AFROTC cadets busy at Haywood High

Lt. Col. Mark Avery at Jackson Airport with a Civil Air patrol plane he uses to fly Haywood High School cadets on weekends.

TN-944 cadets are pictured here at Liberty High School Sports Challenge event in Jackson.

AFJROTC Unit TN-944 was established at Haywood High school in July, 1994. Lt. Col. Alden Williams, a former USAF F-16 pilot, was the founding Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI). He led TN-944 until May, 2007. Major Delois Dailey, a former USAF systems specialist, joined TN-944 in 2000 as the Assistant Aerospace Science Instructor, and MSgt John Mark Parker joined the team as an instructor and Drill/Air Rifle Team Coach in 2005.

Lt Col Mark Avery, another former USAF fighter aviator, became the SASI in June, 2007, and in May, 2008, TN-944 received its 14th Distinguished AFJROTC Unit Award form the USAF.

AFJROTC at Haywood High is a dynamic program with lots of opportunities for 9th through 12th-grade students (cadets), including: three competition drill teams; a competition air rifle team; a competitive Sports Challenge Team; a new cadet flight orientation/aviation ground school course (cadets fly in a real airplane with Lt. Col. Avery or another FAA Certified Flight Instructor); a Mentor/Tutor program in the high school and Boys and Girls Club in Brownsville; approximately five educational field trips per year (this year we went to St Louis, Nashville and Memphis); one graduation credit in Health/Wellness; a graduation credit in US Government/Finance; a superb academic program that combines lessons on Global Issues, Leadership, Aviation History, Science of Flight, Current Events, U.S. Government and Finance, and the unique opportunity to become a more informed and productive U.S. citizen.

AFJROTC graduates who maintain a high GPA are given priority on AF ROTC College Scholarship Awards. If a cadet decides he or she wants to join the USAF after high school, which a few do every year, they earn two stripes and extra pay as recognition for their outstanding efforts in AFJROTC.

 

Culinary arts students cater events

Members of Pam Diebold’s culinary art classes are busy learning and practicing useful skills by preparing and serving meals for different visiting groups at Haywood High. On Tuesday, January 27, they prepared a pork tenderloin luncheon for School Board members and Superintendent Marlon King when they visited there for the mid-month meeting. Also joining the school dignitaries was members of the “HHS Tomcat Voice,” a group of students who meet and discuss a variety of issues they feel are important. The culinary arts classes are part of the Career and Technical program at HHS.
 

HHS Decathlon teams qualify for state contest

At the wst Tennessee Regional Academic Decathlon competition this past weekend, Haywood High School won 12 medals, one plaque, and one trophy, and the Purple Team placed fourth in over-all standings. The HHS White Team placed sixth in over-all standings. Both teams qualified to advance to state competition, which will be at Austin Peay State University in February. This marks the 24th consecutive year that our teams have qualified for state competition.

The following students won awards:

Alan Olmedo Silver Medal in Mathematics
Bronze Medal in Language and Literature

Andrew Cole Bronze Medal in Economics

Hunter Burroughs Silver Medal in Economics
Silver medal in Super Quiz
Bronze Medal in Mathematics
Bronze Medal in Music
Bronze Medal in Language and Literature
Hunter was the third highest over-all scorer.

Chris Rich Bronze Medal in Mathematics

La’Keithia Caldwell Silver Medal in Mathematics
Bronze Medal in Language and Literature

Taylor Dedmon Gold Medal in Language and Literature

Other team members were: Alston Owen, Audrey Pattat, Andrea Smith, Bianca Cole, Mikail Phillips, Andrew Pearson, Kenya Clark, Al Hardaway, Ronesha Wilkins, Violet Chavez, and Nick Bostic.

The top scorers for each team were: Hunter Burroughs-Purple Team, and Andrew Pearson – White Team.

“The team members and coaches sincerely thank all administrators, faculty, staff, students, and community volunteers who assisted in any way,” said HHS Decathlon Coaches George Norvell and Glynn Bridgewater. “Our guests were complimentary of your hospitality and your cooperation.”

The theme for this year’s contest was Latin America with an emphasis on Mexico, and the Super Quiz topic was evolutionary biology, with an emphasis on Charles Darwin. The rankings in the Super Quiz were: first, Madison Academic Magnet High School, Jackson; second, Obion County Central High School Blue Team, Troy; third, Chester County High School, Henderson; fourth, Haywood High School Purple Team; and fifth, Haywood High School White Team.

The over-all final team rankings were: first, Madison Academic Magnet High School, Jackson; second, Obion County Central High School Blue Team, Troy; third, Chester County High School, Henderson; fourth, Haywood High School Purple Team; fifth, North Side High School, Jackson; and sixth, Hawood High School White Team.

HHS basketball update
By Xavier Cole

The end of the Haywood basketball season is fast approaching. There are only three games remaining in the regular season. The remaining home games are homecoming on February 6, against University School of Jackson (USJ) and Senior Night on February 13, against Covington. The season closes with a district game at Fayette-Ware on February 14. The Lady Tomcats are currently 12-6 and 5-1 in the district, while the Tomcats are 4-13 and 3-2 in the district. The district tournament will be held February 16-20 at Fayette-Ware in Somerville.

HHS Freshman Basketball

The Haywood High Freshman Tomcats season is also near the end. It is currently in district tournament action. The Freshman Lady Tomcats have had an undefeated season, with the championship game remaining. The Freshman Tomcats are one game away from the district championship game. The only team that stands in their way is Fayette-Ware. Win, lose, or draw, both freshman teams have had good seasons.
 

Haywood High School Basketball

Members of the Haywood High School varsity basketball men’s team are Max Battle, Kenya Clark, Cordarrell Comage, Darrius Pickens, Khiry Turner, Harold Watson, Maurice Byrum, Jamarcus Comage, Jabari McNeal, Timothy Moore, Alston Owens, Jashun Harris, Jacques Gleason, Dewayne Turner, Terry Grandberry, and Markell Vaughn. Head Coach is Ray Jones.

Members of the Haywood High School varsity basketball ladies’ team are Kelsey Moore, Trista Rivers, Jamie Shutes, Kendra Jones, Shaterica Tyus, Shante Sutherland, Jasmine Springfield, Tiffany King, Chelsey Owens, Ida Parrish, Trinity Jackson, Itianna Shirley, Jelisa Bell, and Candace Brown. Head Coach is Zandra Jones.

Cheering for the HHS Basketball Tomcats are Renesha Armstrong, Jana Barken, Jasmine Bonner, Chabrie’ Boyd, Bianca Cole, Kelsey Currie, Raven Currie, Ashley Drake, Angelica Gunn, Shenetric Harris, Arielle Kinnon, Giavante Jones, Joveyance Johnson, Kelsey Smith, Aisharee Taylor, Andrea Taylor, Flamesha Taylor, and Kimberly Turner. Sponsor for the cheerleading squad is Opal Hay.