Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • April 20, 2018 13 D iocesan H appenings Spotlight on Schools Our Lady Academy (OLA) senior Cassidy Ketchum has been named STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) student for the 2017-18 school year. The STAR pro- gram is sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) M. B. Swayze Foundation. Established by the Mississippi Economic Council in 1965, the purpose of the STAR program is to recognize outstanding students and teachers in Mississippi through its Education Celebration. The STAR theme this year is: Think. Grow. Succeed. Cassidy has achieved Principal’s Honor Roll every semester throughout junior high and high school and will graduate with an accumulative GPA well over a 4.0. She is a member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and Rotary Interact Service Club. She holds office as senior class historian, president of the National Honor Society and vice president of the National Art Honor Society. Cassidy has been on the volleyball team since seventh grade and was named captain in the 2017 season. She serves as editor of the yearbook committee. Involved in the Homebound Program, Cassidy helps provide meals to those who are homebound; acts as mentor and coach to middle school volleyball teams; participates in the Operation Christmas Child, provid- ing presents to underprivileged children; and is involved in Project Satchel, providing packed backpacks to fos- ter children. The STAR student is asked to designate a STAR teacher, the teacher who has made the greatest contri- bution to the student’s scholastic achievement. Cassidy selected OLA science teacher, Julie Cranford. Cranford, a veteran educator of 32 years, teaches biology, chem- istry and biology AP. “Cassidy is well deserving of this recognition and we are all proud of her and her outstanding achieve- ments. She places high academic standards on herself and has always demonstrated exemplary character in and out of the classroom,” expressed Cranford. “I chose Cranford as my STAR teacher because she inspired me to pursue my goals as a biologist and fur- ther influenced my life-long goal to become a veteri- narian,” Cassidy said. Cassidy will attend Mississippi State College in Starkville after graduation. She will major in biology with aspirations to become a veterinarian. She is the daughter of Theresa andTomKetchumof Diamondhead, MS. Cassidy will be honored during the annual Education Celebration on April 12 at the Jackson Convention Complex in downtown Jackson. Cranford and Ketchum Our Lady Academy, Bay St. Louis St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hattiesburg welcomed new Catholics at the Easter Vigil on March 31. Father Mark Ropel, pastor; Father David Milton; and Deacon Ralph Torrelli, are pictured with St. Thomas Aquinas’ RCIA’s newest Catholics: Alexis Allen, Brian Bachstrom, Michelle Carver, Erik Caves, Nathan Claret, Natalie Crane, Leea Fillingane, Taylor Heeren, Hayley Katerski, Stephanie Kinard, Marketta McCoy, Karin Moore, Robert Nguyen, Logan Otterberg, Christopher Painter, Logan Polk, Patricia Sherman, Liberty Sites, Beverly Stokes, Taylor Townsend, Anthony Williams, Nicole Willis and Robert Willis; and their sponsors. Also included were the RCIC’s children converts Caiden Tullos, Colin Tullos, and Isaac Yorahee. Not Pictured are newest Catholics Seth Carpenter, Madison Heggins, and Taylor Townsend. St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Hattiesburg