Thumbs Up! Aug. 1, 2016

Advanced Placement courses are available at most high schools for qualified sophomores, juniors and seniors. The students take college-level courses and can earn college credits for their work. In order to earn those college credits, a student must take a nationally-standardized exam and pass. Deerfield-Windsor School had an amazing 28 students recently recognized as AP Scholars, meaning they passed at least three of the AP exams. Among the 28 were Helena Augenstein and Hadden Kelley. These two rose to even a higher level. Augenstein and Kelley have been designated as National AP Scholars, which requires passing at least eight AP courses with scores of four or five on a five-point scale. Congratulations to every DWS AP Scholar and especially to the two who achieved National AP Scholar status.

McDonald’s restaurants are everywhere and have a long history of giving back to communities all across the nation. The Ronald McDonald House makes it possible for a family with a hospitalized child to stay nearby without draining all its resources. When twins J’son and Ja’Kierra Walker of Sylvester were born, J’son weighed only two pounds. The Ronald McDonald House was there for the family during J’son’s stay at the hospital, something they are forever grateful for. But McDonald’s was not done with this family when the children were just babies. On July 21, the now-elementary age siblings went to the Sylvester McDonald’s with their mother and grandfather, not an unusual event for a summer day. When they arrived, however, it was to a packed house and numerous cameras. Across the nation, five Friendship Pairs were chosen to attend the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Reno. J’son and Ja’Kierra, brother and sister and best friends since birth, were chosen for the honor. They will walk alongside some of the world’s greatest athletes and their own children. Here’s wishing the Walker twins a safe and memorable trip.

The start of a new school year is an exciting time for students, parents and teachers. School supplies, uniforms, bus schedules, classes, seeing friends and much more are on the minds of everyone involved in the preparing for classes to resume. Military families have the same issues but their children attend a new school more frequently as their parent(s) are relocated during the time of service to this country. MCLB-Albany recently held an education seminar with representatives from all area schools, including the South Georgia Homeschool Association and private schools. Parents were given the opportunity to hear about the schools and ask questions. Because of their mobility, these families, if they decide to utilize the public school systems, are allowed to choose which school their children attend in Dougherty, Lee and Worth counties, a small privilege for the big sacrifices military families make to protect and defend this nation.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler, despite 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week position, takes time to educate the public about not being a part of the coroner’s job any sooner than necessary. This summer, Fowler rounded up sponsors and started what he dubbed the Swim for Life program. In its initial year, 51 children participated in the program which provided free swimming lessons through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Albany. According to the clubs’ CEO, Marvin Laster, none of the 51 could swim when the program started. They all now have the basic skills to swim, get out of the water when needed and help others at the pool. By the end, Laster reported that the skill levels and confidence was such that the kids were jumping off the diving board. Thank you, Michael Fowler, for this wonderful idea and thank you to all the sponsors that brought to fruition.