The Clarkdale Future Farmers of America chapter traveled to the Newton County Vocational Center to participate in a FFA Federation Contest. Clarkdale competed against seven other area schools in career development events.

Jamie Norris placed first in prepared speaking. Norris delivered an eight-minute speech on avian influenza and responded to questions from the judges on the topic.

Also qualifying to move on to the district contest were Kyle Crenshaw, who placed second in extemporaneous speaking, and Michael Lunstrum, who placed second in creed speaking.

Other competing teams were: Tony Ware, Justin McMillan and Luke Sanders, tractor driving; Matt White, Eric Green, Blake Sharron and Wesley Nance, tool identification; Samantha Johnson, Jamie Norris, Blake Sharron, Korey Waller, Daniel Bridgmon, Tony Ware and Steven Steward, opening and closing ceremonies; and Daniel Bridgmon, Ryan Hinton, Korey Waller and Sean Coffman, welding.

The district contest will be March 25 at Ackerman Career Center.



•••



Elected officers of Health Occupation Students of America at the Newton County Career and Technical Center are: Tyler Hansford, president; Andrew Marshall, vice president; Lindsey Stevens, secretary; Anna Sellers, treasurer; Lacey Scott, parliamentarian; and Melissa Robinson, historian. Tammie Edwards is Allied Health instructor and HOSA adviser.



•••



Caleb Dulaney of Collinsville recently made the Dean’s List for the fall 2005 semester at Millsaps College.

Students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 for the semester, be enrolled full-time and earn grades of C or higher in each course to attain Dean’s List status. They must also meet the standard, in the judgment of the dean of the college, of being a good citizen of the college community.



•••



Hope Simone Ferguson and Chet Nicklas Jr., both of Meridian, recently received $10,000 Trustees Scholarships to attend the University of West Alabama. The awards, based on academic achievement and proven leadership potential, come from the UWA Admissions Office.

Ferguson, a senior at Southeast Lauderdale High School, plans to major in nursing. Nicklas is a senior at Clarkdale High School.



•••



Area students named members of the East Central Community College Diamond Girls for the 2005-06 baseball season are: Molly Talbott and Briana Stinson, both of Neshoba County; Paige Randolph and Aly Burton, both of Newton County; Brittany Mixon of Lake; and April Barnett and Kristen Thompson, both of Union.



•••



DECATUR — East Central Community College students serving as officers of SkillsUSA for 2005-06 are: Corey Logan of Philadelphia, president; Shay Moncrief of Newton, treasurer; Crystal Tull of Carthage, secretary; Jared Weir of Quitman, parliamentarian; and Bryan Moore of Philadelphia, historian.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving more than 280,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations.