Nicholas Blackwell obtained a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Mercer University. Blackwell graduated as member of the Phi Lambda Sigma National Leadership Society. He is the son of Doug and Christi Blackwell of Gainesville.

Cory Phillips of Gainesville was recently inducted in the Lambda Nu honor society at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan.

Morgan Black of Gainesville was named to the dean's list for spring semester at Furman University. Black is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Black.

Anna Bower of Gainesville was named to the dean's list for spring semester at Furman University. Bower is the daughter of Tom and Maria Bower.

Angela M. Greiner of Braselton was named to the dean's list for the fall and winter semesters at Sinclair Community College.

Meredith Bray of Lula was recently names to the dean's list at Emmanuel College for the spring semester.

Gainesville residents Wynelle Butts and Sam Rauch were inducted into Corpus Cordis Aureum ("Golden Corps of the Heart") at Emory University in Atlanta on May 9 during the university's 166th commencement. The honor recognizes alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago from one of Emory's nine schools.

Jennifer Michelle Caldwell of Gainesville recently earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville announced the following students as being named to the president's list for spring semester 2011:

Rebekah Ryan and Jordan Vaughan of Gainesville;

Jessica Padden of Braselton;

Colleen Foy, Kari Goodbar, Kelly Herman, Westley Kaye and Rachel Oliver of Buford;

Danielle Bechtold, Avery Piperato and Brianna Mauro of Flowery Branch;

Kristopher LaChance of Hoschton;

Michael Christopher of Jefferson.

Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville announced the following students as being named to the dean's list for spring semester 2011:

Madeline Kearns, Charleston Troutman, Mary Coker, Tyler Ebrite, Andrew George, Timothy McDonald, Jacquelin Rocke and Lauren Stephansen, all of Gainesville;

Maci Foster of Alto;

Haley Jandrlich, Lindsey Lee, Maureen Rhodes, Baxter Smith and Caitlin Steinhour of Buford;

Natalie Compton, Elizabeth Foltz, Sarah Goff, Molly Smith, Sarah Whiting and Alexandria Wright of Flowery Branch;

Kelsey Bagwell, Alan McCurdy, Kayla Turner and Stephanie Vincent of Hoschton;

Jessica Johnson of Jefferson;

Jocelyn Jones of Maysville;

Krista White of Murrayville.

Amanda Albertson of Gainesville graduated from Shorter University in Rome with honors. She is a 2007 graduate of North Hall High School in Gainesville.

Georgia 811's mascot Digger Dog visited Maranantha Christian Academy encouraging students in kindergarten through fourth grades to "know what's below and call before they dig."

Sharing safety information and having a bit of fun, Digger explained the importance of not damaging underground utility lines by digging safely, how to be safe near overhead power lines and what to do if the power lines are down. He also demonstrated the smell of natural gas and what students should do if they smell it.

Digger also discussed what the little colored flag and paint on the ground represent and that students should never move the flags. For more information about Georgia 811 or the Georgia Dig Law visit www.Georgia811.com. The number to "Call Before You Dig" is 811.

Glenn Cameron Ellis of Gainesville recently received a Bachelor of Science in Management from Carson-Newman College.

Catherine Peets, a third-grader in Susan Brooksher's class at Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy, won first place in a youth poetry contest sponsored by The Garden Club of Georgia. Her poem "Field of Daffodils" also won first place in The Deep South for Garden Clubs. Brooksher's class is a Junior Garden Club, The Seedlings, sponsored by Crabapple Garden Club.

" Field of Daffodils"

A field of daffodils of white and gold,

Like a napkin, they unfold.

A pretty, frilly face,

With surrounding petals full of grace.

They shine like gold in the sun;

In the wind, have so much fun.

And if you dare look inside,

You'll see a heart trying to hide.

Allen Daniel of Gainesville earned a bachelor's degree in English from Providence College on May 15.

Tanjie Nicole Hoover, daughter of Timothy Cheshire of Gainsville, has been placed on the dean's list for the spring 2011 semester at Central Methodist University.

 Gainesville Middle School students raised $1319.40 by holding 3 bake sales at the middle school. The funds were raised through "Dough for Japan," a program the students designed to raise money for the tsunami victims and delivered to the Northeast Georgia Red Cross

Lanier Elementary School fifth-grader Zach Funk won the first place Class 1 Anthropology Award for his social studies project "Could Bike Lanes Benefit Gainesville?" at the Georgia Social Studies Fair. The event was held recently at Ducktown High School in Hampton.

The Da Vinci Academy, and C.W Davis Middle will be sending three teams to the 32nd annual Odyssey of the Mind World Finals Competition, hosted by the University of Maryland, May 27-30. While there, teams will compete with more than 20,000 other students from around the world.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program for students, kindergarten through college. Team members apply creativity to solve pre-defined problems, ranging from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics.
Coached by DVA parents David and Staci Tunkel, the team of Dale Ash, Kayla Butcher, Katie Dionne, Jacob Frier, Mikaela Guido, Carson Lee and Jake Shewbert placed first in their age division (Extreme Mouse Mobiles, Division II). DVA students Anna Banda, Rachael Faul, Grant Key, Kayla Key, Scottie Manzo, Hayden Shedd and Christopher Spradlin placed second in the Division II Full Circle competition. The team is coached by Hall County teachers Kelly Schollaert (DVA) and Jody Key (Martin Academy of Science and Technology).

The C.W. Davis "Uhhinged Structure" team garnered first place at state in their division. The team had to write and perform a skit, make their own costumes and props, and design and build an 8-inch balsa wood structure weighting no more than 18 grams. During their eight-minute performance the team had to stack weights onto the structure until it breaks as part of their scoring element. Coached by Kim Carroll, the members for the Unhinged Structure team are Dylan Barron, Cody Blystone, Abbey Cantrell, Kethryn Cavender, Maddison Sharp, Daniel Torres, and Ali Winiesdorffer.

Justus Stout of Gainesville was among 141 students in the Bryan College School of Arts and Sciences who received their diplomas during graduation services May 7. Stout, son of Marc and Pam Stout of Gainesville received the Bachelor of Arts degree, with high honors, in politics and government.

Jenny Vitti of Gainesville, received a Master of Theological Studies degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, during commencement activities on May 9.

Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy participated in The American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart campaign. Students raised over $3000 during this event.