April 2025 Community Life Canton Cherokee County Citizen Receives Civilian Lifesaver AwardCherokee County Fire & Emergency Services recently recognized Jennifer Watkins, a courageous citizen of Cherokee County and wife of Fire Sergeant Brandon Watkins, with the prestigious Fire Chief's Civilian Lifesaver Award.While out shopping, Jennifer found herself in a life-or-death situation when she witnessed a 75-year-old man collapse. Without hesitation, she rushed to his side and discovered he was unresponsive — pulseless and not breathing. Jennifer quickly began performing CPR and directed employees to retrieve an automated external defibrillator (AED). Unfortunately, the store did not have an AED. Jennifer continued CPR, and the man regained a pulse and began to breathe on his own.Thanks to Jennifer’s heroic actions and quick decision-making, the patient was alive when Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services arrived on the scene. After the incident, she took the initiative to follow up with the store regarding the lack of an AED. As a result of her advocacy, the company now has AEDs available on-site throughout its stores, ensuring that future emergencies will be handled more safely and effectively.________________________________Education Gala Fundraising Success and Alumni of the Year Winners Announced This year’s Pure Imagination, Willy Wonka-themed Cherokee County Education Foundation (CCEF) black tie event drew a record crowd of more than 400 attendees and raised more than $210,000 for Classroom Impact Grants, which benefit students, classrooms, teachers, and staff in the Cherokee County School District (CCSD).The funds raised at this year’s Education Gala were the highest in CCEF’s 13 years of serving the children of the Cherokee County School District. The community supported the CCEF through the purchase of tables to attend the event as well as donations for the silent auction. “We are so excited that our community continues to turn out in record numbers for this event. Their commitment ensures the excellence of our Cherokee County School District schools,” CCEF Executive Director Lisa-Marie Haygood said. “Strong public schools are a key component of Cherokee County, making this a desirable place for children to grow and learn, and families to make their home.”Attendees were greeted by dancing Oompa-Loompas from North Georgia Clogging and Dance Company, led by owner Tori O’Bryant. The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and performances by local musicians Ethan Senger and Kurt Lee Wheeler. Guests were then treated to dinner, followed by a concert by the Ruperts Orchestra.A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 Alumni of the Year awards to local attorney Jonathan Pope, Cherokee High School class of 1988, who was honored for his significant contributions to the legal profession and his community, and Pat Tanner, Ralph Bunche class of 1964, who was honored for her significant accomplishments as the first elected African-American Canton City Councilwoman in her hometown of Canton, and who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama, 60 years ago on March 9, 1965. For more information about the Gala, the CCEF, or how to get involved, please visit CherokeeCountyEducationalFoundation.org.________________________________Additional Senior Center and Third Recreation Center Planned for CherokeeThe Board of Commissioners approved purchasing a 1.93-acre tract at 3000 Hunt Road for $550,000. It is being paid for with SPLOST funds. The Southwest Cherokee Parks and Trails Plan, approved in 2021, included what is now known as Woodworth Park, a planned 55-acre park encompassing parcels one and two in the overall plan. The park’s initial phase includes a playground, open lawn, natural trails with necessary support facilities and parking, restrooms, and park maintenance. The design has been completed, and phase one is in permitting. This land purchase embarks on additional phases, including the county’s third recreation center. A senior center is also planned for this parcel. The timing for design and construction is slated for 2028-2030.________________________________Cherokee County and Municipalities Comprehensive Safety Action PlanCherokee County, along with the cities of Canton, Woodstock, Holly Springs, and Ball Ground, joined together to develop the Safety Action Plan made possible through a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. The grant announcement of $450,000 was made in February 2023. Since then, the jurisdictions engaged Pond and Company to assist with public engagement and developing the plan.Public engagement opportunities were made available through an online survey and mapping activity and in-person events throughout 2024.Between 2018 and 2022, there were 87 fatalities and 436 serious injuries on roadways in the county, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s numeric traffic data. The Safety Action Plan focuses on the many contributing factors of traffic crashes to help eliminate traffic fatalities.The newly adopted Cherokee County Safety Action Plan can be viewed by scanning the QR code.________________________________CCFES Announces Annual Award WinnersCherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) proudly recognized 23 distinguished fire service members at the Breakfast With Our Best event, hosted by the Cherokee County Fire Foundation. The event celebrates the hard work and dedication of the department's personnel and highlights their exceptional contributions to the community.Fire Chief Eddie Robinson presented these prestigious awards: Volunteer Member of the Year - Rebecca Strobl Support Services Member of the Year - Sgt. Cody Collett Special Operations Member of the Year - FAO John Frankham EMT of the Year - FAO Jeff Garrett Paramedic of the Year - FAO Chad Huff Firefighter of the Year - FAO Abbie Brownlow Fire Officer of the Year - Capt. Justin Gilleland Chief Fire Officer of the Year - Division Chief Chad Davis ________________________________Cherokee County School District AnnouncementsCongratulations to CCSD's 2025 STAR Students and TeachersThe STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student honor is awarded to the high school senior from each Georgia public and private high school with the highest score on any single test date of the SAT and who also ranks in the top 10% or top 10 students of his or her class based on grade point average. Each honored student is invited to select his or her favorite teacher to be named that school’s STAR Teacher.The CCSD honorees are: Cherokee HSSTAR Student – Raphael Aca STAR Teacher – Lori Pangburn Creekview HSSTAR Student – Audrey Warnick STAR Teacher – Morgan Hudson Etowah HSSTAR Student – Satyajit Prabhuram STAR Teacher – Rebecca Schwartz i-Grad Virtual AcademySTAR Student – Alexander Johnson STAR Teacher – Heather Craighead River Ridge HS STAR Student – Kevin Duncan STAR Teacher – Kayla Yoder Sequoyah HSSTAR Student – Robert Raymer STAR Teacher – Brian Carnes Woodstock HSSTAR Student – Sebastian Lamprea STAR Teacher – Kate McIntyre An overall CCSD winner is also recognized for earning the highest eligible SAT score of all the STAR Students, and this year’s honoree is Kevin Duncan of River Ridge HS. He now advances to the regional competition, and the 12 region winners will contend for the State PAGE STAR Student title. Holly Springs Optimist Club Honors Outstanding Students and StaffThe Holly Springs Optimist Club honored CCSD students and staff at its annual Middle School Awards breakfast, which recognizes outstanding special needs students and their supportive teachers and staff. The event celebrates the unique qualities that special needs students bring to each of their schools and how connections with the community are important to students growing more, learning more, and achieving more. The 2025 honorees are: Creekland MS – Olivia Bubar, presented by Kristen Stannard Dean Rusk MS – Damien Washington, presented by Amanda Verner ET Booth MS – Max Morris, presented by Lori Salvino L.R. Tippens Education Center – Makenzie Bauer, presented by Rebecca Geronimos Mill Creek MS – Aarav Patel, presented by Valerie Dunn Teasley MS – Elijah Hamilton, presented by MaryKate Sullivan Woodstock MS – Judeah Harris, presented by Naomi Barajas The teacher award for Outstanding Achievement in Education went to Kristen Stannard from Creekland MS, and the Paraprofessional of the Year award went to Alyssa Darrow from Woodstock MS. Students Named U.S. Presidential Scholars Program CandidatesCherokee HS senior Elliana Mathews (1) and River Ridge HS senior Alfred Tang (2) are among only 4,000 students selected as candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program from the more than 3 million graduating seniors in the nation’s Class of 2025. Only 216 students from Georgia were recognized with this prestigious honor.Established in 1964 by a Ppresidential Executive Order, the program honors extraordinary graduating seniors. Candidates for the invitation-only recognition program are initially selected based on outstanding performance on the ACT or SAT. Woodstock HS Senior Competes as All America Athlete in Flag FootballWoodstock HS senior Addie Morrison recently competed as one of only 24 high school students in the nation on the inaugural Under Armour All-America Girls Flag Football Team in Orlando, Florida. In addition to this outstanding accomplishment, Morrison was also named WHS’s Most Valuable Player for flag football and the school’s 2025 Athlete of the Year.Students Advance to International Business Skills CompetitionTwenty CCSD high school students earned the opportunity at the statewide business skills competition to advance to internationals. The students competed at the DECA Student Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship Association’s State Career Development Conference held in Atlanta. Five students won the state championship in their competition category, and 15 more also placed in the top 10 in the state to qualify for the international competition in Orlando this month. Additionally, the River Ridge HS DECA chapter earned four top chapter awards.Congratulations to the following: Chase Ard (1), Sequoyah HS, first place, Automotive Services Caleb Miller (2), Creekview HS, first place, Personal Financial Literacy Charles Miller (3), Sequoyah HS, first place, Food Marketing Series Sebastian Murillo (4), Sequoyah HS, first place, Hospitality & Tourism Professional Selling Lindsey Stine (5), Creekview HS, first place, Job Interview Skills Natalie Buck, Sequoyah HS, second place, Principles of Business Management and Administration Carter Ligetti, Sequoyah HS, fourth place, Financial Consulting Valentina Murillo, Sequoyah HS, fourth place, Principles of Marketing Tyler Stacey and Mia Stiefel, River Ridge HS, fourth place, Travel & Tourism Team Decision Making Jackson Purser, Creekview HS, fourth place, Professional Selling Eleni Giannopoulos, Sequoyah HS, fifth place, Professional Selling Event Beatriz Roca-Garcia, Sequoyah HS, fifth place, Sports and Entertainment Marketing Carly Bass, Caroline Leuzarder, and Denisse Rios-Medina; Sequoyah HS; eighth place; Sports & Entertainment Operations Research Joshua DeLima, Noah Morris, and Huntyr Mugge; Creekview HS; eighth place; International Business Plan Seriana Hebert, Sequoyah HS, 10th place, Principles of Entrepreneurship The chapter sponsors are Career Pathway teachers Ashley Jones of Creekview HS, Katie Thompson of River Ridge HS, and Chana Miller of Sequoyah HS.The River Ridge HS DECA chapter earned two international awards: Membership Campaign (Thrive Level) and Chapter Campaign (Thrive Level), and two state awards: Gold Level Membership Campaign Certification and Blue Bears Community Service Campaign. Only 1,100 chapters worldwide earned international Thrive Level awards, and the River Ridge HS chapter will be recognized for this honor at the international competition this month. The awards recognize the chapter’s excellence in school outreach activities and community service projects.
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