Local students played key roles Oct. 7-8 when Brenau University teams collected top honors in the ninth annual Mock Mediation Tournament on the Gainesville campus.
In the tournament, 16 different teams represented eight colleges and universities from throughout the Southeast. A Brenau team finished first, followed by teams from Georgia State University, Gainesville State College, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A second Brenau team finished fifth.
The local students who participated were:
Carmen J. Hughey of Gainesville, a senior at Brenau majoring in conflict resolution and legal studies, and teammate Melissa Tavilla received an outstanding advocate/client team award. Hughey is the daughter of John and Brenda Hughey and a graduate of West Hall High School.
Melanie Fain from Cleveland, a sophomore at Brenau majoring in liberal arts and a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, is a graduate of White County High School.
The next stop for Brenau student mediators will be at the National Intercollegiate Mock Mediation Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 11-12.
Amy Walls of Gainesville is among five outstanding first-year students at Brenau University Women's College who are the 2011 recruits to the Brenau Scholars program, which is designed to attract top high school academic prospects. She is majoring in education with a minor in psychology.
The daughter of Tommy and Cheryl Walls, Amy is an honors graduate of Johnson High School.
Dawn Lyons of Clermont has accepted membership in Golden Key International Honour Society and was honored during a recent induction ceremony at Ashford University.
Golden Key International Honour Society provides academic recognition to top-performing college and university students, as well as scholarships and awards, career and internship opportunities, networking, service and leadership development opportunities.
The 2011 GHS Big Red Machine marching band competed at the Georgia Band Championships at Forsyth Central High School in Cumming. This was the third and most competitive event of the season and concludes the competition season. Results were as follows:
Drum Major: Superior
Dance Team: Superior
Color Guard: Superior
Drum line: Superior
Band: Excellent
2nd place: Band, in class
1st place: Majorette, in class
1st place: Dance Team, in class
1st place: Dance Team, all day
1st place: Majorette, all day
GHS-NJROTC competed against 16 other schools in a StatE-Qualifing Drill, Academic & Athletic Meet. The top three schools qualify for our Area-12/State Championships to be held in March. GHS finished third overall. The results were as follows:
Personnel Inspection: 4th place
Unarmed Exhibition: 2nd place
Armed Exhibition: 2nd Place
Unarmed Basic: 4th place
Drill Overall: 3rd Place
Push-ups: 1st place
Sit-ups: 1st place
Athletics Overall: 1st place
Kevin Danz: 3rd place academics; 3rd place male sit-ups
Jaun Santos: 2nd place male push-ups
Ben Lui: 4th place male sit-ups
Karen Ruiz: 1st place female push-ups (94)
Alex Vazquez: 3rd place female push-ups
Kim Nguyen: 1st place female sit-ups (242)
Symone Brawner: 3rd place female sit-ups
Kim Hong: 5th place female sit-ups