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Newton County Schools board recognizes regional science fair winners and names three Hero of the Year finalists
Summary
The board celebrated student winners from the Griffin Regional Science and Engineering Fair and previewed a March 31 ceremony that will name the district’s Hero of the Year; three classified employees — Diana Cade, Andrea Cummings and Heather McCullough — were announced as finalists in a surprise video.
At the Newton County Board of Education’s March business meeting, district leaders honored dozens of students who earned top awards at the Griffin Regional Science and Engineering Fair and announced three finalists for the district’s Hero of the Year award.
Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley opened the recognitions by celebrating the district’s recent awards season and introducing a video that visited schools across the county to surprise the three Hero of the Year finalists. The district announced media paraprofessional Diana Cade (Oak Hill Elementary), kindergarten paraprofessional Andrea Cummings (Rocky Plains Elementary) and front-office staff member Heather McCullough (Newton College and Career Academy) as the finalists; the board invited the public to the hero awards celebration on Tuesday, March 31 at the Porter Performing Arts Center.
The meeting then shifted to individual student recognitions. The board called up middle- and high-school students who earned first- and second-place finishes at the district fair and at the regional competition. Among those acknowledged were Cole Paducas, who won first place and an Office of Naval Research Award for his project “Golf Club Loft”; Mason Walker and Jaya Watkins, both noted as Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge winners; and Branson Moore and Robin Aspil among the high-school winners at the Newton College and Career Academy. Board members and the superintendent congratulated each student and highlighted the district’s performance against regional peers.
Chair Abigail Coggin and Dr. Bradley repeatedly framed the recognitions as evidence of the district’s commitment to student achievement and staff support; Dr. Bradley said the district is “incredibly proud” of the students’ curiosity and innovation. The recognitions portion of the meeting concluded before the board moved to the business portion of the agenda.
The hero award that names the single Hero of the Year will be presented during the March 31 ceremony; the district will announce the winner at that event.
