The Troup County School System handed out a plethora of awards to students and teachers during its May 16 board meeting, recognizing high school, middle school and elementary school students for their prolific work over the course of the 2018-19 school year. In addition, the TCSS heard an update on the wrap-around services initiative and approved staffing changes for the upcoming year.

Kay Hill, the Coordinator of Social Emotional Health for the TCSS, and Callaway High School Jonathan Laney spoke to the board on the updates to the wrap-around services that are offered through the Callaway school zone. Throughout the course of the year, 120 students were referred for mental health services, of which 81 received service. Those who did not receive service did not for a plethora of reasons, including an inability to contact parents and school withdrawals.

“Over the course of the year, we served Callaway High School, Callaway Middle, Callaway Elementary School and Hogansville Elementary,” said Hill. “Of the 81 students who received services, 41 are still receiving service today and will throughout the summer.”

Moving into the 2019-20 school year, the Callaway zone will see an additional therapist working within those schools, the Troup zone will have one therapist working in those schools and the LaGrange zone has a therapist pending to begin at the beginning of the year.

The board also voted to approve the resignations, terminations and reassignments for the upcoming school year.

TCSS has awarded scholarships to 26 recipients who received more than $40,000 total in funds this year. Students recognized on Thursday night included:

• Kaylee Key of LaGrange High School, was recognized for having made the Georgia Department of Education Scholars listing. Key was also named Best All-Around by the Dernell Renauld Stenson Foundation, receiving $,1500.
• Bailey Orr of Gardner Newman; Cadence Davis and Justin Smith of Long Cane Middle School, were recognized for participating in the Duke TIP program this summer.
• Kenneth Bain and Alexus Opher of LaGrange High School; Cadarius Brown of Callaway High School; Zolanda Delaney and Zoe Noll of Troup High School, were recognized for earning laptops through the High School High Tech program.
• Skylar Yates, Mizya Blackmon, Justin Chappell, Lexi Cindrick, Makynsie Waldrop, Abby Womble, Sara Beth Batchelor and Cheyenne Colley were recognized for their participation in regional and state FFA competitions.
• Riley Bowles of Troup High was recognized for winning first place in the regional GHSGA Literary Contest for Rhetorical Essay.
• Henry Huberdeau of Gardner Newman was recognized for completing his Eagle Scout Project, which included tailgate games for the middle school.
• Jasmine Diaz and Savannah Addison of Callaway High; and Lt. Col (Ret.) Jerald Craign and Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Arnold Lamb were recognized as cadets and instructors who were awarded the Outstanding Organization Award for ROTC.
• Jonathan Montgomery of Callaway High received the Chartwells’ Scholarship, with the intended purpose of encouraging students interested in the fields of nutrition, food science and culinary degrees.
• Christy Thomas and Harris Grace of Gardner Newman; Nathan Shelton, Mariyah Moore and McKinney Moss of Berta Weathersbee, were recognized for receiving STEM Achievement Awards, and received a $100 gift card as well.

Staff recognized on Thursday night included:

• Bernice Strozier, who was recognized as the Troup County School Nurse of the Year.

Jayne Pauley, Sharell Lewis and Jessica Adams of THINC Academy were recognized for their work with the Allied Medicine and Sports Medicine pathways, which have received the necessary certification from GDOE.