The J. Frank White Academy of Lincoln Memorial University

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JFWA’S RAMOS AND BIGELOW WIN SCIENCE OLYMPIAD STATE CONTEST
The J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) Junior Science Olympiad team competed at the Science Olympiad State competition held at the University of Tennessee earlier this month. The team of Dillon Ramos and Victoria Bigelow won Science Crime Busters competition. The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events, which students prepare for during the year. The competitions follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology. There is also a balance between events requiring knowledge of science facts, concepts, processes, skills and science applications. In addition, the event features open house activities including science and mathematics demonstrations as well as career counseling sessions conducted by faculty members from the host institution. The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments.

J. Frank White Academy Students Place at Beta State Convention

Members of the J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) Beta Club participated at the State Beta Convention last month in Nashville. The statewide competition for sophomores, juniors and seniors included competitions in a wide range of disciplines. The National Beta Club currently holds annual state conventions in eighteen states with activities ranging from academic contests to quiz bowls to talent competitions. Conventions give the opportunity for members to interact, share project ideas, and showcase their academic and leadership abilities. Junior Heather Hankins-Koppel won the first prize in the art pencil drawing of a still life. Hankins-Koppel is now qualified to participate at the 28th Annual Beta Club Convention and Academic Competition June 18-21, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Six Academy students competed in the state competition. Joining Hankins-Koppel were sophomore Olivia Lobertini, juniors Robbie Thomas, Zach Greene and Sonya Sayani and senior Alex Miracle. Art instructor Cindy Hankins-Koppel is the Beta Club Advisor. Earlier this year, three members of the JFWA Junior Beta Club won at the State Junior Beta Convention. Ninth grader Samantha Rasnic won the math competition. Eighth grader Victoria Bigelow brought home first place in jewelry production and her classmate Leigha Jessie placed third for a pen and ink wash of a horse. All three advanced to the Junior Beta Club National Convention, which is slated to take place June 14-17, 2008 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Beta Club recognizes academic achievement, promotes character, develops leadership skills, encourages service involvement and provides technological advantages to students in grades five through nine.

J. Frank White Acadmy Announces Honor Roll

Principal Sylvia Lynch has announced the most recent honor roll for grades five through twelve at the J. Frank White Academy on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. Students receiving all A’s include fifth graders Jeana Jessie, Ingrid Leo and Steven Cory Vaughn; seventh graders Courtney Bailey and Katelynd Robinson; eighth graders Victoria Bigelow and Leigha Jessie; ninth graders Mary Alice Coker, Maranda Copeland, Dillon Ramos, Samantha Rasnic and Austin Wilcox; 10th grader Clarissa Medley; 11th graders Rebekah Evans, Heather Hankins-Koppel and Haley Lewis; 12th graders Alexandrea Miracle and Robert Craig Vaughn. Students receiving all A’s and B’s include fifth grader Sarah Kilgore; seventh graders Amelia Gipson, Alicia Jessie, Allison Moon, James Thomas and Luke Thompson; eighth graders Tatum Barnett, Alisa Batchelor, Lauren Forster, Noah Leo and Charles Todd Miller; ninth graders Jessica Dixon, Emily Greene, Laurel Hankins-Koppel, Abdul Irshad, Rachel Mattie, Benjamin Moyers, Katie Mundy, Dakota Robertson, Gregory Dean Smith and Eric Cyler Vaughn; 10th graders Matthew Bailey and Winston Kelly; 11th graders Jordan Davis, Zach Greene, Anthony Ramos, Sonia Sayani, Robert Lee Thomas and Megan Yeary; 12th graders Mary Bruce and Nancy Coker.

J. Frank White Academy to Host Art Fair & Information Night

The J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) will host an Art Fair and Information Night on Thursday, March 6. The event is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the JFWA building on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. Student art projects will be displayed throughout the building and light refreshments will be served. The event is open to families considering the Academy for their children and the community. JFWA faculty members, guidance professionals, athletic coaches and admissions staff will be on hand to meet with families. Guided tours will also be available. For more information contact Christine Ramos, director of JFWA admissions, at (423) 869-6452.

J. Frank White Academy Science Olympiad Team Advances to State

The J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) Junior Science Olympiad team finished second at the regional competition held at East Tennessee State University to advance to the state competition. The team of fifteen students placed first or second in all 23 events and tripled the number of first place finishes from a year ago. The team also finished with a higher point total than last year. The state-level competition will take place on April 5 at the University of Tennessee. The Science Olympiad tournaments are rigorous academic interscholastic competitions that consist of a series of individual and team events, which students prepare for during the year. The competitions follow the format of popular board games, TV shows and athletic games. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced between the various science disciplines of biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, computers and technology. There is also a balance between events requiring knowledge of science facts, concepts, processes, skills and science applications. In addition, the event features open house activities including science and mathematics demonstrations as well as career counseling sessions conducted by faculty members from the host institution. Seven Academy teams earned first place finishes. Earning top finishes were Tatum Barnett and Lauren Forster (Food Science); Jacob Hopper and Logan Lowry (Oceanography); Dillon Ramos and Victoria Bigelow (Rocks and Minerals, Science Crime Busters and Science Word); Samantha Rasnic and Leigha Jessie (Simple Machines); and Jessica Dixon and Trevor Wiley (Write it/Do it). The team racked up 16 second place finishes. Earning runner-up status were Barnett and Foster (Anatomy); Hopper and Bigelow (Crave the Wave); Leigha Jesse and Alicia Jessie (Balloon Launch Glider and Tower Building); Ramos and Dixon (Disease Detective), Dillon Hinojos and Wiley (Mystery Architecture); Rasnic and Dixon (Amphibians and Reptiles); Alisa Batchelor and Courtney Bailey (Ecology and Meteorology); Rasnic and Leigha Jessie (Bio-Process Lab and Reach for the Stars); Noah Leo and Lowry (Metric Mastery); Wiley and Alicia Jessie (Robo-Cross); Rasnic and Lowry (Road Scholar); Dixon and Wiley (Trajectory); and Leo and Hinojos (Scrambler). The Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. These goals are accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state and national tournaments. The J. Frank White Academy is a private coeducational college preparatory school located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University and serves students grades 5-12 from Claiborne, Union, Campbell and Hancock counties in Tennessee; Bell County, Kentucky; and Lee County, Virginia. For more information contact the Academy Office at 869-6404 or visit www.lmunet.edu/academy. Caption: The J. Frank White Academy Junior Science Olympian Team finished second in a recent regional competition. Pictured in back row left to right are Tatum Barnett, Noah Leo, Lauren Foster, Jessica Dixon, Logan Lowry, Jacob Hopper, Dillon Ramos and Mrs. Shiela Welch. Front row left to right are Trevor Wiley, Alicia Jessie, Leigha Jessie, Dillon Hinojos, Alissa Batchelor, Courtney Bailey, Victoria Bigelow and Mrs. Barbara Partin.

Preview Day Scheduled

You are invited to preview the J. Frank White Academy experience on Monday, February 18, 2008. An information session will begin at 9:30 a.m., and participants will be able to preview a class from 10:20-11:10 a.m. The application fee for JFWA will be waived for those attending this program. At least one parent or guardian must be accompany each student. Space is limited and advance reservations are required. Call Christine Ramos at 423.869.6452 for more information or to register.

JFWA Announces Honor Roll

J. Frank White Academy Principal Dr. Sylvia Lynch has announced the most recent honor roll for grades five through twelve at the J. Frank White Academy on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University. Students receiving all A’s include fifth graders Jeana Jessie, Sarah Kilgore, Ingrid Leo and Steven Cory Vaughn; seventh graders Courtney Bailey, Amelia Gipson, Allison Moon and Luke Thompson; eighth graders Victoria Bigelow and Leigha Jessie; and ninth graders Maranda Copeland, Katie Mundy, Dillon Ramos, Samantha Rasnic and Austin Wilcox; 11th graders Jordan Davis, Rebekah Evans, Heather Hankins-Koppel, Haley Lewis and Sonia Sayani; 12th graders Alexandrea Miracle and Robert Craig Vaughn.

Students receiving all A’s and B’s include seventh graders Dillon Hinojos, Alicia Jessie and James Thomas; eighth graders Tatum Barnett, Alisa Batchelor, Lauren Forster, Logan Lowry and Charles Todd Miller; ninth graders Jessica Dixon, Alexis Gale, Emily Greene, Laurel Hankins-Koppel, Rachel Mattie, Benjamin Moyers, Dakota Robertson, Gregory Dean Smith and Eric Cyler Vaughn; 10th graders Matthew Bailey, Ariel Johnson, Winston Kelly, Phoebe Leo, Olivia Lobertini, Clarissa Medley and Madaline Walker; 11th graders Zach Greene and Megan Yeary; 12th graders Nancy Coker, Anderson Mars and Marie Sergent.

News and Announcements

Inclement Weather Notice

During times of inclement weather, please call the JFWA information line at (423) 869-6404. The line is up-dated by 6:30 A.M. with school closure/delay information. School closure information is also relayed to WBIR Channel 10 in Knoxville. This line is also used to give information on practice and game schedules and other important events.

J. Frank White Academy Students Place at Junior Beta State Convention

Members of the J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) Junior Beta Club participated at the State Junior Beta Convention in November in Nashville. The statewide competition for students grades five through nine included competitions in a wide range of disciplines. The National Beta Club currently holds annual state conventions in eighteen states with activities ranging from academic contests to quiz bowls to talent competitions. Conventions give the opportunity for members to interact, share project ideas, and showcase their academic and leadership abilities. Ninth grader Samantha Rasnic won the math competition. Rasnic is now qualified to compete at the national level. The competition consisted of a 50-problem, one-hour test with no calculators allowed. A year ago, Rasnic finished third in the state competition. Samantha is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rasnic of Jonesville, Virginia. Eighth grader Victoria Bigelow brought home a first place finish in jewelry production. Also placing in the top three in an event was eighth grader Leigha Jessie. She took home third place for a pen and ink wash of a horse. Bigelow and Jessie are also eligible for the national competition. Victoria is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Bigelow of Ewing, Virginia. Leigha is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Jessie of Speedwell, Tennessee. The Beta Club national convention will take place June 14-17, 2008 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The JFWA group also participated in the “living literature” competition at the convention. Groups were required to design and set up a scene from well-known literature and pose as a still life in their scene. The JFWA team designed, produced costumes, painted walls and put together furniture for their scene from “Annie.” Six Beta Club members acted in the scene including seventh graders Courtney Bailey, Allison Moon and Amelia Gipson, eighth graders Tatum Barnett and Alissa Batchelor and ninth grader Rachel Mattie. The Junior Beta Club recognizes academic achievement, promotes character, develops leadership skills, encourages service involvement and provides technological advantages to students in grades five through nine.

J. Frank White Academy Students win Landscape Design Contest

Harrogate Garden Club sponsored a landscape design project for area schools to design an indigenous landscape application around the newly installed City of Harrogate Pak restroom facility. Designs were submitted by the J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) and Cumberland Gap High School. The winning team was from JFWA. The designs were due this fall and the winning project will be implemented this spring. JFWA art students Jon Brantley, Heather Hankins-Koppel, Haley Lewis, Winston Kelly, Andy Mars, Sonia Sayani and Craig Vaughn submitted the winning layout. The competition was included in the advanced art curriculum and a number of other JFWA art classes also submitted designs. The students worked together and enlisted advice from local gardening suppliers to complete their designs. “I am always searching for ways to integrate real-world learning applications with my student’s art classes,” JFWA art instructor Cindy Hankins-Koppel said. “This project was difficult and took a great deal of collaborative effort. I am pleased to see our students perseverance was rewarded.” To begin the project, students had to measure the site and draw an overhead of the site to scale. After researching numerous sources for native plant species, the students selected plants they felt would adapt to the environment of the park. The teams applied their design knowledge of balance, contrast and emphasis, as well as color to create a landscape they felt would be aesthetically pleasing. With the recent emphasis on water restrictions, students strove to create a design that was also drought tolerant. The criteria for the project also included working within a $1000.00 budget and creating a seasonal maintenance schedule that included moisture and exposure needs for each plant. With each of the designs that was submitted for the contest, students also produced a PowerPoint and poster presentations. All advanced art students contributed individually to the project and each class will continue to contribute as the group prepares for a spring installation in the park. The JFWA Junior and Senior Beta Clubs will also contribute by helping with the planting. The $500 cash prize awarded for the competition will be shared with all of the art teams that worked on the project. “Our students would like to thank the Harrogate Garden Club, Harrogate City Council, Harrogate Parks and Recreation Board and Dick Nevils for sponsoring this exceptional opportunity for learning,” Hankins-Koppel said. “Additionally, they would like to thank Overhill Nursery of Vonore, Tennessee, Russell Lumber and Paula Bigelow for their input with this project.” JFWA Beta Club Members Participate in Operation Christmas Child

The J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) Junior and Senior Beta students recently completed their final distribution of boxes for their Operation Christmas Child project. Collectively, students contributed over $800.00 worth of donated gifts and money towards one of the group's many community service projects. Operation Christmas Child provides gifts to needy children across the world, and is a program of the organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham. Boxes are packaged according to a child's particular gender, age and needs. JFWA students learned about Franklin Graham's organization several years ago and voted to participate annually in the event. The wrapped gift boxes included personal notes, hygiene items, toys, candy and clothing. Collection for the box distribution was coordinated through the help of Jennifer Smith of Pump Springs Baptist Church in Harrogate. The J. Frank White Academy is a private coeducational college preparatory school located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University and serves students grades 5-12 from Claiborne, Union, Campbell and Hancock counties in Tennessee; Bell County, Kentucky; and Lee County, Virginia. For more information contact the Academy Office at 869-6234 or visit www.lmunet.edu/academy.

FPO Social Scheduled

Family Partnership Organization (FPO) Social on Thursday, November 8th at 6:30 pm at the J. Frank White Academy. Parents and Families will have a chance to meet the teachers and be introduced to the new FPO President, Mrs. Susan Leo”

Honor Roll Announced

Dr. Sylvia Lynch, principal of the J. Frank White Academy, has announced the names of the students who are on the honor rolls for the first grading period.

Students named to the All A Honor Roll include: Courtney Bailey, Victoria Bigelow, Maranda Copeland, Rebekah Evans, Lauren K. Forster, Amelia Gipson, Heather Hankins-Koppel, Jeana Jessie, Ingrid Leo, Clarissa Medley, Alex Miracle, Allison Moon, Katie Mundy, Anthony Paul Ramos, Dillon Joseph Ramos, Samantha Rasnic, Luke Thompson, Robert Craig Vaughn, Steven Vaughn and Megan Yeary.

Students named to the A and B Honor Roll include: Matthew Bailey, Tatum Barnett, Alisa Batchelor, Mary Alice Coker, Nancy Coker, Jordan Davis, Jessica Dixon, Alexis Gale, Emily Greene, Zach Greene, Laurel Hankins-Koppel, Dillon Hinojos, Alicia Jessie, Leigha Jessie, Sarah Kilgore, Noah Leo, Phoebe Leo, Haley Lewis, Logan Lowry, Nathan Mackie, Rachel Mattie, Benjamin Jacob Moyers, Dakota Robertson, Sonia Sayani, Maria Sergent, Gregory Dean Smith, Jordan Smith, William Cody Standifer, J. Michael Thomas, Robert Lee Thomas, Eric Cyler Vaughn, Madaline Walker, Austin Wilcox and Trevor Wiley.

Lynch commended the students on their academic achievement for the first nine weeks. The entire student body was treated to an ice cream sundae buffet in recognition of their outstanding grade reports.

History Comes to Life at J. Frank White Academy

Social studies students at the J. Frank White Academy (JFWA) on the Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) campus saw history come to life last Friday. JFWA social studies instructor Richard Beeler shared his lifelong passion for history with all the social studies classes at the Academy by presenting a living history lesson on colonial America.

Beeler and social studies instructor Delaina Rhodes taught the students about the Jamestown colony while wearing clothing and accessories typical of the early colonial period. Beeler has been active in historic re-enactments for most of his 35-year teaching career, serving as a re-enactor for both Civil War and Colonial Era presentations. Following the presentation, students had an opportunity to try on the historic attire for themselves.

The J. Frank White Academy is a private coeducational college preparatory school located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University and serves students grades 5-12 from Claiborne, Union, Campbell and Hancock counties in Tennessee; Bell County, Kentucky; and Lee County, Virginia. For more information contact the Academy Office at 869-6234 or visit www.lmunet.edu/academy.

J. Frank White Academy Graduation
The J. Frank White Academy held its annual commencement exercises at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, in the amphitheater near the Spring House. “The Heartland Series” creator Stephen W. Dean was the speaker.

Dean served for thirty years as community relations and promotions director at WBIR-TV, the Gannett-owned NBC affiliate in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was executive producer for “The Heartland Series” for twenty of those years. “The Heartland Series” has earned a long list of honors and distinctions at national and international levels, including four Iris Awards from the National Association of Television and Program Executives, three medals from the International Film and Television Festival of New York, as well as three regional Emmys. Dean also has three Emmys to his own credit as a result of his work with the show. The Heartland Series has aired on the Travel Channel, where it was known as Appalachian Stories.

Dean was recognized as one of the top 10 television broadcast marketers in the country by PROMAX and the Broadcast Designers Association in 2003 when he was awarded the prestigious Brand Builder Award. His work has been acknowledged with national awards from the American Advertising Federation and he has earned numerous local and regional marketing and advertising honors throughout his career.

After leaving WBIR-TV, Dean formed his own production company called Famfive Productions, Inc. Famfive’s specialty is the celebration and exhibition of Appalachian culture through the use of video in museums, teaching aids for the classroom, and in television programming. In 2006, he produced, wrote, and directed a documentary about the Big South Fork River called “A River Free”. It was the first locally produced documentary presented in High Definition Television. He is currently writing and producing a documentary about the Civil War in East Tennessee which will be shown at the Frank H. McClung Museum at the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Sylvia Lynch, principal of the Academy, said, “We were certainly honored to have Mr. Dean as our speaker this year. His contributions to the preservation of the way of life here in this area are remarkable and we like to have speakers for our students who have a good sense of place and an appreciation for the unique culture of this region.”

J. Frank White Academy Names Valedictorian and Salutatorians
J. Frank White Academy senior Beth Mattie has earned the top honors for the Class of 2007. JFWA Principal Dr. Sylvia Lynch announced that Mattie is the class valedictorian on Monday.

Mattie is the daughter of Wes and Patti Mattie of LaFollette, Tenn. She has earned a 4.0 grade point average and plans to attend Lincoln Memorial University after graduation. Mattie plans to be a pre-med major at LMU. Among her other honors, she is a finalist for a National Beta Club Scholarship and has been nominated for a National Honor Society scholarship.

Dr. Lynch also announced a tie for the class salutatorian spot. Madeleine Garren and Teresa Cox will share the honor. Both are on track to finish their high school careers with more than a 3.9 grade point average. Cox is the daughter of Elizabeth Cox and Robert Cox of Middlesboro, Ky. She plans to attend Western Kentucky University, where she will pursue a double major in Spanish and counseling. Garren is the daughter of Greg and Jennifer Garren of Maynardville, Tenn. She has been accepted at Vanderbilt University where she plans to enter the pre-med program. Garren was also nominated for a National Honor Society scholarship.

JFWA Announces Honor Roll

J. Frank White Academy Principal Dr. Sylvia Lynch has announced the most recent honor roll for grades six through twelve at the J. Frank White Academy on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University.

Students receiving all a’s include Courtney Bailey; Victoria Bigelow; Tatum Barnett; Teresa Cox; Jessica Dixon; Lauren Forster; Madeleine Garren; Heather Hankins-Koppel; Caitlin Hatfield; Dillon Hinojos; Alicia Jessie; Leigha Jessie; Haley Lewis; Christian Lockhart; Alancia Mason; Beth Mattie; Rachel Mattie; Jonathan Metcalf; Dillon Ramos; Samantha Rasnic; James Michael Thomas and Madaline Walker.

Students receiving all a’s and b’s include Matthew Bailey; Jordan Davis; Rebekah Evans; Christopher Graves; Nathan Giles; Zach Greene; Emily Greene; Winston Kelly, III; Lucas Longmire; Cara Mackie; Andy Mars; Clarissa Medley; Sonia Sayani; Maria Sergent; Craig Vaughn and Megan Yeary.

You may also call the JFWA information line at 423.869.6404 for special announcements.