For the last 45 years the Newton County Rotary Club has taken great pride in honoring the top students in the county with their annual Top 10 awards and this year was no exception when the best and brightest Newton County has to offer were celebrated Monday night.
The award ceremony, which was hosted by Covington Police Chief and Rotarian Stacey Cotton, kicked off with a welcome by Rotary president Alice Queen. Newton County School Superintendent Dr. Steve Whatley addressed the students as well.
"As you graduate you will face a very changing world that is filled with uncertainty, but that is not new,” said Whatley. “Be ready to step up in the positions you are being groomed for as academic leaders on the shoulders of those who have gone before you… You will be challenged all along the way,” he said, “and it is extremely important that you make the right decisions.”
Alcovy High School
Laura Elizabeth Alexander recognized Megan Uryga as her favorite teacher. She plans to earn a nursing degree.
Leah Ellen Anderson recognized May Xiong as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the College of Charleston to major in education or religious studies.
Jonathan Betancourt recognized Charles Gibbons as his favorite teacher. He plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design and major in game development.
Debora Marie Blair recognized Anita Anderson as her favorite teacher. She plans to major in Pre-Medicine.
Regan Elizabeth Bowers recognized Scott Rains as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend Georgia Tech and Life College to become a Chiropractor.
Zachary John Bowers recognized Charles Gammel as his favorite teacher. He plans to obtain a degree from the U.S. Military Academy.
Elizabeth Nicole Darazs recognized Scott Rains as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the University of South Carolina and major in music performance with a minor in piano and Spanish.
Adam Michael Foskey recognized Terri Oliveri as his favorite teacher. He plans on attending college to major in either Pre-Pharmacy or Pre-Medicine.
Ashley Nicole Paul recognized Asherrie Israel as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend Valdosta State to major in Pre-Dentistry.
Eric Joel Ritenour recognized Jennifer Bowman as his favorite teacher. He plans to attend Oxford College of Emory University and major in Political Science.
Eastside High School
Chelsey Arnold recognized Bart Buff as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend Georgia Tech and major in chemistry with a minor in chemical engineering.
Kelsey Simone Gerks recognized Beth Bryan as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend a four-year college.
Alayah Glenn recognized Carla Temple as her favorite teacher. She plans on attending Yale University to earn a medical degree in obstetrics and gynecology.
Michael Hampton recognized Louise Harwell as his favorite teacher. He plans to major in the science/mathematics area.
Sharon Hillman recognized Bart Buff as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend Virginia Tech and major in history.
Alison Miller recognized Tina Daniel-Reasey as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the University of Georgia as a pre-med major.
Samantha Miller recognized Alan Fowler as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend Georgia Tech or Oxford College of Emory and pursue a degree in biomedical engineering or chemistry.
Jon Thorne recognized Bart Buff as his favorite teacher. He plans to attend Tulane University.
Naomi Wills recognized Eric Adams as her favorite teacher. She plans on attending Harvard and double major in classics and linguistics.
Katelyn Yeomans recognized Michael Poor as her favorite teacher. She plans to Georgia Southern University to study mathematics.
Newton High School
Sharon Barratt recognized Shannon Buff as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the University of Georgia or Emory and double major in molecular biology and French.
Randall Barrett recognized Rathan Kersey as his favorite teacher. He plans to attend Georgia Tech and pursue a degree in computer engineering.
Matthew Bemis recognized Diana Brown as his favorite teacher. He plans to attend Georgia Perimeter College and transfer to
Georgia Tech or Southern Poly Tech to earn a degree in engineering.
Ashley Bradford recognized Darrell Daniel as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend college and wants to earn a Masters in business and finance.
Kimberlye Dean recognized Anna Hebert-Daniel as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in psychology.
Janae' Jackson recognized Naomi Randall as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in psychology.
Jeremy Colton Johnson recognized Lisa Oswald as his favorite teacher. He plans to attend the University of West Georgia and earn a degree in biochemistry.
Thao Hieu Pham recognized Miles George as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the University of Georgia and major in pre-medicine concentrating on biology and psychology.
Asahana Ashish Thaker recognized Laurin Johnson as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend college on the pre-med path.
Melissa Brooke Wilson recognized Cathy Parker as her favorite teacher. She plans to attend the University of Georgia and is considering a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology.
