical Therapists guide her and Mrs. Thibodeaux, biology teacher, looks on.
Students were also shown different exercises patients perform to regain their balance, lost due to medical condition.
4 - Allie Wilson learns to use the balance board wearing vision altering eye glasses (while nurse and Community Education Program Director, Karen Yates, fits another student with glasses).
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Jennifer Ogden visited with the Cathedral Fourth Grade students, an enrichment lesson held in conjunction with a Social Studies lesson on the West. Students have been studying the economy in the west and how the entertainment industry has such a huge impact on it. Jennifer Ogden shared her insight into the movie industry. She has been very active in the movie industry – as an actor, director and studio executive. Ms. Ogden recounted her experiences – telling of her work on movies such as How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Family Stone and Tuesday’s with Morrie, for which she won an Emmy. Jennifer is a native of Natchez and resides in both LA and Natchez.
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Keylann
Hinson is
awarded the
Horatio
Alger
Scholarship
Congratulations
to Keylann
for winning
the $20,000
scholarship!
The Horatio
Alger
Association
seeks to
assist
students who
have either
demonstrated
integrity
and
perseverance
in
overcoming
adversity,
strength of
character,
financial
need, a good
academic
record,
commitment
to pursue a
college
education
and/or a
desire to
contribute
to society.
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Outstanding Youth
Awards
Keisha Sanders and
Keylann Hinson, 12th
graders at Cathedral,
recently received
Outstanding Youth Awards
from the Natchez
Business and Civic
League at their annual
banquet on February
16th. Congratulations
to Keisha and Keylann!!
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Cathedral School proudly announces:
Cathedral senior, Taylor Brantley, signed a soccer scholarship with Southwest Mississippi Community College (Summit, MS). Pictured in the photo in the front row left to right: Colleen, Taylor and Douglas Brantley.
Back row left to right: Southwest MS CC Head Soccer Coach David Strother, Cathedral Head Coach Rick Freeman, Cathedral Assistant Coaches Rick Simms and Paul Burns.
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Cathedral School
proudly announces:
Cathedral seniors,
Forrest White and
Jonathan Gamberi, signed
football scholarships
with Belhaven College
(Jackson, MS).
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