The Big Red JROTC competed recently in its first state qualifying Academic, Drill and Athletic Meet. The squad placed first overall. Other first-place finishes were in Personnel Inspection, with a perfect score for unit leader Anel Tavira; Unarmed Basic Drill (perfect score), Tavira as platoon commander; Unarmed Exhibition, Tiffany Townsend as platoon commander; Armed Exhibition Drill, Josue Hernandez as platoon commander; and in Team Push-Ups and Sit-Ups.
The unit placed second in Armed Basic Drill, Nick Smith as platoon commander, and Color Guard, Anderson Arias as color guard commander; fourth in the 16 X 100 relay; and sixth in Academics
Individual medalists included: Male push-ups, Jose Ortiz first with 97, Alex Uscanga second with 84; Raul Segovia fifth with 73; sit-ups, Nick Smith second with 292, Kevin Danz third with 282, Anderson Arias fourth with 280 and Uscanga fifth with 180.
Female push-ups, Alex Vazques first with 99, Kim Hong second with 76, Araceli Osorio third with 57, Kim Nguyen fourth with 53, Anel Tavira fifth with 52; sit-ups, Nguyen first with 207, Rachael Uscanga second with 160, Hong third with 154 and Caitlyn Goodroe fourth with 150.
The GHS Academic Team won the North Georgia Foothills tournament Nov. 13 while competing against 27 other high schools after eight hours of back-to-back competition. Gainesville will be the top seed in the state finals Feb. 12.
Team members are Cody Stephens (captain), Charlie Bryant, Eleanor Walker, Patrick Kelley, William Morris, John Lee Givogre, Alex Longoria, Jorge Gonzalez, John Stenzel, Brenda Dang, Laramy Head, Gabrielle Diaz, Helly Patel, Robert Pacheco, Priya Misal, Charles Calkins, Katherine Jones and Nadia Tinoco.
Team members Taylor Hall and Isaac Hopkins were taking part in the state one-act play championship and could not participate.
Pam Michelson is the coach, assisted by Sally Jackson and Ellie Vivient.
GHS student David Patterson has a colored pencil drawing displayed at Callaway Gardens. He won 2nd place in the Duck Unlimited drawing competition.
The 2010 FalCan Food Drive School Challenge collected 41,628 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable food items! 40 schools participated in the 2010 drive. Both Gainesville Exploration Academy (1575 pounds) and Gainesville Middle School (1458 pounds) were in the top ten schools for food collected.