Flowery Branch High School raised $3,343.42 for Pennies for Patients, a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Ginger Jackson's class was the top winner overall, with $816.69 raised. The class won a lunch at Olive Garden.

Three area students were recognized at Truett-McConnell College's annual Honors Day on May 1. Sherry Benfield McEntire of Alto received the award for outstanding achievement in English and also was recognized for having achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the past three consecutive semesters. Christopher Allen Davidson of Gainesville received the award for outstanding achievement in history. Shaun Patrick Hughes of Oakwood was recognized for having achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the past three consecutive semesters. He was also named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and received the Residence Life Meritorious Service award given by the Office of Student Services.

The University of Georgia's Blue Key Honor Society inducted Jesse N. Oakley of Gainesville during the organization's initiation ceremony in May.

Gainesville High School students Stacey Baehr and Jon Truelove recently had artwork hanging in the Georgia Art Education Association's High School Art Exhibit at the High Museum of Art. Gainesville student Liz Overdorff is one of 13 art students in Georgia who has had artwork selected to hang in the Georgia Department of Education's board room throughout the summer. Gainesville student Taylor Mercer won first prize in the annual Foreign Language Day at North Georgia College & State University. Taylor is a student in Chinese II. And Gainesville student Kiara May won a $2,000 scholarship from the Gainesville High School Key Club. She will attend Georgia State in the fall.

Gainesville State College awarded four-year degrees for the first time at its commencement ceremony in May. The following students received bachelor's degrees from the school:

• Bachelor of science in environmental spatial analysis: Charles O. Bailey of Lula, Hubert Julian Byrd of Suches and Joshua Lane Proctor of Dawsonville.
• Bachelor of science in early childhood education: Robyn Ancil of Suwanee; Yasnaia Andrade and Gina Sartain of Gainesville; L. Darla Collins, Lydia Lively and Martha Lock of Maysville; Jessica Davis of Gillsville; Lynn Gerhard and Kelly Symmes of Cumming; Heather Hayes of Buford; Jennifer Kennedy of Cleveland; Cynthia Kinsey and Sonya Negley of Clermont; Holly Reynolds and Jennifer Warren of Braselton; and William Wilkerson of Mount Airy.

The following students graduated with honors from Gainesville State College:

• Bailey, Ancil, Gerhard, Symmes, Lock, Lively, Negley, Kinsey, Wilkerson, Reynolds, Kelli Gunn of Baldwin; Taylor Miller of Commerce; Misty Compton of Flowery Branch; and Lisa Botticher of Winder.