May 2023 Student Spotlights

The Auburn High School Girl’s Golf team won Team Champions in the 2023 Hike the Hills Tournament hosted by Vestavia Hills High School! Eleven schools competed with 60 golfers in the field. Kate Ha won individual low medalist with a one-under round of 69, while Esha Gupta had a top-five finish with a three-over round of 73.

The Auburn High School Girl’s Tennis team won the Auburn Invitational by beating teams from Vestavia, Huntsville, Florence, Allatoona, and Woodward Academy! AHS played in three tournaments and walked away champs in all three!

Teachers from Richland Elementary School came together to sponsor Our House’s First Saturday Breakfast Club. Teachers donated food, helped prepare breakfast, and did crafts while building meaningful relationships with young people, many attending RES. The students loved seeing their teachers and administration outside of school. Our House is an Alabama non-profit corporation serving more than 100 local children and their families. The first Saturday of every month, they host a Breakfast Club, a time to enjoy food, fun, and fellowship!

More than 20 countries were represented during the World’s Fair at Auburn High School last night. The evening was full of festivities, including a fashion show, musical performances, and delicious delicacies from across the globe. While French, German, and Spanish courses are taught at AHS, there are 17 languages spoken by Auburn City Schools students in grades K-12. This event provided the opportunity to explore and celebrate family cultures while highlighting global diversity within the AHS community. The World Language teachers at AHS coordinated the fair with the assistance of students in their respective clubs.

A group of students in grades 6-12 competed in the 2023 Alabama State Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF) at Auburn University! ASEF is an affiliate fair of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. ISEF annually provides a forum for millions of students from more than 50 countries to showcase independent research.
Winners include:
• The ISEF Finalists at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair: Kevin Yan – AHS
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Inventors Challenge Winners: Minlu Wang-He and Ayoung Jeong – ESS, and Ritesh Babu – DMS
• 1st place Agronomy Award: Kevin Yan – AHS
• 3rd place Environmental Science Award for Water Science: Christopher Valeri – AHS
• Outstanding Engineering Award: Naeim Mohjouri – AHS
• Lemelson Early Inventor Prize: Minlu Wang-He and Ayoung Jeong – ESS
• NOAA Award: Minlu Wang-He and Ayoung Jeong – ESS
• Innovative Practices in Agriculture Award: Minlu Wang-He and Ayoung Jeong – ESS
Category Award Winners:
• 1st place in Engineering Mechanics Statics and Dynamics: Will Bao – AHS
• 1st place in Material Sciences & Energy Sustainable Materials and Design: Naeim Mahjouri – AHS
• 1st place in Chemistry: Ritesh Babu – DMS
• 2nd place in Robotic Systems & Communication Technology: Kevin Yan – AHS
• 2nd place in Cell, Molecular, Microbiology & Biochemistry: Sania Kazmi – AJHS

The Auburn University School of Nursing provided TigerCHAT time for students at Creekside Elementary School. TigerCHAT is a community-based health, awareness, and training program that allows AU Nursing students to complete their pediatric clinicals. This was the conclusion of a several-week process to educate students on nutrition and exercise with a focus on healthy and active lifestyles. During PE classes, students participated in activities and games while rotating among three stations to learn about strength, endurance, and flexibility. Tucker, the Golden Retriever, was also on hand to show students the calming effects of a trained service animal. Students were encouraged to pursue at least 60 minutes of moderate to high-intensity daily aerobic activity. ACS is thankful for the many partnerships with various colleges at Auburn University and how they benefit students K-12 and post-graduation!

Civil Rights activist, Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr., visited sixth graders at J.F. Drake Middle School to talk about the Freedom Rides and his leading role in organizing the Selma Voting Rights Movement. Dr. LaFayette, who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, lived through many injustices as a black man in America, being arrested approximately 30 times in his young adulthood while standing up for equality in the late 1950s and early 60s. With his wife, Kate Bull LaFayette, by his side, he shared stories of courage and doing the right thing with the students while fielding questions about his life. Dr. LaFayette currently serves as scholar-in-residence at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University and has written a book entitled “In Peace and Freedom: My Journey in Selma.” ACS thanks Dr. LaFayette for taking the time to impart years of wisdom to our students.

At Trinity, our Kindergarten through 6th grade students learn the Children’s Catechism as well as the Shorter Catechism as part of the curriculum. Catechism is a summary of the truths of God’s word taught in the form of questions and answers and has been used for centuries by church families to help set a trajectory for learning more deeply the things of God.
That you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught (catechized). Luke 1:4

The 2023 LSA Band Trip was a SUCCESS! The band competed in the Orlandofest Music Competition and won Superior First Place in both their Concert and Jazz Band divisions! While in Orlando, the students had the opportunity to have some fun before competing. We are so proud of these talented students!

Students enjoyed dressing like their favorite book character and had fun eating Popcorn on the Patio!

Students from Auburn Junior High School and Auburn High School participated in cleanup efforts at Baptist Hill Cemetery. The sacred space along Dean Road is a historically black cemetery established in the early 1870s. Dr. Robert Bubb, from Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences, was on hand to lead the efforts of everyone present, which included cleaning headstones, collecting trash, raking leaves, and pruning branches. The AJHS students are members of the Friends of Baptist Hill Club, sponsored by Mr. Logan Shaddix, a ninth-grade World History teacher at the junior high, and the students from AHS are in Ms. Caitlin Halperin’s history class. In addition to documenting history, this cleanup gave students the opportunity to honor the space while reflecting on the past and the stories of the people buried there. Several of the students will present their research on May 11th at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

What a great day at the 5th Annual “Shoot for the Park” Clay Shoot at Auburn Oaks Farm benefitting the baseball and softball programs. There were 26 teams that participated in the clay shoot. Thank you to the sponsors of these teams and their support of this event and Warrior athletics! Also, a special thanks to Cline and Destiny Carmack for donating BBQ sandwiches and chips from Carmack’s Grocery Store for the lunch, Reynolds Outdoors and Russell Marine for the swag bag items, Keith and Robyn Little for providing Uncle Keith’s Red Sauce for each participant and High Log Creek for two hunts to be given to the flight winners.

Acclaimed sculpture artist Andy Yoder recently visited with students from East Samford School and Auburn High School. During his visit, Yoder met with individual art classes to discuss his distinct cardboard shoe sculptures featured in the exhibition at Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. He provided hands-on instruction for the students to help them create their own shoes while also conversing with them about design, cultural relevance, and the biomechanics of the foot within the sneaker.

The Auburn Choral Company earned several awards at Fame Show Choir America 2023 in Orlando, including overall Grand Champion in two categories!
VARSITY SINGERS:
– Best Vocals (Mixed Division)
– Best Female Stage Presence (Serena Orantes)
– Best Show Design
– Best Band
– Overall GRAND CHAMPION
UNISEX DIVISION:
– Best Female Soloist (Nacia Lee/Elan)
– Overall GRAND CHAMPION (Elan)
– 2nd Runner-up (Men at Work)
ACS is proud of all these students for representing Auburn so well on a national level!

Auburn City Schools had four students place in the 2023 State Superintendent Visual Arts Exhibits. During an awards ceremony, these students were recognized at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.
ELEMENTARY LEVEL:
Eric Wang – Creekside Elementary – 3rd place in the 3-4 division.
SECONDARY LEVEL:
Amanda Nguyen – AJHS – Honorable Mention in the 7-8 division.
Isabella Trentacosti – AHS – 1st place in the 11-12 division
Kaelyn Coburn – AHS – Honorable Mention in the 11-12 division.
ACS is proud of the continued success of our students pursuing art education offerings in our school system!

The Auburn High School Debate team brought home several accolades from the Alabama State Speech and Debate Tournament in Tuscaloosa!
STATE WINNERS IN SPEECH:
–Blaire Gray placed 3rd in Original Oratory.
–Leigh Macaon placed 4th in Poetry Interpretation.
–Alastar Adams placed 5th in Poetry Interpretation.
STATE CHAMPIONS IN DEBATE:
–Lily Tao and Emily Jiang finished 1st and are the new Alabama Novice Public Forum State Champions.
–Esther Park won a 1st place speaker award in JV Lincoln Douglas.
–Emily Jiang won a 3rd place Speaker Award.
STATE RUNNERS-UP:
–Elizabeth Thurow and Joshua Kolwaite broke to finals in JV Public Forum.
–Justin Bentley and Kayla Troung made the quarter-finals in Novice Public Forum.
–Harleigh Walker made the quarter-finals in Novice Lincoln Douglas.
ACS is proud of these students and their many accomplishments in the 2022-2023 season!

Dean Road Elementary School students attended performances by the Auburn Junior High School Show Choirs. More than 480 students in grades K-2 made their way across East Samford Avenue to the AJHS auditorium this morning with the assistance of their teachers. At the same time, our School Resource Officers directed traffic and handed out high fives and fist bumps. Audacity, a 47-member all-female choir, performed “Sunshine,” a show about living joyfully even in the most challenging situations. Songs included “Walking on Sunshine,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “You Are My Sunshine.” It was choreographed by Taylor Holt, Ashlyn Wheat, Connor Hawthorne, Olivia Seale Esposito, Jillian Parker, and Colt Bass and directed by Taylor Holt. Adrenaline, a 52-member male and female choir, performed “The Unseen” celebrating things in this life that are powerful but not tangible. Songs included “Everybody’s Looking for Some Light,” “The Window,” and “Bright Ones” featuring themes of love, joy and peace. The team of choreographers included Taylor Holt, Jarrod Holt, Rusty McKinnell, Colt Bass, and Jillian Parker; the show was arranged and directed by Taylor Holt. In between the two shows, the young students asked questions of the performers, and three DRES teachers joined their daughters on stage for a moment of recognition and connection between the two schools.

The Restaurant, Food, and Beverage Service Program (aka Hospitality & Tourism) offers three classes, including Hospitality and Tourism, Culinary Arts Level I, and Culinary Arts Level II. The classes are focused on an introduction to the industry, food safety, and workplace safety. These Courses are taught by Chef John Everson, who has more than 34 years of Food Service experience, classically trained at Le Cordon Bleu, and has traveled abroad while serving 20 years in the Army before joining Auburn City Schools in 2016. All classes are conducted in the culinary kitchen at Auburn Junior High, where the students work in a 2,900-square-foot space with five team stations. Students learn and work with commercial-grade equipment, including a six-burner gas range, flat-top griddle, deep-fat fryer, steam jacket kettle, Low Boy refrigerator, and two ovens. This area also has a 462-square-foot dining room that seats 24. This program has approximately 100 students enrolled per semester in grades 9-12. The curriculum includes ProStart and ServSafe, both are part of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Enrolling in ProStart allows Students to start working in the kitchen earlier than traditional Foodservice workers

Career Discovery 2023 at Opelika Middle School was a big success! Approximately 400 students in the 8th grade got to see and experience the highest demand career industries in our area by visiting exhibits set up by local community members. Students saw robotic arms, Jenga building blocks, an anatomical spine model, medical manikins, a dress form, culinary supplies, live plants, and police tactical vests amongst many other things! Special thanks to Southern Union State Community College, Baxter, Cumberland Plastic Solutions, Encore Rehab, East Alabama Health, VCOM, Opelika Police Department, AU College of Human Sciences, Central Alabama Works, Go Build Alabama, Rabren General Contractors, and Bonnie Plants for spending your Friday afternoon with us and giving our students such an enriching experience. They have to see it to be it, and it takes all of us working together to help students find their passion and build tomorrow’s workforce.

Gary and Debbie Pegues blessed the ACA faculty and students by speaking at School Chapel. Gary and Debbie are parents of Dylan, who passed away in June 2022. He was a remarkable individual who displayed the love, generosity and kindness of Christ each day of his life. In honor of Dylan, Gary, Debbie and sister Lexie formed the D1 Foundation to encourage and support others to ‘Live a D1’ life, just as Dylan did! What a privilege it was to hear their story and to be encouraged by them and Dylan’s amazing example!

Auburn Classical Academy’s 1st grade class recently visited the Springer Opera House in Columbus, GA. Students, parents and faculty viewed the performance of Dr. Seuss’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’. All thoroughly enjoyed the production!

Congratulations to the JV girls on winning the 3A JV State Meet with 209 total points!
Parker Fuqua was named meet MVP for having 36 individual points. Way to go, Warriors!

Over 500 students participated in our Employment Fair at OHS today! These things are only possible when we have the support of our business community, our school community, and our students. We are so appreciative of our business partners for talking with our students and helping them learn how to have professional conversations, showing them opportunities, and making them feel comfortable. If success for these types of events is based on how well the students and employers enjoyed the experience, then today was a big success! Thank you to all who participated and invested your time and energy in helping us develop tomorrow’s workforce.

Three Lee-Scott Academy students, seniors Phillips Lane & Maya Esquivel-McKinnon and junior Ethan Kim have been participating in the Lee County Young Leaders throughout school year. Each month, the group meets and focus on a particular area such as education, judicial, civic and more of Lee County in order to hopefully participate in a leadership position at a future date! Recently, the class had the opportunity to visit and take a picture with Governor Kay Ivey! Well done, students! Thank you for representing LSA so well.

Students attend the Alabama Music Educators Association “Hill Day” at the Capitol in Montgomery. Throughout the day, students, teachers, and other advocates from across Alabama met with their elected officials to ask for every student in Alabama to have access to music education. The Auburn Junior High School Jazz Band and Show Choir performed during this statewide advocacy event, highlighting the results and benefits of systemwide K-12 music education offerings!

What a special evening at Lee-Scott Academy as our 5th grade students presented “The Easter Story”! Families experienced an interactive walk through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Cookies and lemonade were served by our Lower School KICKS Leadership ambassadors.

Auburn Classical Academy’s Junior Kindergarten class is learning about wildlife and outdoor activities. Recently, the students focused on camping outdoors and all that is needed to have a successful adventure. One component was showing the students how fun it is to sit around a ‘campfire’ and tell stories. The students loved using their creative skills to tell the best story!

For the final Wee Warrior Book Club, sponsored by the PreK teachers, the book “God Gave Us Easter” by Lisa Tawn Bergren was read. Students enjoyed “The Easter Story Snack Mix” as a special treat! Each item in the mix represented different verses from the Bible. After snack and storytime, students painted a beautiful collage cross on canvas to take home!

Precision Machining is taught by Michael Brogan and enrolls approximately 80 students per year. This program prepares students for a career in the growing and changing field of machining with a focus on fabricating, operating, modifying, and regulating the use of mechanical instruments. The necessary skills required for this field rely on the knowledge of mathematics, metal properties, and mechanics. Students at Auburn High School can begin their course pathway with one of two options: Intro to Manufacturing or Intro to CNC (Computer Numerical Control). There are also dual enrollment opportunities with Southern Union State Community College, with no fees attached to the courses (Intro to Precision Machining, Intro to Lathe, and Intro to Mill, Drill Press, and Surface Grinder). Students can earn National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Credentials and certification in Measurement, Materials, & Safety, Turning I (Between Centers), Milling I, and CNC Mill Operations. For the second year in a row, the program has received a $12,000 grant from the Gene HAAS Foundation for student scholarships in the machining and engineering trades. Beginning last year, machining and manufacturing students have been making the Student of the Year and Student of the Semester medals presented by the ACS Career Technical Education department. They are working on making Career Readiness Indicator medals this year, with more than 300 produced and polished so far.

On April 4th, Mrs. Beard & Mrs. Basgier took the first place winners from the AISA District Art Show competition for grades Kindergarten through 8th to the AISA State Art Show at Faulkner University in Montgomery. The first and second place winners in grades 9th-12th also advanced to the state show. Congratulations to the following winners for winning a first or second place ribbon at state!
K-1st:
Water Base: Charlotte Carter, 1st
Printmaking: Beau Weeks, 1st
Mixed Media: Piper Craig, 1st* (Best of Show)
2nd-3rd:
Printmaking: Isabella Ingram, 2nd
Mixed Media: Lily Brady, 1st
4th-5th:
Printmaking: Fitz Hewitt, 1st
6th-8th:
Painting: Pie Clinard, 1st (SECIS Selection)
Water Base: Pie Clinard, 1st (Best of Show)
Printmaking: Joshua Chang, 2nd
Drawing (non-color): Pie Clinard, 1st (SECIS Selection)
Drawing (color): Pie Clinard, 2nd
Three-Dimensional Art/Crafts: Pie Clinard, 1st (SECIS Selection)
Collage: Campbell Thompson, 2nd
9th-12th:
Printmaking: Aisha Roughton, 1st
Mixed Media: Aisha Roughton, 2nd

Auburn Classical Academy’s 7th grade class recently took a field trip to Washington DC! The students, parents and faculty spent several days exploring museums, historical monuments and memorials to gain a deeper understanding of our country’s rich history. Students had a ton of fun while learning an exorbitant amount about the USA!

Congratulations to Team ORGE- Opelika’s Greatest Robotics Engineers on winning at the Rocket City Regional competition!

On senior night, the senior soccer players chose a teacher or staff member to honor by giving a jersey to them before the game. Our teachers and staff inspire our students to do their best on and off the field. Go Warriors!
Skylar Piper– Coach Ozment
Cason Kennefick-Mrs. Lewis
Grayson Wood– Mrs. Bryant
Brendon Moore– Ms. Core
Kyle Wilson and Axl Stiles-Ms. Croley
Austin Marlin– Coach Smith
Jacob Baker– Ms. Webb
Charlie Greenleaf– Mr. Jones

Auburn Classical Academy (ACA) recently held a Spirit Night fundraiser at Culver’s restaurant. Pictured here is ACA 1st grade student, Ava Joy Battles, and a Culver’s employee enjoying the evening. Several ACA faculty and students were able to help take food and desserts to dining room guests! Thank you, Culver’s, for an amazing time.

Auburn Classical Academy’s Jr. Kindergarten worked on their listening skills and comprehension as they ‘blindly’ directed their partner on how to draw an insect. Students were only allowed to instruct the student on how to draw the bug solely with verbal communication. It was a tough task, but the Jr K students did very well!

Auburn Classical Academy’s fifth graders spent time in Science class counting bacteria colonies that grew in areas cleaned by different disinfectants. The results helped the students determine which disinfectant is the most effective. Great job, students!

On March 14, Auburn Classical Academy celebrated 100 days of school. Pictured here is the 1st grade class displaying what they think a 100 year old person would wear!

Auburn Classical Academy’s 3rd – 6th graders competed in the Wiregrass Elementary Science Olympiad on March 18, 2023. Several ACA students won 1st, 2nd or 3rd place for their individual events. We are proud of the effort and determination each student put into the competition!