Stoots signs with Rhodes

Haywood High School Tomcat Quarterback Brett Stoots has signed a scholarship with Rhodes College of Memphis and will play football. The signing took place Monday morning in the library of Haywood High School. Stoots is the son of Judy and Grover Westover and the late Jerry Stoots. His late father was a great advocate for sports and academics and highly respected within the community. Pictured left at the signing are (front row) Judy Stoots Westover, Brett Stoots, and Tomcat head coach Bart Stowe; and (back row) Grover Westover, Russ Stoots (brother), Coach Matthew Shearon, HHS principal Robert Mitchell, and Scott Stoots (brother).

 

Mock Crash message … “Don’t Drink and Drive!”

Haywood High School seniors saw first-hand on Wednesday, April 30, a simulation of the results of drinking and driving when the Brownsville Police Department coordinated the annual “Mock Crash” on the high school parking lot. Two wrecked vehicles, injuries, death – all the results of a drunk driver behind the wheel of a car – sending the message to the teen-agers that drinking and driving don’t mix.

In addition to police officers, representatives from the Brownsville Fire Department, the Haywood County Ambulance Authority and the Hospital Wing (helicopter), HHS nursing students and drama students, local wrecker services, the city, the Parks and Recreation Department and the city joined in to make this annual production possible.

In addition to the simulation, Memphis meteorologist Dave Brown spoke to the students about his family experience of losing his daughter, a grandchild and an unborn grandchild in an accident with drunk driver. Students also responded to a survey about drinking and driving and the effects of the production.

Tomcat Ricky Taylor signs with UT/Chattanooga

Outstanding HHS Tomcat Ricky Taylor signed a scholarship in late April to play basketball for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. At the signing were (from left, front) Coach Drayton Hawkins, Sophia Rivers, Ricky Taylor Sr., Ricky Taylor Jr., and Coach Winston Varnado. Also joinging him at the signing ceremony were his teammates.

Ricky Taylor, a star Haywood High Tomcat, has signed a four-year scholarship to play basketball and study for his college degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Taylor has excelled in basketball for the last six years, two years at Haywood Junior High, then four years at HHS.

During the 2007-08 season, he averaged 22.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game and scored a total of 1,730 points during his basketball career at Haywood High.

While receiving several invitations, Taylor said he chose the University of Tennessee/Chattanooga because, “My first concern was to get a scholarshi, and I also believe that the basketball program will be a perfect fit for me because of my style of play.” Taylor seems to be excited about the opportunity to play for Coach John Shulman as well as the possibility of going up against Stephen Curry of Davidson University who created shock waves during this year’s NCAA tournament.

Taylor is scheduled to report to school in June where he will attend summer school and participate in work-outs. The coaches want more weight on his 6-foot, 4-inch, 175-pound frame.

The coaches are impressed with his ability to play both the point and shooting guard positions. They also like his 6-foot, 7-inch wingspan. The coaches are equally proud that Taylor is on solid ground academically. He has a 3.63 GPA and has already posted a score of 20 on his ACT test.

Taylor praised his high school coaches for putting him on the right path. “I owe so much to Coach Patino. He could pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses, and when I did what I was supposed to do, it produced results.” He also thanked current coach Winston Varnado for his influence. “Coach Varnado helped me to become a well-rounded player and concentrate on my defense while preparing for the next level,” Taylor said.

Taylor praises his dad for bringing him up right and raising him in church. He attends Community Church of God in Christ where he plays drums in the choir. He is the son of Ricky Taylor Sr. of Brownsville and Kimble Taylor of Jackson.

 

Ladrecus Shepard, outstanding HHS student

Ladrecus Shepard, a senior at HHS, has served the members of the Tennessee Association of Family Career and Community Leaders of America for the past two years. During the 2006-2007 school year, he was the state parliamentarian. This year Ladrecus served as the 2007-2008 state president.

“Ladrecus has been an inspiration to many FCCLA members, not only at Haywood High School, but to others across the State of Tennessee,” said his teacher and FCCLA sponsor Pam Diebold. “He was the first male president of the Tennessee Association of FCCLA and has inspired other males to join in leadership roles.”

During his tenure as state officer, Ladrecus attended many leadership conferences and workshops. He also traveled to other high schools and helped other FCCLA chapters with their “Turn up the Leadership” and “Got Leadership” campaigns.

Ladrecus attended national meetings in Nashville and in Anaheim, California. He attended National FCCLA cluster meetings in Nashville; Louisville, Kentucky; St. Louis, Missouri; and in Atlanta, Ga.

Ladrecus also completed the four phases of the USA Ultimate Leadership Academy. This four-phase program is for a distinguished group of state FCCLA officers. Each phase emphasized a different area of leadership. Phase II training was in Washington, D. C., where he was an advocate for career and technical education with the state’s U. S. senators and representatives.

This past February, Ladrecus attended the Youth in Government Seminar in Nashville. This seminar focused on state government. He attended a legislative breakfast with state senators and representatives and met privately with Tennessee House of Representatives Speaker Jimmy Naifeh. He used this time to emphasize the need for career and technical education in Tennessee schools.

Ladrecus has taken any opportunity that was presented to him to relay the involvement in your family and community is essential to the growth and development of youth. His platform has been about staying involved and standing up for what your beliefs. He strongly encourages his peers to not let anyone stand in their way of doing what is right or stepping up to take the leadership position.

“Ladrecus has admirably represented Haywood High School, Haywood County and the State of Tennessee over the last two years,” said Mrs. Diebold. “It has been an honor and my privilege to serve as Ladrecus’ advisor. It has been a pleasure to see him grow and become a very self-sufficient man. I congratulate him on a job well done and wish him the best of luck in his endeavors.”

He will be pursuing a career in the culinary arts at Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky.
 

Mrs. Diebold receives the Rose Award

Pam Diebold

Haywood High School Career and Technical teacher Pam Diebold received the state’s coveted Rose Award this year at the school’s awards banquet in April. Sandy Gregory, Family and Consumer Sciences Youth Consultant, attended the Haywood High School Career and Technical Banquet and presented the award to Mrs. Diebold, who is the culinary arts teacher.

This award is given to one Family and Consumer Sciences teacher in Tennessee who has gone over and beyond the call of duty, and it was noted that Mrs. Diebold has given to not only her school chapter but also to the state association. Pam has also served as a state advisor the last two years, and has been the advisor to Ladrecus Shepard, this year’s state FCCLA president.

Good year in Construction Technology/SkillsUSA at HHS

Pictured are Larry Kinney, Bryan Roberson, Chris Rich and Jamie Ferguson at state Skills USA competition.

One of the activities HHS students who are members in Skills USA participated in this year was an officer-training meeting at Camp Clements last fall. Chapter officers and HHS Career and Technical teacher Mrs. Rita Hathcock attended, and Chris Rich was awarded his Statesman Pin at the training.

Regional Skills Competition

Also, five students attended the SkillsUSA Regional Skills Competition in March. Chris Rich won the opportunity at the regional competition to participate in the state competition in extemporaneous speaking. Jamie Ferguson won the opportunity in the regional competition to participate in the state competition in architectural drafting. Bryan Roberson won the opportunity in the regional competition to participate in the state competition in residential wiring. Rachel Summerlin competed in job interview at the regional contest and received honorable mention.

Larry Kinney attended to assist the contestants in set-up and preparation for the contest. He also was preparing for his role as a voting delegate at the upcoming state conference.

SkillsUSA sponsor Mr. Kenneth Emerson took the regional winners and voting delegates to the State SkillsUSA Conference on April 13, 14, 15 and 16.

Chris Rich competed at the state level in extemporaneous speaking and made a good showing, but did not advance in the competition. Chris did put his skills to work and was elected as a State SkillsUSA officer. Chris will serve the state organization April 2008 to April 2009 as West Tennessee vice-president.

Jamie Ferguson won third place in the state in architectural drafting. Bryan Roberson did an excellent job at the state but failed to earn enough points to place. Chris Rich, Jamie Ferguson and Larry Kinney represented Haywood High School as voting delegates at the conference. Chris Rich, Jamie Ferguson and Mr. Emerson will be attending the National Conference in Kansas City, Mo., in June.

In addition to the above awards and honors, at this year’s CTSO awards banquet the following awards were made: Rachel Summerlin is this year’s SkillsUSA president and has done an excellent job organizing and motivating members. She earned a certificate for Outstanding Performance and was commended for her efforts in participating in the Regional SkillsUSA contest. Carey Thompson, a Freshman enrolled in the construction core class, was honored with a certificate to recognize her as the Most Outstanding Freshman in the program this year. Shawn Johnson, in his first year in the architectural drafting class, received a certificate as the Most Outstanding CAD I Student.
 

HHS Show choir rates superior

The Haywood High School Show Choir, under the direction of Michelle Tillman, competed in Festival Disney at Orlando, Florida, on April 4. The Show Choir received a “Superior” rating in the Specialty Choir Division.
 

HHS Cadets receive national awards

HHS cadets enrolled in the Air Force Junior Reserved Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) who received national awards at the annual Awards and Honors Banquet are Dana Hendrix, Jamal Gray, Mikail Phillips, Bria Wade, La’Keisha Hines, Chris Rich, Westin Crook, Mickey Nixon, Cordaryl Smith, Jasmine Blue, Freonika Bond, Danny Bynum, Monica Austin, Kimberly Turner, Kendra Jones, Jasmine Singleton, Iesha Mitchell, Apprecia Taylor, and William Currie.
 

FCCLA members recognized for achievement and service


Marisa Franklin and Kaswayla Gayden were Gold Medal winners in the FCCLA regional competition held in Brownsville and received enough points to move on to the state competition.


Leslie Rowe and Brittany Siler also received Gold Medals in the FCCLA regional competition held in Brownsville at First United Methodist Church.


Haywood High School FCCLA members attending the state meeting that was recently held in Nashville were: Tiera Walker, Leslie Row, Alex Primrose, Sarah foster, Marisa Franklin, Kaswayla Gayden, Brittany Siler, and Kaitlyn Morris.


At the April Career and Technical Banquet at Haywood High, members of the FCCLA groups received recognition for achievement and service. Among those honored were FCCLA Group I Member of the Year Kristin Killen, Group 2 Member of the Year Leslie Rowe and Group III Members of the Year Kaitlin Morris and Tiera Walker.

The regional competition for the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Star event was recently held in Brownsville at the First United Methodist Church.

Local members of FCCLA from Haywood High School participating in the event were Brittany Siler and Leslie Rowe, competing in the Chapter Service Project Manual Senior; and Marisa Franklin and Kaswayla Gayden, competing in Illustrated Talk Senior. Both teams received a gold medal, and Marissa and Kaswayla received enough points to advance to the state competition that was held in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel during spring break.

During this time the FCCLA State meeting was also held. Haywood High School carried eight voting delegates as well as Ladrecrus Shepard, who was the out-going FCCLA state president. FCCLA sponsors who attended were Pam Diebold, Lauren Shearon and Denita Jarratt.

Then in late April at the Career and Technical banquet at HHS, several members received recognition for achievement and service. Among those honored were FCCLA Group I Member of the Year Kristin Killen, Group 2 Member of the Year Leslie Rowe and Group III Members of the Year Kaitlin Morris and Tiera Walker.
 

Sims and Cantu receive top media awards

Brooke Sims (left) and Nancy Cantu were recognized as Electronic Media Students of the Year at the Haywood High School Career and Technical Banquet that was held in April. Both students were selected for their outstanding work in video production in the second-year course in the Media Department at HHS. Sheri Richards and Rita Hathcock are teachers for the media courses.

HHS Future Business Leaders of America
(FBLA) HIGHLIGHTS
2007 - 2008

The following students placed in the Top 10 in their contests at FBLA Regionals in January:
Marquita Bond, Brytany Buck, LaKeithia Caldwell, Brittany Holmes, Lauren Jones, Willie Jones, Tiffany McClain , Rickela Reed, Trista Rivers, Rachel Summerlin, Santeia Taylor, Jessica Thomas, and Kierra Woods

The following students placed in the top five in their contests at FBLA Regionals in January and were eligible to compete at the state level:
Haley Chrisman - 5th in Business Procedures; Miguel Cobb - 5th in Impromptu Speaking; Bryce Holmes - 3rd in Impromptu Speaking; Brody Markle - 3rd in Introduction to Technology Concepts; Raven McKinnie - 4th in Accounting; Mitchell Poke - 3rd in Job Interview; Sheree Rucker - 3rd in Database Design and Application; and Ronesha Wilkins - 4th in Business Communications

The following students placed in contests at the state level:
Haley Chrisman - 4th in Business Procedures and Kanesha Bond - 5th in Computer Operating Systems

The following students served as officers for 2007 - 2008:
Haley Chrisman - president, Josh Edmondson - vice-president, Lauren Jones – secretary, Raven McKinnie - treasurer, Rickela Reed - parliamentarian, and Destinee Gage - reporter

Haley Chrisman was selected as Member of the Year. She also served as FBLA Region 2 President for 2007 - 2008, and was elected as the 2008 - 2009 FBLA State Webmaster at the FBLA State Conference in Chattanooga held April 10 - 12.

Also… Four officers and two advisors attended an intensive leadership camp in the fall. Twelve members attended Fall Leadership Conference in Memphis in the fall. The club members collected six gallons of can tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald Houses, which work with local recycling centers to receive money for collecting tabs from aluminum cans.

HHS Ag Department recognizes students at banquet

Haywood High School Ag teachers John Joyner and Garry Butler recognized a number of their students at the annual HHS Career and Technical Banquet in April.

Among those honored were: Dekalb Award -Joe Powell, Scholarship Award- Wes Porch, Leadership Award- Micheal Snyder, Outstanding Junior - Crystal Coulston, Star Chapter Farmer- AJ Powell and Christin McBride, and Star Greenhand- Kaleb Neal and Leslie Smith

Winning Chapter contests were:

Floriculture - Joe Powell, Crystal Coulston and Adam Phillips

Nursery – A. J. Powell, Micheal Snyder and Seth Mothershead

Forestry Contest - Heather Powell, A. J. Powell, Micheal Snyder and Crystal Coulston

Dairy Cattle Judging - Jonathan Douglas, Christin McBride and Kaleb Neal

Land Judging Contest - Wes Porch, Joe Powell, Hunter Ogden and A. J. Powell

4 H Teams: Placing 2nd in West TN and 9th in State: Crystal Coulston, Dana
Hendrix and Charles Gaters

Placing 10th in West TN: Kaleb Neal, Michael Snyder, Ethan Williams and Leslie Smith

Livestock Judging - A.J. Powell, Leslie Smith, Chris Kirkpatrick and Jonathan Douglas

FFA Ceremonies
President, Leslie Smith; vice-president, Daniel Peterson; treasurer, Jordan Campbell; reporter, Kaleb Neal; secretary, Nick Johnson; sentinel, Aaron Martin; and student advisor, Ryan Sims

Parliamentary Procedure Contest – Chairperson-Joe Powell, Sam Pyron, Christin McBride, A. J. Powell and Micheal Snyder

Creed - Leslie Smith, 07-08 District 5 champion.

Agricultural Mechanics Contest- Uppers Skills Level - Christin McBride, Dana
Hendrix, Hunter Ogden, Joe Powell and A. J. Powell

Agricultural Mechanics Contest-Lower Skills Level - Aaron Martin, Ryan Sims, Dylan Benard and Nick Johnson

Horse Judging - Dylan Benard, Jordan Campbell, Deanna Burge and Kaleb Neal

Greenhand Degrees - Kaleb Neal, Nick Johnson, Ethan Williams, Matthew Freels,
Kaitlin Morris, Leslie Smith, Aaron Diebold, Dylan Benard, Jordan Campbell, Raven Ferrell, Aaron Martin, Daniel Peterson, Ryan Sims and Deanna Burge

Chapter Degree
A.J. Powell , Seth Mothershed, Adam Phillips, Tiffany Rose, Christin McBride, Dana Hendrix, Jonathan Douglas and Sam Pyron

State Degree - Wes Porch, Hunter Ogden, Micheal Snyder, Crystal Coulston, Christopher Kirkpatrick, Charles Gaters and Joe Powell
 

Nursing students honored at HHS C & T Banquet

Senior members of the Haywood High School Nursing Education Class were honored Tuesday night, April 15, at the annul Career and Technical banquet. Mrs. Julie Taylor, RN, is the instructor of the class. These students have completed the state requirements for classroom instruction and clinical experience and are now eligible to take the state CNA exam in May. Pictured are Erica Marbury, Leslie Rowe, Shatericka Hardin, Kenya Shaw, Kiatra Shaw, Paige Austin, Juaquita Johnson, Jasmine Wood and Jasmine Goodman. Seniors not pictured are Megan Perry, Jessica Hendrix, Andrea Turner, Caresa Holmes, Heather Gilliland, Samera Williams and Cherika Matthews.

HHS math students compete in regional contest

Forty-five students from Haywood High School competed at the regional TMTA Math contest held at Dyersburg State Community College on April 15. HHS won three out of the six events at this regional site.

HHS competed against students from Tipton-Rosemark Academy, Jackson Christian School, Munford, Brighton, Covington, Dyersburg, and Dyer County High School. Sylvanna Kinnon, Jennifer Darnaby, and Hunter Burroughs will receive plaques at the Academic Awards Banquet to be held on Thursday, April 24. In addition, school
plaques will be awarded to Haywood High School for wins in Algebra I, Statistics, and PreCalculus.

The following placed in the different competitions:

Algebra I - 1st place-Sylvana Kinnon, 5th place-Frederick Sanders, 7th place-Lakesha Taylor

Geometry - 8th place-Ronesha Wilkins, 9th place-Anna Baumheckel

PreCalculus - 1st place-Hunter Burroughs

Calculus - 4th place-Chris Bradford, 6th place-John Dahlhauser, 9th Place-Shanel Crawford-Harris

Statistics -1st place-Jennifer Darnaby, 2nd place-Megan Perry, 3rd place-Kyndol Gavin, 4th place-Angel Briseno

 

2008 HHS Baseball Tomcats

The 2008 Haywood High Tomcats are Howard Lewis, Mitchell Turner, Alston Owen, Willie Joe Jones, Turner Riddle, Trevor Cone, D.J. Fredrick, Seth Mothershed, Jashun Harris, Josh Thorpe, George McRae, Colton Keen, Will Taylor, Bryan Roberson, Brett Stoots, John Evans, and Josh Cannon. Head Coach is Pete Norville, and his assistant is Bronson Bradley.

2008 HHS Softball Lady Cats

The 2008 Haywood High School Softball Lady Cats are: Kandace Clark, Melanie Dennis, Morgan Dennis, Maggie Gardner, Jessica Hendrix, Brittany Holmes, Megan Perry, Trista Rivers, Anna Scott, Chelsea Shaw, Leslie Smith, Whitlee Sullivan, Rachel Summerlin, and Leah Taylor. Head Coach again this year is Chanda Franks, and the assistant coach is Matthew Shearon.

HHS FHA receives recognition during Ag Week

Haywood County School Board members enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the HHS culinary students when they visited the school’s Career and Technical Center on March 18 for their mid-month meeting. Career and Technical teachers joined the group for lunch, including (from left) Pete Norville, and also guests Jane Jolly representing Senator Bob Corker’s office, Assistant Director of Schools Doris Battle (standing), Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce Director Joe Ing, and School Board Chairman Patricia Gruenewald. Part of the program was a video, produced by members of the school’s electronic media class, highlighting the course offerings in the Career and Technical Division of Haywood High School.

Also on the program at the Career and Technical luncheon on March 18 was a presentation honoring National Ag Week made by Jane Jolly, a representative of Senator Bob Corker. She spoke to the group about the importance of agriculture to the state, especially in West Tennessee, and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Ag teachers John Joyner (left) and Garry Butler (right), and several HHS Future Farmers of America officers, Vice-President Courtney Campbell and President Crystal Coulston. Senator Corker’s message to the FFA members and sponsors: “I would like to express my support and encouragement for everything you do to promote and preserve the agricultural industry in Tennessee. With over 80,000 Tennessee farms, agriculture is tremendously important to our state, and you are the future of that industry.”

 

Drummers capture first place in HHS Talent Show

On Thursday, March 20, the Haywood High School seniors sponsored a school-wide talent show that awarded two “bands” as the first- and second-place winners. Winning first was the “HHS Drumline,” a group of students who perform in the Haywood High School Band, Keston Mann, Jatavious Green, Tyler Shaw, Bevin Freeman, Steven Clark, Frederick Sanders, Mickey Nixon, and Justin Wilson. Another band of three, Hunter Burroughs, William Nunn, and Clifford Smith, won second place. Also competing were vocalists Adrianna Murphy, Cortrez Douglas, Freddie Brown and Brandon Bradford, Joveyance Johnson and Miguel Cobb.