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The local Take Stock in Children Program (TSIC) held their annual Celebration Night on Thursday, Feb. 26. A large group of TSIC scholars, parents, mentors and donors gathered in the Madison County High School cafeteria to be honored by the TSIC staff and the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. Tim Sanders, President of the Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education, Inc. welcomed the group. Judge Bailey Browning, III was the keynote speaker for the evening and shared great words of wisdom for students who are preparing for college and reaching that milestone in life of leaving the “nest of home” and learning to deal with more independence. His presentation focused on the need for maturity in handling time wisely, perseverance in academic studies, making good choices in relationships and taking advantage of those positive opportunities, which come your way both at the high school level and college. Judge Browning placed a particular emphasis on the student’s choices in relationships. He stated that the group you select as your inner circle could be the “builders” in your life or the “destroyers” in your life. He discussed that learning to say no to the matters that will impact your life in a negative way will be very important in keeping your life and educational experience on the path of success. A record number of TSIC students received Certificates of Academic Excellence for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The College Success Coach, Mrs. Martha Register, presented the students with the awards. Several mentors were also honored for many years of service and Jo Willis, Program Coordinator announced that Faye Browning was honored as a TSIC Mentor of Excellence at the state level. Browning has been mentoring for 20 years and continues to mentor two students at the high school this year. She has mentored others who have graduated from college and some who are presently attending college. Two of her mentees, Taylor Sever, presently a student at NFCC and Miss Tyaunie Richardson, a senior at MCHS were the students recommending Browning for the state honor. It was nice to have two Take Stock in Children Alumni with us this year, Taylor Sever and Kimberly Ross, both students at NFCC.