Thomas Heyward News
THA Wins Top Honors From Daughters of the American Rvolution
Senior Jamie Davis won the Emily Geiger Good Citizen Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Of all the high school seniors chosen, her essay was the only one chosen and sent to the State DAR for scholarships consideration. Jamie attended the DAR banquet on February 9th, accompanied by her mom, nana, and history teacher Mr. Stanley. Jamie says that besides being nervous, she enjoyed her time there and felt very honored to be a part of it. Also, 7th grader, Jessica Tilton, won the Emily Geiger American History Essay contest. Jessica had to write an essay acting like she was at the Grand Canyon, one of the national parks. She had to make it like a journal entry. Jessica also had to read her essay. Both girls worked hard, and the awards were well deserved.
The DAR official website contains the following information about their organization: "DAR stands for Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. AR members volunteer millions of service hours annually in their local communities including supporting active duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and supporting schools for underserved children with annual donations exceeding one million dollars. For more than a century, the members of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution have dedicated themselves to historical preservation, promotion of education, and encouragement of patriotic endeavor. These goals are as relevant in today's society as they were when the organization was founded in 1890. Most of DAR's volunteer work is accomplished by the grassroots efforts of chapters on the local level which focus on the mission areas of DAR by encouraging members to become involved in these initiatives in their local communities."
Ryan Riley prepares for the Marines
By Coleman Neill
THA senior Ryan Riley has had a lifelong dream of joining the United States Marine Corp after high school. “I want to join the United States Marine Corp because of the high respect and honor they receive,” said Riley. Ryan enlisted at the beginning of his senior year. Since signing on the dotted line, Ryan has worked very hard to get in shape for basic training. Every Tuesday after school, Ryan meets other future marines from the area at The Beaufort Air Station to complete physical training to prepare for the 8 weeks of basic training they will complete after graduation. Of all the branches of the military, the Marine Corp has the hardest basic training. Ryan Riley just doesn’t do PT to get ready for the Marine Corp, last Friday he went to Battery Creek High School where he helped recruit other students to join and become a part of the Marine Corp. At the recruitment they had a pull up challenge where he maxed out at a total of 27 pull ups. Ryan said, “ It was a great experience to spread the word of the life changing experience that I’m about to go through, and to show others that they could to.”
Seniors Are Receiving College Acceptances
By Lexi Masters
The Senior Class of 2017 is in full force preparing for graduation. Majority of the class has figured out what they want to do after graduation. Two men are enlisting in the military after graduation. Ryan Riley is joining the Marines and Coleman Neill is joining the Coast Guard. We are very proud of these two young men. The rest of the class is very excited about their future. The colleges planned to attend are, Georgia Southern University, Charleston Southern, College of Charleston, Clemson University, North Greenville University, Lander University, USCB and many more. We are extremely proud of the Class of 2017.
Basketball Senior Night
By Bailey Carson
As the 2016-2017 basketball season comes to a close Thomas Heyward Academy wants to recognize our senior athletes. Blake Bannon, Andrew Boyles, Ethan Glassberg, Jonah Young, Ellie Bryan, Jamie Davis, and Haylee Wade. A few of our seniors to reflect on their times on the court. After injuring his hand during a game, senior Blake Bannon said, “My favorite basketball season was my junior season because I actually got to play the whole season.” Bannon had surgery to repair the damage to his hand. He hopes to make a full recovery before baseball season.
Jamie Davis said “My favorite basketball memory was during a game at Andrew Jackson when I went up for a rebound and a girl from the other team stepped on my shoe and it came off half way. I was running down the court with my shoe half off asking the ref for a timeout but he just would not call it. Eventually a timeout was called and my shoe would not untie for anything. By this time both teams were on the other side of the court ready to play and I’m still on the other side of the court trying to untie my shoe. I eventually got my shoe tied and back on after what felt like five minutes. When I got up everyone clapped like I was an injured player.”
“My favorite basketball memory was winning senior night!” Andrew Boyles
The Varsity boys have won five games. The boys have really learned to work together and become a great team. Our varsity girls finished the season 22-3. They played in the SCISA state playoffs February 17, 2017.
Seniors Prepare for Graduation
By Hannah Cannon
From the very first day of school, the senior class has been to preparing for graduation. We all sat down on our lunchroom tables, not realizing it would be our last-first time as students, to watch a video made by Jostens that left us in tears. Goosebumps rose on our arms as we watched the seniors in the video cheer on their football team, yell at pep rallies, and laugh with the people they had known all their lives for the very last time. Then we ordered invitations, caps and gowns, and other “senior” items.
For me personally, that was the first time it registered this was it! Senior year was here, and it was not slowing down. For senior Morgan Doughty, it all began when her best friend and fellow senior, Jamison Horton, sent her pictures of the apartment she would be living in next fall. Morgan commented, “It all felt so real and finally hit me that everything is changing and I will be away from everybody and everything I’ve ever known. I also felt very stressed out and nervous.”
Even before the first day, anxious seniors took their senior pictures. They booked a photographer, choose the perfect outfit and some even travelled to their college towns to capture the moment on their campus-to-be. They also decided senior quotes for the yearbook. Since then, seniors have sent applications to their chosen colleges. Students like Tiffany Cooler, who has been determined to attend the College of Charleston, have worked extremely hard to be accepted into college. She expresses that the wait was hard. “Every day I checked the mail to see if I had received the letter and it wasn’t until New Year's Eve, in London, when I received a picture from my dad of the acceptance letter and my heart was filled with joy.”
Some have decided to join the armed forces after graduation. Ryan Riley has decided that the Marines will be the branch he joins. Another student, Coleman Neill, has chosen the Coast Guard.
Student athletes are playing their last seasons and saying goodbye to the field or court they have poured blood, sweat, and tears on. Some are continuing their athletic careers in the fall on an athletic scholarship. Hannah Cannon and Madison Cooler signed in the fall. Others hope to walk onto a sports team in college. They can be found in weight rooms or perfecting their craft.
Seniors are excited for their senior trip. Seniors have earned the money for this trip by working in the lunchroom. It has taught responsibility and work ethic needed in the real world. Students will use this trip as a farewell event to celebrate the love they have shared, and the hard work it took to get to this momentous point in their lives.
Since the first day of school, Thomas Heyward has been preparing us for the following years: as THA alumni, college students, as soldiers, as college athletes, as wives and husbands, as mothers and fathers; to be upstanding citizens with bright futures. In economics class, we have learned life skills and a sense of money management. “Most seniors know where they are going to school next fall, so now it’s just time to take the lessons Thomas Heyward has equipped us with and use them in our daily life.” says senior, Bailey Carson.
Behind all the student success, you will find the beloved parents and teachers. The guidance counselor’s office door has swung open multiple times and has begun to feel like a second home. There, our guidance counselors have educated us on FAFSA, SAT, ACT, NCAA compliance and many other necessities for furthering our education next fall.
The last few months of senior year students will be making final decisions on colleges and majors and sending in payments. Next month seniors will be receiving graduation invitations in the mail and sending those out to family and friends. They will also be purchasing graduation day attire, but most importantly making the final days count with the tight-knit group of friends we have all grown to love and care for.
"Senior year is for the tears, Facing the fears, Listening to the cheers. You find out how close you are to some. And how far away you are from others. You'll have your lasts and get ready for the firsts. Then look back on it and remember it forever!"
Rebels Take Home a State Title
By Andrew Boyles
The Thomas Heyward clay target team traveled to the SCDNR Youth Championship in Edgefield, South Carolina. There, the team triumphed, receiving many accolades and titles. CJ Cleland, Mark DeLong, and Chandler Thames led the team to earning the title of SCISA runner up in trap and first place in the JV State Championship. Trevor Cleland, Wyatt Pope, and Nicholas Wise also placed third in the middle school division for trap. In the second day of the tournament, Trevor Cleland, Hayden Daley, and Brandon Smith placed second in the middle school state championship. Chris Cleland, coach of the clay target team, stated “I cannot say enough about how proud I am of our kids. We have grown as a team from when I started. We started out with only seven kids and we have grown to twenty-one shooters. We went from only winning one, maybe two a year to having placed in every event so far in the last two years. After this weekend, we have won three state titles in the last year and a half and we still have two more state tournaments this year, and hopefully we can place in those also. And I cannot say enough about our new shooters this year. They have also placed in every event this year.” As the team celebrates their accomplishments, they are getting ready for the next two tournaments hoping to come out on top.
Grier Places Second in SCISA Wrestling Tournament
Trey Grier, Thomas Heyward’s first wrestler in school history, started off his career seven years ago, at Robert Smalls Middle School. He is the only member of the THA wrestling team coached by Wade Lucas. His mentor is a Marine by the name of Joe Argueta. Grier participated in the State Tournament this past weekend, Grier said “It was Great Experience.” The match itself only consisted of seven contenders, so it basically stared in the quarter finals. Trey’s first match had a quick and easy first period. His second match was won against the number 2 seed Harrison Boorda. He next faced Larry Sullivan from Augusta Christian for the State title. That match went into triple overtime, where Grier took second place. Grier said, “The atmosphere was very heated. It felt like I was against the whole gym.” THA is very proud of Trey Grier for introducing a new sport to the school. Hopefully he inspired more students to explore the sport of wrestling.
Bayli Belger Rocks Eighth Grade
By Jennifer Walters
Eighth grade can be a bit of a transition for most students. It is the beginning stage of moving out of childhood and into near-adulthood. Eighth graders do not often slow down to think about these things though; they are too busy enjoying what they are doing. One such student is Bayli Belger. “Right now I’m playing varsity softball with a great team. Today we play Bluffton at 6:30 and we have a tournament this weekend in Sumter. We also have practice almost every day and I constantly learn new things.” The varsity girls are 5-2 so far and look to make a play for State again. “I really enjoy playing softball with my team,” Belger says. There is no slowing down for these students, but they have a lifetime to enjoy the memories they are making.
7th Grade Takes a Trip to Coastal Discovery Museum
By Arthur Cartier
The 7th grade took a field trip to Hilton Head Island’s Coastal Discovery Museum. While there students were able to enjoy the experience of dissecting a squid. They also had the opportunity to view marsh dwellings, and learn a lot about their local ecosystem. 7th grade teacher Mrs. Crosby said, “Coastal Discovery Museum and it’s employees are very knowledgeable about the lowcountry”. Seventh grader Branden Davis said, “ I liked dissecting an animal for the first time.” Bryson Resh said, “I learned a lot about plankton, and how squids spit out ink as a diversion.” Overall the majority of the the class really enjoyed the trip and was able to take a lot away from it.
6th Grade Loves to Read
By Arthur Cartier
Last week “Read Across America” came to Thomas Heyward. Many participants from outside the school took time out of their day to read to students. “Read Across America” is also for remembering the birthday of one of the most beloved children’s authors, Dr. Seuss. Several classes got to enjoy fun activities to celebrate Dr. Seuss such as crazy hat day, dress up day, and reading to classes. One class that got to experience the joys of reading was Ms. Ward’s 6th grade class. As portrayed above, the 6th grade class was enthusiastically engaged in the dynamic story telling of Debora Butler, a retired Jasper County educator. Mrs. Caroll, the THA librarian said, “Read Across America was successful in getting people from across the county engaged with the school and the students.” Overall the reception of the program was overwhelmingly positive as it brought awareness to the importance of reading.
