Congrats to Cherokee County School District’s 2023 Valedictorians and Salutatorians! Cherokee • Valedictorian Braden Reece Flournoy will attend Georgia Tech to study computer science and plans to work in computer devices and artificial intelligence. • Salutatorian Riley Oliver will attend Georgia Tech to study computer science and plans to work in programming or hardware development. Creekview • Valedictorian Kylie Buchanan will attend the University of Alabama to study science and business. • Salutatorian Carson Heath will attend Georgia Tech to study mechanical engineering and plans to work as a biomechanical engineer focused on designing prosthetics. Etowah • Valedictorian Gracye Lamb will attend Georgia Tech to study aerospace engineering. • Salutatorian Ty Phillips will attend the University of Georgia to study biology and then plans to apply to medical school. i-Grad Virtual Academy • Valedictorian Jackson Wesley Deas plans to enter the workforce. • Salutatorian Elijah J. Jordan will attend Chattahoochee Technical College to study electrical engineering. River Ridge • Co-Valedictorian Sofia Guadalupe de Lira will attend Notre Dame University to study political science and prelaw. • Co-Valedictorian Emily Anna Paulson will attend the University of Georgia to study economics. • Salutatorian Karla Monserrat Cortes will attend Yale University to study ethics, politics, and economics. Sequoyah • Valedictorian Julia Allene Sick will attend the University of Alabama to study accounting. • Salutatorian Paige Lee Falcomata will attend the University of Alabama to study accounting and statistics. Woodstock • Valedictorian Casen Stiber will spend a gap year teaching in El Salvador, after which he will attend the University of Georgia to study pure mathematics and philosophy. After college, he plans to serve in the Peace Corps and then teach and conduct math research. • Salutatorian Salman Aziz will attend Georgia Tech to study neuroscience and then plans to apply to medical school.
Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services Announcements Award Named for Longtime Fire Safety Pioneer At this year’s Georgia Fire Safety Symposium, the Georgia Public Safety Educators Association (GPSEA) named their Educator of the Year award after longtime Cherokee County firefighter and fire safety educator, Captain Ann Segers. Segers began working for the fire department on August 22, 1988, and was also one of the original Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department members when they started in the early 70s. She was the first person in Georgia to obtain the credentials as an NPQ Fire Safety Educator and received her Basic Firefighting Certification in 1990. After retiring from CCFES in 2005, she continued to volunteer with the department at prevention and education events until her passing in May of 2022. The first Ann Segers Educator of the Year Award will be awarded at the 2024 Georgia Fire Safety Symposium. For more information about the GPSEA or the Georgia Safety Educators Association, visit GPSEACRR.com. EMS Wing Dedicated to Retired Medical Director For more than 20 years, Dr. Jill Mabley has dedicated her time to the growth and success of emergency services for Cherokee County. Her name will forever live on at the Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services (CCFES) Training Center, since the EMS Wing has been dedicated as the Jill Ann Mabley, M.D., FACEP EMS Wing. Dr. Mabley joined Cherokee County in 2000, a time when the fire department was continuing its transition from a volunteer model to a career organization, and when ambulance transports were handled by a third-party vendor. An invitation to join a safety committee turned into more than two decades of training personnel, developing policy, building programs, and being a source for well-researched advice for those who needed it. In her years as medical director for CCFES, Dr. Mabley, at 57 years old, became the first (and only at the time) medical director to earn firefighter certification in Georgia. “She earned a National Professional Qualification as a firefighter, and she earned state certification as a firefighter in the state of Georgia,” Chief Eddie Robinson said, adding that she also was responsible for implementing the Narcan program with law enforcement, allowing public safety to better combat the opioid epidemic and save lives. Earlier this year, Dr. Mabley was honored with the Dr. Paul Nassour Lifetime Achievement Award at the Northwest Georgia – Region 1 EMS Awards Banquet. Fire Station 7 Dedicated to Retired Fire Chief For more than 40 years, Ret. Fire Chief and District 2 Commissioner Raymond Gunnin has served the public with integrity, honesty, and a desire to improve the lives of Cherokee County citizens. His legacy will forever be remembered, as Fire Station 7 has been dedicated in his honor. In December 2020, a resolution and proclamation were signed by Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Harry Johnston, recognizing Chief Gunnin’s dedication by naming Cherokee County Fire Station 7 in his honor. Now, a plaque memorializing this honor has been unveiled at the station. Gunnin joined Cherokee County as a volunteer firefighter in 1977 and became a full-time firefighter in 1980. Working his way through the ranks, he became fire chief in 2005 and continued to serve in that role until his retirement in 2011.
Cheer on Cherokee's Semipro Football Team! On Saturday, July 8, at 7:00pm, the Cherokee County Bruins Semipro Football organization will kick off its inaugural season at Veteran’s Park in Canton. Admission is free. The team is owned by John Little of Woodstock, Randy Fowler of Canton, and Patrick Kellaher of Dothan, Alabama. This group is excited to bring action-packed football to Cherokee County and hopes to be a resource for local youth, middle school, and high school football players to gain knowledge and skills as well as a platform for former high school and college athletes to pursue their playing careers in an impactful way. In addition to playing games, the Bruins also hold youth camps. More than 50 children attended the team’s first camp, which was held in May. The Bruins plan to continue making meaningful contributions to the community while growing its fan base and gaining local support throughout its inaugural season and beyond, as they seek to put a championship caliber team on the field to represent Cherokee County. To view their game schedule or for additional information about the Cherokee County Bruins, please follow them on Facebook or visit CherokeeBruins.com.
Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is honored to announce the 2023 Cherokee County Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. This recognition program focuses on Cherokee County residents under age 40 who are considered to be the area’s up and coming leaders over the next 10 years. Judging criteria include past professional achievements and awards, five- to 10-year professional goals, and the nominee’s volunteer and community activities. Besides being recognized during the Chamber’s June Good Morning Cherokee breakfast meeting, the recipients will also be featured in the July/August issue of Enjoy Cherokee Magazine. The honorees who will be under the age of 40 on October 1 have also been nominated for the prestigious GeorgiaTrend Magazine 40 Under 40 recognition. Cherokee County’s next generation of community leaders include Madison Beaulieu, economic development operations manager, City of Woodstock; Ashley Witcher, county extension coordinator/4-H and youth agent, University of Georgia Extension-Cherokee County; Kristin Norton Green, theatre events and facilities director, City of Canton; Ashley Polito, principal, Holly Springs ES STEM Academy; Lindsay Harris, intelligence unit manager, Multi-Agency Criminal Intelligence Unit, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. Thomas Trawick, zoning division manager, Cherokee County; Michael Sims, lieutenant, Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services; Joshua Cole, lead district executive, Atlanta Area Council - Boy Scouts of America; Zack Bobo, owner, Zack Bobo Real Estate; Justin Lamb, director of metallurgy and R&D, Universal Alloy Corporation.
New District Attorney Sworn In On June 1, 2023, Governor Brian P. Kemp swore in Susan K. Treadaway as district attorney for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, Cherokee County. Treadaway fills the role vacated by former District Attorney Shannon Wallace, who became Superior Court judge for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit in February 2023. Treadaway has served as acting district attorney since April 10, 2023, when she was appointed to the role by Gov. Kemp. She was previously Cherokee County’s chief assistant district attorney. For nearly 20 years, Treadaway has served the citizens of Georgia as a felony prosecutor. She began her career as an assistant district attorney for Cherokee County in 2004. She then worked as a prosecutor for 11 years in Cobb County, ultimately serving as the chief assistant district attorney of the Cobb Judicial Circuit before her return to Cherokee County in 2019, where she held the same title. “I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve this community as its next district attorney,” said District Attorney Treadaway. “My mission is to pursue justice, work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, and ensure that Cherokee County remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”
City of Canton Hosts Succeeding as a Supervisor Training Program Leaders from across the county joined together at the City of Canton to participate in a leadership training class. Over the course of five weeks, Carrie T. Hamilton, from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia, instructed students in the “Succeeding as a Supervisor” course. Twenty-nine participants attended on behalf of the City of Canton, the City of Woodstock, and Cherokee County. The introductory five-day program was developed to provide the knowledge and skills one would need to be effective in their role as a supervisor. The ideal participant for the training is a supervisor who has been in his or her job two years or less, someone who is not currently a supervisor but is interested in developing those skills, or a long-term supervisor with no formal supervisor training. Course topics include building trust, performance evaluation, leading teams, handling conflict, and planning and delegating. Participants are provided with a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the training program and leave with the foundational knowledge and skills to succeed as a supervisor. The City of Canton plans to host another opportunity to complete the program in fall 2023.
Help MUST Ministries Feed Thousands of Children This Summer “Few things are as gripping as thousands of hungry children right here in our area. We must help,” said MUST Ministries President and CEO Dr. Ike Reighard. “The children are counting on us. As a community, we can’t let them go hungry.”For many children living in poverty, the free and reduced meals received during the school year are the only meals available to them. For 28 years, MUST Ministries has helped to fill the hunger gap in June and July through its Summer Lunch program. Last year, the program provided more than 6,370 children with 544,450 meals in just nine weeks. The goal is to serve just as many children this year, if not more. The program feeds children in eight counties: Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton (north and south), Gwinnett, Paulding, and Pickens. “Our supporters and volunteers make this critical program possible,” said Reighard. “The number of children we serve continues to grow each summer, particularly in this post-pandemic environment when poverty rates have skyrocketed.”Specifically, children will receive five breakfasts and five lunches, plus drinks and snacks. The most significant pieces of the Kids’ Kits are the entrees. Items needed can be found at MustMinistries.org/summer-lunch. There is also an Amazon Wish List at Amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/FVDS0A574YBD?returnFromLogin=1. Please deliver or ship your items to MUST Donation Center, 1280 Field Parkway, Marietta, GA 30066, Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am-5:00pm. Please label your donation “MUST Summer Lunch.”
5th Annual Cherokee Student Film Festival Celebrates High School Filmmakers The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED), in partnership with the Cherokee County School District’s (CCSD) Audio/Video Technology and Film (AVTF) educators, announced the winners of the 5th annual Cherokee Student Film Festival as part of a live screening and awards presentation held at Sequoyah HS's Skip Pope Stadium. Student films were screened on the Jumbotron, as more than 200 audience members cheered on a record 25 groups of student filmmakers from across the county.With strict parameters designed to simulate production requirements, 13 groups of students met criteria for judging. Qualifying submissions were judged by regional post-secondary film instructors Dr. James Hamilton (University of Georgia), Steven Hames (Berry College), Meredith Muse (Chattahoochee Technical College), along with Brent Lambert-Zaffino (Peaberry Film Festival founder), Richard Tavernaro (Cobb International Film Festival director), Justin Webb (media producer), and retired CNN Control Room Director Mark Hylback.Awards were issued based on the judges’ total scores in the following categories: Best Cinematography, Best Sound Quality, Best Use of Prop, Best Use of Line, and Best of Show. Festival attendees were able to cast votes in the Audience Choice category.And the Winners Are:“I'm not a Psychopath” — Best of Show, Best Use of Prop, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Quality, Best Use of Line, and Audience Choice Award Created by Sequoyah HS’s Noah Popp, Justin Clark, Lauren Turnage, and Ava Roberts “The First Day of Spring” — Runner up Best of Show and Best Use of LineCreated by Creekview HS’s Logan Carr, Jackson Estapa, and Chloe Feibus “Bound” — 3rd place Best of ShowCreated by Etowah HS’s Sophia Berry, Marissa Migneco, and Kaili Phillips“Growing Older” — Audience Choice AwardCreated by Sequoyah HS’s Aidan Murphy and Kayla Murphy“The Movie” — Audience Choice AwardCreated by Cherokee HS’s Mackenzie Glover, Daniel Reilly, Hunter Schwartz, and Hunter Tadin To learn more about film in Cherokee and to view the 2023 Cherokee Student Film Festival winning entries, visit CherokeeGa.org/film-media.
20th Annual Kentucky Derby Day History Cherokee’s largest fundraising event of the year, the Kentucky Derby Day, was a galloping success! The event, held on May 6 at the Mill on Etowah, allowed attendees to gather and cheer on the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby while supporting the mission of History Cherokee. From the big hats that were atop the ladies’ heads during the Hat Parade and Contest to the bold bourbons available for tasting, and the fun pony pull competition, History Cherokee successfully raised more than $55,000 to aide in supporting educational programming and historic preservation efforts throughout Cherokee County.
Cherokee County School District Announcements Two Class of 2023 Seniors Win National Merit Special Scholarships Nandita Bipin of River Ridge HS has been selected as a winner of the Truist Scholarship, sponsored by Truist Financial Corporation. Rhiannon Crisante of Cherokee HS has been selected as a winner of the ADP Henry Taub Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by ADP Foundation. They are among the 800 distinguished high school seniors nationwide to win special scholarship awards financed by corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Selection is made based on review of academic records and college entrance exam scores, leadership and service in school and the community, and personal essays and letters of recommendation. Other factors also may apply such as a winner’s parent being employed with the corporation, living in the corporation’s service area, or planned pursuit of a specific career or college major. Woodstock HS Announces New Girls Head Basketball Coach Woodstock HS Girls Basketball Program is excited to welcome its new head coach, Tiffany Leak. Coach Leak will begin her teaching and coaching responsibilities at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. She will be teaching math at WHS. Coach Leak earned her Bachelor of Education in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of West Georgia and holds a Master of Arts in Education in Special Education as well as her specialist degree. She comes to WHS from Paulding County HS where she has been the girls head basketball coach and served as an assistant coach for flag football and volleyball since 2020. CCSD Earns National Grant for STEM Learning The district is one of only 10 school systems nationwide to earn the 2023 Make a Change grant from the national Argument Driven Inquiry educational organization. The $75,000 grant will fund “Future Ready Graduates: Elementary Integration with ADI,” an expansion of CCSD’s successful argument driven inquiry program (ADI), already in place for grades 6-12, into elementary schools to further enhance science and math instruction. The research-based instructional model increases students’ math and science knowledge while also developing their writing, presentation, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. The grant will be used to fund training and materials for fourth- and fifth-grade math and science teachers to begin using the ADI instructional model. Six CCSD elementary schools currently are piloting the ADI model, and the grant will fund bringing the program to all elementary schools. School District, Superintendent Named National Award Finalists For a third time, CCSD has been named a national finalist for the Varsity Brands’ Spirit of St. Jude recognition. Only two finalists were named from nominees nationwide. The Spirit of St. Jude award, named for the children’s research hospital, honors schools and school districts that engage the majority of their students in fundraising for the charity, which is a major recipient of Varsity Brands’ philanthropy. As a Varsity Brands “Team Up” for St. Jude school district, the CCSD community has raised $350,000 since 2016 to support the hospital. Woodstock HS earned the Spirit of St. Jude Award in 2022. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower has been named a finalist for the 2023 Most Spirited Superintendent Award, which honors leaders for exemplary commitment to “elevating and improving the student experience.” He is one of only seven superintendents nationwide selected as a finalist. It is the second time Dr. Hightower has made the finalist list for the national honor, having previously been recognized in 2020. Award winners in both categories will be announced this month. River Ridge HS Student Wins National Writing Award Baileigh J. Borna earned First Class honors in the prestigious 2023 National Council of Teachers of English Writing’s Achievement Awards in Writing Program contest, which is a school-based writing program that was established in 1957 to encourage writing and to recognize the nation’s outstanding young writers. Entries are scored by a panel of independent judges on expression of ideas, language use, and unique perspective and voice. Borna is one of only 114 students nationwide to earn the top honor of First Class. Borna’s award-winning entry was about education and the United Nations address by Malala Yousafzai in which she shared the now famous quote: “Let us pick up our books and our pens; they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first.” You can read her entry at CherokeeK12.net.New Principal Announced for Cherokee HS Andy Hall, Cherokee HS’s new principal and a 19-year educator, was appointed to his current role after serving five years as an assistant principal at River Ridge HS. He previously taught English at Cherokee HS, Woodstock HS, and Polaris Evening Program and coached cross country, track, and basketball. His numerous accolades include the Superintendent’s Game Changer Award for Instructional Leadership, Woodstock HS Teacher of the Year, and Woodstock HS STAR Teacher.
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