Excellence in education

By Staff
April 6, 2002
Dr. Walter Reed was one of more than 200 outstanding graduates of historically black colleges and universities honored as a Distinguished Alumni at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education's 27th National Conference on Blacks in Higher Education.
The conference was held March 21-25 at the Hilton Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Now retired, Reed is a native of Meridian. He received his bachelor's degree from Jackson State University in 1955. He also attended Indiana University, and in 1961 received his master's degree. He earned his doctorate in education at the University of Miami in 1973.
Reed was previously athletic director at Jackson State University and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla.
Dr. Mark H. Yeager became the first recipient of the TEAAM Lifetime Achievement Award on Feb. 1, at the fourth Annual Conference on Autism held at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg.
The acronym TEAAM stands for "Together Enhancing Autism Awareness in Mississippi." The TEAAM Lifetime Achievement award recognizes an individual or group whose contributions have had a significant and lasting impact on the lives of Mississippians diagnosed with autism.
Yeager is the director of Central Mississippi Residential Center in Newton. He has dedicated much of his professional career to transforming the futures of Mississippians with autism. Yeager was instrumental in the formation of the Mississippi Autism Task Force, the forerunner of TEAAM.
He has developed and served as the director of the first summer camp in the state, Kamp Kaleidoscope, for children with autism and their non-autistic peers.
Yeager is in the process of developing a statewide plan of services for people with autism.
Ross Collins Career and Technical Center held its yearly induction for the National Vocational Technical Honor Society on March 21. Forty students met the requirements to become members.
Fred Wile, owner of Southern Cast Products and president of the Meridian School Board, was the guest speaker. He emphasized the six criteria for student membership: skill, scholarship, leadership, citizenship, honesty and service.
Wile also encouraged the inductees to seek a field of work they enjoy and do it well.
Wile also said he wished every high school student was required to take at least one vocational class before graduating.
He closed his address with the following comment: "You have been selected to be a part of this organization. You have been evaluated and you have shown the panel the quality person you are. I share your parents' pride in your achievement, and I congratulate you all."
The students chosen were: Allied Health Michael Beard, Kristin Daniels, Kimberly Grady, Olusola Isikalu, Ashley Jenkins, and Whitney McAlister; Auto Mechanics Hilary Martin; Business and Computer Technology Pascha Brown, Christopher Pollard, Shawanna Williams, Christi Wiltcher; Child Care Toyteshia Bourdeaux, Amanda Brown, Brittney Hillie, Latrasha Hunt, Shaunta Martin, Jessica McClain, Latasha Moore, Brittany Walk; Computer Systems Technology Jeff Brantley, David Ray; Cooperative Education Benadora Burrage, Tanya Davis, Jennifer Moulds, Nicholas Trotter, Veronica Vickers; Drafting Nicholas Chambers, Peter Davidson, Randy Mosely, Jason Tucker; Electricity Chris Clark; Food Production Lakunita May, Tiffany McCarty, Keirra Moore, Ashley Ratcliff, Brittany Schalski, Martina Water; Marketing Cheetara Portis; Small Gas Engine Repair Santarrio Fowler; Welding Daniel Boyd.
Thirteen students in the West Lauderdale High School Choir were chosen to be in the All State Show and Honor Choirs.
To be selected for the choirs students must learn pieces selected by a committee and audition for a panel of judges made up of college professors. Ten West Lauderdale students were selected for the honor choir, and three for the show choir.
Students chosen to the honor choir were: Amy Poole, Katie White, Lauren Goodman, Adam Ainsworth, Jared Doner, David Parker, Chris Powell, Nick Webb, Nathan Cross and John Gaskin. Students selected to the show choir were: Diana Eggler, Courtney Godwin and Leslie Gaddis.
The choir at West Lauderdale is under the direction of Twyla Hurst.
HATTIESBURG Two students from Meridian and one from Collinsville were recognized as award recipients during the annual Awards Day presentation at the University of Southern Mississippi.
The students recognized from Meridian were: John Phillip Garrett, an undergraduate student in family and consumer sciences who received the Award of Excellence from the College of Health and Human Sciences; and Tori Michelle Thompson, an undergraduate student in family and consumer sciences who received the Fern Rogers Hesson scholarship. She is the daughter of Mickey and Pam Thompson of Meridian.
Matthew R. Mabry of Collinsville, a graduate student in social work, received the Award of Excellence from the College of Health and Human Sciences.