Lowndes Education Improvement Foundation Honors Outstanding Alumni, Students, Parents, and Teachers
LOWNDES CO. – The sixteenth annual Lowndes Education Improvement Foundation (LEIF) Distinguished Alumnus Celebration and Awards Banquet was held on April 20 at Lowndes High School. Chick-fil-a of Saint Augustine Road and Lake Park, Cheddar’s, KFC, and Olive Garden were the presenting sponsors, providing dinner for nearly guests and awardees.
Dr. Lee Bradford Lucas was presented the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus award. Dr. Lucas is a 1992 Lowndes graduate. While attending Lowndes, Lee played on the tennis team, was a mat girl, and was state vice president and national award winner for the Future Business Leaders of America. Following high school, Lee received her bachelors degree from Stetson University and continued her education earning a doctorate in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from the University Of South Florida College Of Medicine. One of Lee’s patents is currently being used in the final stages of clinical trials for a new melanoma treatment. Lee was a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health when the human genome was completed and was proud to return to her alma mater at Lowndes to share that momentous occasion. She continued working in the medical field by building a specialized heart valve surgery program at a local hospital and earning her RN.
Currently, Lee lives in Fort Myers and is the founder/owner of LeeDr which specializes in healthcare referrals. When not working or driving taxi service for her three beautiful children, she volunteers as a board member for her kids’ school, serves in a national position for her sorority, and is a baseball team mom. Lee says she holds dear the instruction and encouragement she received from the faculty while attending Lowndes High School.
At the banquet, LEIF distributed $17,225 in scholarships to Lowndes High seniors as follows: Abigal Cozart, The Billy Swick Martin Memorial Scholarship, $1000; Kristin Maine, Kira Bush, Ashlyn Simens, and Rayshanna Byron, Burton and Collins Scholarship, $500 each; Kira Bush, Carlton Jones Scholarship, $2,000; Camille Gaskins, Corinne DeLoach Coleman Memorial Scholarship, $2500; Trevor Terry, Dr. Steve and Linda Smith Scholarship, $1000; Brooke Wiggins, Danielle Spivey, and Megan McDonald, Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation Scholarship, $500 each; Ana Salgado, John and Joyce Feazell Scholarship, $1000; Erica Hewes, Joy Matthews Memorial Scholarship, $500; Erica Hewes and Colby Hall, Make Your Mark Epley Scholarship, $500 each; Trevor Terry, Mary Anderson Memorial Scholarship, $500; Sara Jensen, Milhous Family Scholarship, $500; Lauren Brewer, The Clemons Memorial Scholarship, $500; Rayshanna Byron, The James and Katrina Hargrett Scholarship, $725; Spencer Pipkin, The Langdale Legal Scholarship, $1000; Erin Manning, The Valdosta Junior Service League, $1000; Brayden Grantham, The Wayne and Elaine Ricks Scholarship, $500.
Other students and parents honored included Highest Academic Achievement and Most Improved Student from each school and the Outstanding Parent Volunteer from each school –
Highest Academic Achievement: Malachi Harris, Clyattville Elementary School; Tate Sirmans and John Young, Dewar Elementary School; Emma Thomas , Hahira Elementary School; DeLanie Roberts, Hahira Middle School; Jenna George, Lake Park Elementary School; Emily Anderson, Lowndes Middle School; Luke Maples, Moulton Branch Elementary School; Michelle McCoy, Pine Grove Elementary School; Hannah Harnage and Sasha Barrera, Pine Grove Middle School; Isaac Chambers, Westside Elementary.
Most Improved Students: Nathan Sanders, Clyattville Elementary School; Erin Swenson , Dewar Elementary School; Kate Eidson, Hahira Elementary School; Willie Gardner , Hahira Middle School; David Nix, Lake Park Elementary School; Kathleen Turner, Lowndes High School; Salsabeel Abuayyash , Lowndes Middle School; Trinity Sermons, Moulton Branch Elementary School; Ethen Yawn, Pine Grove Elementary School; Felipe Sebastian Pedro , Pine Grove Middle School; Jascelyn Sams, Westside Elementary.
Outstanding Parent Volunteers: Lovelle Martin, Clyattville Elementary School; Jennifer Malone, Dewar Elementary School; Emily Torres, Hahira Elementary School; Susan Sumner, Hahira Middle School; Jada Scurlock , Lake Park Elementary School; Claire Emery, Lowndes High School; Deshai Richardson, Lowndes Middle School; Katrina Boleware, Moulton Branch Elementary School; Candace Williams, Pine Grove Elementary School; Debbie Dowdy, Pine Grove Middle School;Shelly Collins, Westside Elementary.
2016-2017 Teachers of the Year: Maria Staley, Lowndes Middle School and School System Winner; Rena Taylor, Clyattville Elementary School; Tami Williams, Dewar Elementary School; Michelle Lipscomb, Hahira Elementary School; Melanie Johnson, Lake Park Elementary School;Connie Smith, Moulton-Branch Elementary; Mariah Elder, Pine Grove Elementary School; Donna Newsome, Westside Elementary School; Brandi Stalvey, Hahira Middle School; Giles Godwin, Pine Grove Middle School; Angela Swilley, Lowndes High School; Dr. Courtney Pindling, Parker Mathis Learning Center.
Teacher Incentive Grant winners were also recognized. LEIF gave $20,000 in teacher incentive grants at the beginning of this school year.
Photo caption – Ken Overman, Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Lee Bradford Lucas, 2017 Distinguished Alumnus, and LaVerne Rome, Director of Public Relations
Release from Lowndes County Schools
