Camp Fire’s Townson Is Apple Seed Award Winner
May 19, 2012
Pam Townson, director and VPK teacher for the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Leaning Center was recently presented the 2012 Apple Seed Award by the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County.
The annual Apple Seed Banquet recognizes early learning education teachers. Camp Fire USA in Century received a 100 percent grade from the Florida Department of Education for 2010-2011 under Townson’s leadership.
“Pam not only encourages parents to be fully engaged as genuine partners in their children’s development, she advocates that early childhood structure can provide school stability and greater consistency in learning, which leads to better school achievements,” said La-vonne Haven, executive director of Camp Fire USA’s Gulf Wind Council.
Townson credits the curriculum of the Florida VPK Standards and Math Standards along with Creative Curriculum, National Camp Fire USA and the Galileo assessment tools with providing researched approaches to learning about the outdoors, nature, science, and creative arts as well as providing fine and gross motor development, early math skills, language and literacy.
Pictured: Pam Townson, director and VPK teacher for the Camp Fire USA Century Youth Leaning Center. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wright, Prescott Named EREC Scholarship Winners
May 18, 2012
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has announced two local seniors as winners of the 2012 Herman D. Johnson Scholarship Awards.
The Escambia County winner was Elizabeth Wright, and the Santa Rosa County winner was Travis Prescott.
Elizabeth Wright is the daughter of Joe and Tammy Wright and is a senior at Northview High School. She is active in many clubs and organizations such as the American Legion Auxiliary, Art Club, Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club, Student Advisory Council, Student Government Association and holds officer positions. She is also active in the Tribal Beat Marching Band. Elizabeth has won various awards through the Future Business Leaders of America for Public Speaking and Business Presentation.
Travis Prescott is the son of Philip Prescott and is a senior at Jay High School. He is a member of many clubs and organizations such as Tri-M Music Honor Society, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, Spanish Club and holds officer positions. He is a member of the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Indoor Percussion, and the Drum and Bugle Corps at Jay High School. Travis is also an avid volunteer in his community, participating in activities such as delivering Thanksgiving baskets to retired teachers. Travis plans to major in Animation and Digital Arts in college.
Wright and Prescott will receive $1,000.00 for each of four years providing they continue to meet the scholarship criteria. The scholarships will be presented at the respective schools’ awards programs.
To be eligible for the scholarships, students must be high school seniors and their parent or guardian must be a member of EREC.
Tate Senior Awarded Full Alabama Scholarship, Joining Million Dollar Band
May 17, 2012
Tate High School senior Matthew Warren has received a full academic scholarship to the University of Alabama where he will march in the Million Dollar Band.
Warren was a section leader in the Tate Showband of the South where he played the trombone. He will continue to play the trombone for UA’s band.
He is currently attending night classes at Pensacola State College to complete elective courses. He has been accepted into the Honors Program at the University of Alabama where he will work toward a Masters degree in aeronautical engineering.
Summer Camp Offered At Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
May 17, 2012
The Francis M. Weston Audubon Society, in conjunction with the Escambia County School System, will be hosting the “Environmental Encounters Summer Camp 2012” at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center.
Two one-week sessions geared toward incoming third, fourth and fifth grade students will be offered on June 4-8, and June 11-15. Through hands-on scientific investigations and experiments, campers will learn about different environments and the challenges which they face. The cost is $130 per week and includes five days packed full of fun and educational science activities. Participants provide their own transportation and sack lunch each day.
For a camp brochure, click here. For a registration form, click here.
Pictured: Scenes from a previous camp at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Students Are Winners At State SkillsUSA Competition
May 15, 2012
Several North Escambia area students were winners at the recent SkillsUSA state competition at the Pensacola Civic Center.
Florida SkillsUSA competitors faced off to showcase their technical trade talents and leadership abilities inconjunction with the Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo.
The Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo is showcasing businesses and vendors in technical and vocational career fields by engaging more than 3,000 local seventh- and eighth-grade students, and more than 2,000 high school and college students from throughout the state of Florida.
TECH PREP SHOWCASE EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
Team B – Tate High School Gold Medal Winners
(100% Pensacola State College scholarship awarded for each Gold winner)
Team B (Gold Medal):
- Courtney Graves
- Morgan Fillingim
- Miranda Franklin
Team A – Tate High School Bronze Medal Winners
(25% Pensacola State College scholarship awarded for each Bronze winner)
Team A (Bronze Medal):
- Morgan Bathurst
- Mandi Praytor
- Ainsley Xenos
Preschool Teaching Assistant:
- Elizabeth McMann, Tate High School, Bronze Medal Winner
George Stone Technical Center students and teachers:
Marine Service Technology Winners
- Silver – Drew Resmondo
- Bronze – Jason Pack
Mens Haircutting
- Silver – Hoang Nguyen
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Gold – Daniel Wallace
- Silver – Bryant Horne
Computer Maintenance Technology
- Gold – James Bauder
Pictured top: Students from Ernest Ward Middle School were among those that attended the recent SkillsUSA event at the Pensacola Civic Center. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Names Inspirational Hero, Student Of Year
May 14, 2012
Byrneville Elementary School has named their 2012 Cox Inspirational Hero and their Student of the Year.
Cox Inspirational Hero — Patton Goetter
Byrneville’s Cox Inspirational Hero is Patton Goetter, a fifth grader with cystic fibrosis that “let’s nothing get in the way of his dreams”, according to the school. “His warm smile, dedication, and hard work makes him a ‘her0′ to us,” his teacher, Jacke Johnston, said.
Student of the Year — Tanner Levins
Byrneville Elementary School’s Student of the Year is fifth grader Tanner Levins.
“Tanner is a dream student. He always gives 100% and is eager to learn new things. He is always wearing a smile and is always there to help another student out. He takes up for the kids who can’t take up for themselves. Tanner definitely is a role model in and out of school,” said Johnson, also Levins’ teacher.
Pictured top: Byrneville Elementary School’s Cox Inspirational Hero Patton Goetter and Student of the Year Tanner Levins. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
LifeFlight Turns 35 (Photo Gallery From LifeFlight Over Flomaton, Century)
May 14, 2012
May 14 was the 35th anniversary of the first patient flight on LifeFlight.
In 1977, Baptist Hospital became the third hospital in the country to operate medical helicopter ambulance service. LifeFlight 2 was added in Mobile in 2004 and LifeFlight 3 was added in Evergreen in 2006.
For a photo gallery from LifeFlight over Century and Flomaton, click here.
Operating 24 hours a day, Baptist LifeFlight can be airborne within minutes of a call, traveling at speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour. This significantly reduces the transport time of critically ill patients, either from a transferring hospital or from the scene of an emergency.
The Baptist LifeFlight crew is highly trained and experienced in critical care. Registered nurses must have a paramedic certification, a minimum of three years in nursing with one year each of critical care and emergency department experience, and be certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Paramedics are required to have a minimum of three years experience in a busy EMS service and must also have ACLS and PALS certifications. New crew members also receive extensive additional training from LifeFlight’s medical directors.
The helicopter operates on two Pratt & Whitney turbine engines. It has an empty weight of 3,208 pounds, and a maximum flight weight of 6,415 pounds. It has a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet, a cruise speed of 158 mph and climbs 25 feet per second.
For a photo gallery from LifeFlight over Century and Flomaton, click here.
Pictured top: LifeFlight at a wreck on Highway 29 near McDavid. Pictured inset: Looking down from LifeFlight at the Panhandle Restaurant in Century. Pictured below: The view from LifeFlight over Century looking north toward Flomaton. Northescambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Mother’s Day Times 5: Tate Juniors Were Florida’s First Quintuplets
May 13, 2012
Mona Baker went from no children to mother of five in about 90 seconds back in 1995. Now, on this Mother’s Day, she’s still facing the trials and the joys of being the mom of Florida’s first surviving quintuplets.
“It’s expensive,” was Baker’s first answer about being what it’s like being the mother of quintuplets. It’s also very time consuming. Our interview was scheduled at her first free time of the day — 10:30 p.m., just before she headed out from the family home near Cantonment to Walmart for a late night grocery run.
Marcus, Ian, Elizabeth, Tristan and Evan Baker were born January 30, 1995, about 10 weeks premature, at Sacred Heart Hospital. The first few weeks of life were rough for some of the quints, including Elizabeth, born at 1 pound, 12 ounces. She was the last to leave the hospital nearly six months later.
Now, the five are juniors at Tate High School, where they all just recently attended their prom. Prom costs times five — there was that expensive comment again. The five kids did raise about half the money needed for prom doing odd jobs like babysitting and yard work.
The early years were filled with all the usual expenses and parenting jobs like diapers, multiplied by five.
“But the challenges now are more intellectual, where they used to be more physical,” Baker, a single mom for the past 11 years, said. “They are at five different stages of learning.”
There’s homework most nights from five different math books and five different math courses, ranging from integrated math to calculus. There’s homework from five different courses, and the challenges of making sure each has ample driving practice time behind the wheel.
The five get along remarkably well, Baker said. And the four brothers are protective of their sister.
“Elizabeth says she is so special that God sent her four bodyguards and four servants to take care of her,” she said. “But seriously, they are all very loving, very affectionate children.”
Baker said she owes a lot of their church, Lathram Chapel in Barrineau Park. “They have really done a lot for us over the years.”
On this Mother’s Day, Baker said she is proud to be the mother of one of just few sets of quintuplets in the entire state.
She’s also facing a senior year, and the realization that her five children could fly away from the nest next year after graduating Tate. But she anticipates that she won’t be alone, with at least a couple of the children considering local college options.
Despite the challenges, Baker said she would have changed only one thing about having quintuplets — she would have wanted them all born on time and without the health problems associated with being weeks premature.
Other than that, she’s a proud mom of five.
“I’ve never known anything different,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Pictured top: All dressed up for the recent Tate High School prom are the Baker Quints — (L-R) Marcus Baker, Ian Baker, Elizabeth Baker, Tristan Baker and Evan Baker. Pictured top inset: Mom Mona Baket with the quints. Pictured bottom inset: The Bakers were the first surviving quintuplets in Florida. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: A Dancing Circus
May 13, 2012
Young dancers from across the North Escambia area took to the stage Saturday afternoon at Flomaton High School.
“A Dancing Circus” was the annual spring recital for Heather Leonard’s Danceworks.
The recital marked the culmination of months of practice each week at the Byrneville Community Center.
For a NorthEscambia.com photo gallery from the recital, click here.
Pictured: “A Dancing Circus” Saturday at Flomaton High School. NorthEscambia.comp photos, click to enlarge.
Northview, EWMS Hold FFA Banquet, Remember Late Tommy Weaver
May 12, 2012
It was an emotional night Friday at the 17th Annual Northview High School FFA Banquet as attendees stopped to honor and remember beloved FFA co-advisor Tommy Weaver who passed away March 7.
Senior Lydia Weaver was named the first Tommy Weaver Scholarship recipient.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
The annual banquet includes a somber ceremony for graduating seniors…they slowly remove their signature blue FFA jackets and hang them up for the last time on a coat rack.
One at a time, the two graduating FFA senior officers participated in the ceremony. Lydia Weaver, Brandon Chambliss and Brittany Thompson removed jackets one by one, placing them on the coat rack.
The night also included many awards for Northview and Ernest Ward Middle school FFA members and supporters.
Among those honored for their support of the FFA program were Doug and Vickie Godwin, Kerry Hardin, Anna Bell, Alan and Michelle Purvis and Brett Ward; they were named honorary members of the Northview FFA.
The new NHS FFA officers named for the 2012-2013 school year were: Jessica Baldwin, president; Courtney Solari, 1st vice president; Karissa Strickland, 2nd vice president; Logan Wainwright, secretary; Jeremy Stacey, treasurer; Haylee Weaver, reporter; Tiffani Cruce, Dillon Crutchfield, sentential; parliamentarian; Courtney Weekley, historian; Bethany Reynolds, chaplain; and Kaitlyn Kleinatland, photographer.
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
Pictured top: Northview senior Lydia Weaver receives the first Tommy Weaver Memorial Scholarship Friday night from his son, Toby Weaver. Pictured inset: Senior Brandon Chambliss reacts after hanging up his FFA jacket. Pictured below: Logan Wainwright (left) presents gifts to senior Brittany Thompson (center) and Lydia Weaver. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
