Senior Recognition marks bittersweet end

By:  Katie Williams

Staff Reporter

On Sunday, May 5, 2013, Senior Recognition Day was held at Temple Baptist Church. The OGHS class of 2013 has had an extremely successful year. Ninety-one percent of all seniors took the ACT, averaging a score of 22. Forty seniors had a score of 29 or higher. Of the class of 2013, 48 percent will be attending a four-year university in the fall of 2013. Fourty-nine percent will attend a community or junior college. Two percent of the class is enlisted in the miliary, and one percent will be going into the workforce.

To date, the class of 2013 has been awarded 15.5 million dollars in scholarships, but scholarships are still being awarded.

John Addison Ford received the 2013 Harry Breland Athletic Scholarship. The recipient is decided based on athletic performance during high school. 2013 is the first year of this scholarship’s existence. Colton McMurry was the recipient of the Johnie McMurry Memorial Scholarship, which is named for McMurry’s great uncle. Representatives from all major state universities were present to present scholarships to all OGHS students attending those schools.

Ten students were National Merit Finalists. The class of 2013 valedictorian is Nicholas Stevenson, and the salutatorian is Mallory Jennings. Wisam Buti is the sole Distinguished Scholar of this graduating class, and John Baxter was this year’s Star Student.

One of the most anticipated moments of the senior recognition ceremony was the senior slide show. Every year, the yearbook staff puts together this slide show, made up of baby pictures and other pictures and videos throughout the seniors’ school years. Another special part of this year’s recognition ceremony was piano music provided by John Baxter.

Every year, the senior class provides the school with a senior gift. The Class of 2013 presented a senior gift of patio furniture to OGHS.

The vast amount of scholarship money awarded to these seniors shows their great legacy that was started in the very hallways of Oak Grove High School.

 

Buti completes Distinguished Scholar Project

By: Nan Buti

Staff Reporter

Senior Wisam Buti has proven her accomplishments in the distinguished scholar program. The distinguished scholar program at Oak Grove allows students in grades 9-12 to experience off-campus activities relating to the student’s interest of research. For her project, Buti chose to experiment with testing and modifying fruit flies in a lab. “Basically, I am trying to identify a gene or a subset of genes that are causing mutant fruit flies to have unusual locomotor behaviors,” Buti said. “I have completed approximately 387 hours of working in the lab, working on my paper, and meeting with my mentor.”

Not only has Buti worked on the project during the summer, but she has also taken specific classes in school, such as the research class, in advancement to her project. To enroll in the program, she and other students were obligated to meet certain requirements, such as completing a minimum number of credits and maintaining an A average in core classes. “Some challenges I faced were trying to understand genetic and scientific names and waking up so early every day in the summer,” Buti said.

Due to her dedication to science and her rigorous work in the lab, Buti has been awarded many scholarships. She has received awards such as first place for WISE  (Women in Science and Engineering), first in Medicine & Health category in the Region I science fair, and finalist for ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair).

Ms. Clark, Mrs. Shoemake, Mrs. Fortenberry, Mrs. Sanders, Dr. Leal, Sudeshna Das, and many past Distinguished Scholars have helped in Buti’s success. “I learned a ton about real research and science. I have gained experience in a research lab. That is already giving me a push,” Buti said. “In fact, USM’s Dr. Leal has offered me a position in her lab for the upcoming year, which is very rare especially for a freshman.” Buti’s dedication to the program has grown to a commitment to continue research in Dr. Leal’s lab once she starts attending USM.