Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • June 15, 2018 21 Spotlight on Schools Our Lady Academy held a Promotion Ceremony for 46 eighth grade students in Our Lady of the Gulf Church on May 25. The ceremony celebrated the students’ promotion from junior high to high school. The members of the Our Lady Academy’s eighth grade (OLA Class of 2022) are: Ashton Alderman, Kirsten Arnsdorff, Annie Bean, Aennia Bridges, Suzanne Brown, Ashley Bulot, Sydney Burrell, Casey Caliva, Adisson Capo, Caleigh Chapman, Haley Cox, Karlie Dunn, Alyssa Fayard, Gracie Gebbia, Adyson Geil, Julia Gelpi, Gacen Gerald, Devin Graham, Anna Hazlette, Julia Hazlette, Lauren Holman, Nadia Karamat, Jame’ Karno, Arryana Kellum, Natalie Klein, Alexis Ladner, Ainsley Luffey, Rylee McCaffrey, Rylie Moore, Reagan Mortillaro, Colleen Nolan, Nina Palazzo, Katherine Pennell, Samantha Prendergast, Grace Rester, Sarah Roth, Eugenie Saunders, Campbell St. Paul, Ella Taylor, Aloysia Theobald, Gracie Tran, Raegan Verdigets, Sarah Whaley, Claire Whitney, Madeline Willis, and Taylor Wypyski. Following the presentation, principal Marilyn Pigott and Leigh Chapman pre- sented the President’s Education Awards. This program was developed to recognize and honor students who have achieved high academic goals by their hard work and dedication to learning. Students must meet the requirements of accumulating a grade point average of a 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, participating in activities in which a student demonstrates high motivation, initiative, or intellectual depth, and achieve exceptional scores in the 95th percentile or higher on one or more English Language Arts or Math totals or composites on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (or ITBS), the nationally-normed achievement test administered in the spring each year at OLA. The following recipients received the President’s Certificate of Outstanding Academic Excellence, a pin, and a congratulatory letter from President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos: Annie Bean, Suzie Brown, Ashley Bulot, Sydney Burrell, Adison Capo, Alyssa Fayard, Arryana Kellum, Natalie Klein, Reagan Mortillaro, Colleen Nolan, Katie Pennell, Campbell St. Paul, Ella Taylor, Abby Whaley, Maddie Willis, and Taylor Wypyski. In addition, the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement rec- ognizes students that show outstanding educational growth, improvement, commit- ment or intellectual development in academic subjects. These students have achieved exceptional grade point averages and outstanding performance on the ITBS achieve- ment test. The following students have demonstrated an unusual commitment to learning in academics by maintaining high standards, have achieved high scores, and have shown outstanding growth, improvement, commitment or intellectual develop- ment. The following recipients received the President’s Certificate of Outstanding Academic Achievement, a pin, and a congratulatory letter from President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos: Caleigh Chapman, Julia Gelpi, Jame’ Karno, Ainsley Luffey, Rylee McCaffrey, Rylie Moore, Nina Palazzo, and Eugenie Saunders. The American Citizenship Award recognizes students who demonstrate a positive attitude, commitment to community service, strength in character, and exemplary conduct inside and outside of OLA. The nominees were: Ashton Alderman, Kirsten Arnsdorff, Devin Graham and Nina Palazzo. The American Citizenship Award was awarded to Nina Palazzo. The American Legion Award, recognizes students who exemplify six qualities that define character: courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service. The nominees were: Suzanne Brown, Ainsley Luffey, Colleen Nolan, Ella Taylor, Abby Whaley, and Taylor Wypyski. The American Legion award was presented by Jay Fountain of Clement R. Bontemps, American Legion Post 139 to Abby Whaley. OLA Eighth Grade Class Our Lady Academy, Bay St. Louis Our Lady Academy recognized students who earned individual scholarships for their academic excellence and outstanding leadership at the school’s annual Award Ceremony on May 17. Senior Anna Denette received the newly founded Dana Hebert Art Scholarship. Dana Hebert is an honorary student at OLA who has attended art class once a week for the past three years. Because of her dedication and love of art, her mother, Karen Hebert, wanted to honor her by recognizing a graduating senior who has this same dedication and love. Anna was the recipient of this award and $500 to go towards her continued education in art and design. Anna will be attending the University of Southern Mississippi with the Golden Opportunity Scholarship and plans to study art and graphic design. The Furman Scholars scholarships recognize students that have a keen interest in liberal arts and science, a GPA of 3.5 or higher, a 29 or higher on the ACT, and sig- nificant involvement in community service and leadership. Recognized as Furman Scholars were juniors: Margaret Spencer White, Cece Cottone, Marguerite Gelpi, Kennady Hertz, Taylor Slade, and Georgia Zanca. The Marie L. Powers Scholarship was founded by her daughter, a teacher at OLA, Marie Bartels. Marie Powers was a long-time volunteer at OLA and an ardent supporter of all-girls Catholic education. The scholarship is awarded to underclass- man, who by their daily actions and positive attitude demonstrate love and pride in OLA. The recipients were: Cali Reinhart, Elizabeth Elkins and Samantha Arcana. With this award, each of these students will receive a $600 scholarship towards their continued education at OLA (Left) Anna Denette and (right) Dana Hebert Furman Scholars Margaret White, Cece Cottone, Marguerite Gelpi, Kennady Hertz, Taylor Slade and Georgia Zanca Marie L. Powers Recipients, Cali Reinhart, Elizabeth Elkins, Samantha Arcana and OLA teacher, Marie Bartels