Katie Krell
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
On Tuesday, June 1, and Wednesday, June 2, Madison Creative Arts Academy (MCAA) hosted awards programs to recognize their students' achievements from the 2020-21 school year.
The first program was for grades K5 through four. The program began with a welcome from Executive Director Janna Barrs and a congratulations and thanks from MCAA Board of Directors President Kim Brandies. Students led the devotion and pledge to the American Flag.
K5 teachers Bridgett Jenkins and Kim Whigham kicked the program off by introducing each of their classes, giving each their K5 certificate and explaining what the students wanted to be when they grow up. Caroline Blair and Cindi Vega introduced their first grade classes and gave them each the Reading Award, telling them to “excel and explore the world through reading.” Tonya Watts and Jennifer Copeland then handed out the Star Math and Reading awards for second grade, as well as the Outstanding Citizenship Award. Melanie Parks and Kathy Carter gave out the third grade awards, including the highest average in English Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies. They also gave the Star Math and Reading awards and the Multiplication Master award. Andrea Nagel and Katelyn King gave the fourth grade awards for A/B Honor Roll, A Honor Roll and Excellence in Writing.
The second program was for grades five through eight. The program began with the Pledge to the American Flag, led by Lauri Thigpen. Exec. Dir. Janna Barrs welcomed the students and introduced MCAA Board of Directors President Kim Brandies, who congratulated the kids and thanked families for their support.
Andrea Krell began the awards by explaining the criteria for both the A/B Honor Roll and A Honor Roll. Lori Newman and Kelli Thurner presented the A/B Honor Roll certificates and A Honor Roll trophies to the fifth grade classes. Jamie Mask and Jessica Webb presented these awards for the sixth grade classes and seventh grade awards were presented by Jonathan Cooks and Allison Prairie. Eighth grade awards were presented by Brenda Bass and Willa Branham.
Leigh Ann Browning began the special awards by recognizing Emma Thompson as both the School and District Spelling Bee Winner. Representing Madison County Farm Bureau, Ginny Paarlberg awarded first place to Layne Bush for the county-wide fifth grade essay contest. Jonathan Cooks awarded a certificate of participation to each of the students who participated in Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT). Carolyn Thigpen recognized Noah Pinkard for designing the cover for 2020-21 MCAA Year Book. Andrea Krell recognized the MCAA Beta Club for the awards earned in the 2021 State Beta Convention. The MCAA chapter won first place in Apparel Design for their t-shirt design and third place in Marketing and Communications for their ad about the Madison County Humane Society. Krell also presented the awards for the District Creative Writing Competition to Imani Edwards for third place and Carter Krell for first place. Patricia Holmes recognized Evie Smith for having the most Accelerated Reader points school-wide. Sonja Bass presented Presidential Fitness Awards for fifth through eighth grades. She also presented Best All Around Fitness and Best All Around Sportsmanship for fifth grade, Most Improved for sixth grade, Best All Around Fitness and Best All Around Sportsmanship Awards for seventh grade and the Five-Year Presidential Fitness Award for eighth grade.