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Haywood County Schools board recognizes students for drone, robotics, music, scholarships and internships
Summary
At its May meeting the Haywood County Schools Board of Education honored students who competed in drone and robotics contests, earned competitive college scholarships, placed in district and state music programs and completed career internships with local employers.
At its May meeting the Haywood County Schools Board of Education paused regular business to recognize student accomplishments across the district.
Charlie Emmett, speaking for district staff, introduced winners of an elementary and middle school drone-day competition and asked each winning team to come forward for recognition. Emmett said Bethel Elementary recorded the fastest elementary team time, "an outstanding 1 minute and 40 seconds," and that Bethel Middle School recorded the fastest middle-school time at 1 minute and 26 seconds.
The board also honored a high‑school robotics team that competed in the FIRST robotics series. Ralph Michael, the team’s teacher sponsor, described the program as an exercise in "teamwork, innovation, problem solving, and perseverance," and said the team improved near‑term results: "We're taking, like, a wooden car to a Formula 1 race, and doing very, very well," he said, describing the students’ progress and plans to qualify for the state championship next year.
School leaders read names of high‑school students who received competitive, full‑tuition scholarships and fellowships including Goodnight, Ignite, Park and teaching‑fellows awards, an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a presidential founder scholarship at High Point University. Presenters noted the list was the set of names available when the agenda was finalized and may not be exhaustive.
Ginny Wood and district music staff recognized students who earned superior ratings at Music Performance Adjudication, solo and ensemble accolades, All‑District placements and selections to regional and All‑State honor bands. Presenters said Haywood County had representation across its schools in Western North Carolina all‑district and state honor ensembles.
The board also called dozens of students forward who completed career and technical education internships with local businesses. Students named specific hosts on the record, including ConMet, Presnell's Produce, Mountain Credit Union, Ingles in Canton, Maggie Valley Fly Shop and Paris Cattle Farms, among others.
Separately, Brandy Stevenson thanked The Arc of Haywood County for local grants that support teachers who work with students with intellectual disabilities; she said the Arc awarded more than $7,300 this year.
The recognitions were presented during the meeting’s program of student and staff reports and concluded before the board returned to regular agenda business.
