Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
10:40 pm Saturday, July 26, 2003

Excellence in education

By Staff
July 26, 2003
James Brent Brown has earned a doctor of optometry degree with clinical honors from the New England College of Optometry in Boston.
Brown was awarded two scholarships prior to graduation: the National Optometric Student Association Award and the William C. Barrett Memorial Scholarship.
He is a graduate of Lamar Academy and the University of Mississippi, where he received a degree in physics. Before going to Boston, Brown became a certified ophthalmic assistant and a laser operator for laser vision correction at Emory Vision in Atlanta.
Brown plans to continue working with Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Ga.
He is the son of Jerry and Jean Brown of Chunky, and the grandson of Ora Ida Brown and the late Arthur Brown, Olive Meaders and the late John Meaders.
A record number of degrees were conferred upon the more than 700 members of the 2003 spring graduating class at Jones Junior College. The types of degrees awarded include associate of arts, associate of applied science and vocational certification.
Graduates from this area include: Samuel J. Gunn and Christopher J. Moore, Enterprise; Latasha N. Peters, Heidelberg; Sherqutha N. McKenzie, Pachuta; Patricia Arrington, Kathy L. Cameron, Jeremy A. Huff, Greg L. Slay, Stephanie L. Swogetinsky and Patrick D. Whaley, Quitman; Deborah A. Weatherford, DeKalb; LaQuitanette R. Hearn, Steven C. Jackson and Shawn D Partridge, Meridian; Brook C. Williams, Toomsuba; and Tawana S. Bender, Decatur.
The United States Achievement Academy announced recently that Cortez D. Wilson of Meridian has been named an All-American scholar. Wilson, who attends Kate Griffin Junior High School, was nominated for this award by Liz Michael. He will appear in the All-American Scholar Yearbook, which is published nationally.
Wilson is the son of Ethel M. Wilson of Meridian. He is the grandson of Alberta Wilson of Meridian.
Jill Suzanne Hicks of Meridian was one of more than 2,000 Baylor University students named to the Dean's List for the 2003 spring semester. To be named to the Dean's List, a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.7 while taking a minimum of 12 semester hours.
Jennifer Carson, a student at East Central Community College in Decatur, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

Also on Franklin County Times
Storm spotter training course set in Russellville
News, Russellville
Griffin Traylor 
February 23, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The National Weather Service in Huntsville will hold free a storm spotter training course Tuesday at Fire Station #1. The class will be...
Miss Northwest Shoals 2026 to take place Saturday
News, Phil Campbell
Alyssa Sutherland For the FCT 
February 20, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Northwest Shoals Community College will be host to the 2026 Miss Northwest Shoals scholarship pageant at 5 p.m. Saturday inside the Lo...
Tiffin Motorhomes to produce new line
Main, News, Red Bay, ...
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
February 18, 2026
RED BAY — Tiffin Motorhomes is slated to open a new production line in Red Bay, according to Tiffin’s parent company, THOR Industries. Beginning May 1...
Dealer: Gold content not suitable for everyday use
Main, News, Z - News Main
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
February 18, 2026
The push for a new $2.50 anniversary coin is raising logistical and economic questions, particularly about whether such a coin could be used in everyd...
Red Bay approves $3.6M budget
Main, News, Red Bay
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
February 18, 2026
RED BAY – City officials are expecting a slight decrease in sales tax revenue for the upcoming fiscal year but anticipating a larger general fund budg...
$5K TVA grant to bring student podcasting program to RES
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
February 18, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Elementary School students will soon be recording podcasts, interviewing community members and exploring career paths in a program bein...
State is overlooking qualified local leaders
Columnists, Opinion
February 18, 2026
When I was elected to the Alabama State Senate in 1978, I was 39 years old. Now at the age of 87, when I go out in the community, I meet people who re...
Opinion: Here and Now – White to perform March 7 at the Roxy
News, Russellville
HERE AND NOW
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist 
February 18, 2026
By Susie Hovater Malone Columnist There is something special about a night out in a small town. People run into neighbors. They make a plan instead of...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *