LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY SPELLING BEE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY SPELLING BEE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Greensboro, Ga. (December 19, 2017) - Lake Oconee Academy recently held its annual Spelling Bee for first through eighth grade students. Students competed in three categories: first through third grade, fourth and fifth grade and sixth through eighth grade. The competition was intense, with spellers receiving such difficult words as pertinacity, rheumatic and habanero. The winner in the first-third grade competition was Shelby Marullo, with Cole Schumacher as runner up. Ashton Leach was announced the winner of the fourth and fifth grade competition, with Jewell Morrison as runner up. Hailey Heinen came out on top as the winner of the middle grade competition, with Keerti Ahluwalia as runner up. Winners in the fourth through eighth grade groups will move on to the county competition at the CBJ Board Office on February 1, 2018. Congratulations to all the winners and participants in this year's spelling bee!

Photo: LOA spelling bee winners include (back row, left to right) Shelby Marullo, Ashton Leach, Jewell Morrison, (front row) Cole Schumacher, Hailey Heinen, and Keerti Ahluwalia.

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LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY CELEBRATES CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS WITH GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY CELEBRATES CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS
WITH GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

Greensboro, Ga. (November 20, 2017) - Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) students, families, teachers, administration, board members, and friends celebrated the start of the construction of the new high school campus with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, November 16, 2017, followed by the annual Titan Bash school-wide event. The high school expansion project features two new buildings that will include seventeen classrooms with two science labs, and a student life center with a cafeteria and a gymnasium.

The LOA Foundation also announced on Thursday that the $2 million "Fulfilling Our Commitment" capital campaign to provide philanthropic support for the expansion of the LOA high school had met its goal with current funds raised at $2.3 million. The capital campaign will fund items such as advanced technologies, furnishings, safety measures, equipment, and green space for the high school campus.

"This is certainly a historical day for LOA and Greene County," said capital campaign co-chairman Rick Wolfert. "Today we have the opportunity to celebrate LOA's remarkable success and growth over the last ten years, but also understanding that this $19 million campus expansion shapes the future of our school. I would like to personally thank the over 200 donors, business partners and parents that made this campaign a success, and acknowledge our teachers and LOA board members who all contributed to the campaign at a 100% level. That is outstanding."

"We sincerely thank the USDA and appreciate everything they do through the Rural Development Loans program which made this project possible," said Dr. Otho Tucker, CEO of LOA. "What it really comes down to is the parents who had the need and desire to have these buildings go up and knew that expanding the school is a good thing for the children. LOA could still be 11 or 15 or 80 students in Lakeside Church, but our dream was to do more than that. We wanted to give this opportunity to more and more children. Without the parents, it would have never been possible."

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Photo: Representatives from JMWilliams Contractors, the LOA Board of Governors and the LOA Foundation participated in the groundbreaking at the site of the new high school campus (left to right): Daniel Hauser, Brad Campbell, Michael York, Jennifer Vaughan, Riezl Baker, Connie Hoyle, David Mapp, Dick Schmidt, Mark Lipscomb, Dr. Otho Tucker, Rick Wolfert, Tommy Jeffords and Allison Evans.

LOA Students Make Impact at GA National Fair Art Awards

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LOA STUDENTS MAKE IMPACT AT THE GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR ART AWARDS

Greensboro, Ga. (November 6, 2017) - Lake Oconee Academy submitted 35 entries to the student art competition at the 2017 Georgia National Fair in Perry, Ga., and 16 of those entries were awarded ribbons.

"Student learning is always the ultimate goal and seeing the entries from schools all over the state is very eye-opening and inspiring to our kids," said LOA art instructor Debbie Vogel. "With 16 ribbons, we are growing and improving among the ranking in the state. It built their confidence and affirmed what we are doing to grow the fine arts program at LOA."

The following students were awarded ribbons at the Georgia National Fair art competition:

8th Grade:

• Isabelle Hodges: Best in Show in Sculpture

• Isabelle Hodges: 1st place in Sculpture

• Shelby Davis: 1st place in Painting

• Ella Chesney: Honorable Mention in Painting

• Willow Manville: Honorable Mention in Sculpture

9th Grade:

• Katie Ciavola: 1st place in Drawing (Mixed Media)

• Katie Ciavola: 1st place in Sculpture

• Marissa Malone: Honorable Mention in Drawing (Colored Pencil)

• Marissa Malone: 2nd place in Sculpture

10th Grade:

• Rachel Bird: Honorable Mention in Drawing (Ink)

• Lane Herndon: Honorable Mention in Drawing (Colored Pencil)

• Savannah Dwyer: Honorable Mention in Drawing (Charcoal)

• Savannah Dwyer: 2nd place in Drawing (Charcoal)

• Rachel Bird: 3rd place in drawing (Mixed Media)

11th Grade:

• Breanna Coffman: Honorable Mention in Drawing (Pencil)

12th Grade:

• Ashlyn Harris 3rd place in sculpture

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Photo: LOA 8th grade student Isabelle Hodges earned the Best in Show and First Place ribbon in the Sculpture category at the 2017 Georgia National Fair art competition.

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY ADVANCED PLACEMENT® EXAM SCORES TOP STATE, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL MEAN SCORES

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY ADVANCED PLACEMENT® EXAM SCORES

TOP STATE, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL MEAN SCORES

LOA Named AP Merit School for 2017

Greensboro, Ga. (September 22, 2017) - The Advanced Placement® (AP®) program at Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) has continued its trend of high achievement on AP exams resulting in scores that ranked higher than the state, national and global mean for the 2016-17 school year.

The AP program is administered by the College Board and offers college-level coursework to high school students. Colleges and universities will often grant course credit and advanced placement for qualifying scores on exams. LOA offered nine AP courses for students in grades nine through eleven in the 2016-17 school year. AP exams are scored on a scale from 1 to 5: 5 - extremely well qualified; 4 - well qualified; 3 - qualified; 2 - possibly qualified; 1 - no recommendation.

The mean scores for 2016-17 AP exams are:

LOA	Georgia	National	Global
3.13	2.86	2.84	2.86

LOA administered 139 AP exams to 73 students, with 71% of students scoring a 3 or higher. Of the 71% who scored a 3 or higher, 35% scored a 4 or 5.

LOA is pleased to have 22 students who were named AP Scholars for 2016-17. The AP Scholar Awards recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. LOA has 11 students who earned the AP Scholar award that is granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. The AP Scholar with Honor, for students who received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four more of these exams, was awarded to seven students. Finally, the AP Scholar with Distinction, granted to students who received an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams, was achieved by four LOA students.

In addition, LOA was named an AP Merit School for 2017; a school with at least 20% of the population taking AP exams and at least 50 percent of all exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

"At LOA we believe that the AP program offers the most challenging options for students to prepare themselves for success in their post-secondary choices, whether that is at a technical school, in the military, or in a competitive four-year university," said Dr. Hester Vasconcelos, AP Coordinator at LOA. "AP uses a national set of curriculum standards, claims, and evidence for each AP course, and each AP course ends with a national exam. AP teachers must submit a national audit to have the course included officially as an AP course on a student's transcript. The scores students receive are an excellent way to measure their preparedness compared to other students across the country taking the same courses."

During the 2017-2018 school year, LOA is offering 16 AP courses: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Microeconomics, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP US Government, AP Human Geography, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Studio Art 2D, AP Studio Art Drawing, AP US History, AP Capstone Seminar, AP Physics 1, and AP Physics 2.

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LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY HONORS LEGACY OF FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER JAMES BROOKS WITH SCHOLARSHIP FUND

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY HONORS LEGACY OF FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER

JAMES BROOKS WITH SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Greensboro, Ga. (September 14, 2017) - A long-time member of the Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) family, Board of Governors founding member James Brooks, age 80, has passed away. Mr. Brooks joined the LOA Board of Governors in 2007, and was an avid supporter of quality education and strongly believed in the mission of LOA. He was instrumental in the passage of the initial charter to bring LOA to Greene County. Without his efforts, the vision of LOA may not have come to fruition. His friendly demeanor, generous nature and thoughtful actions will be missed by the LOA Board, faculty and students.

Mr. Brooks, a native of Greensboro and part-time Atlanta resident, spent his professional career in mechanical construction. In 2002, he successfully completed the Dartmouth College Tuck School of Business Advanced Minority Business Executive Program. In 2005, he was recognized by the Greene County chapter of the NAACP for his support of minority advancement and contributions to the greater Greensboro community. Mr. Brooks was named an accomplished alumnus of the former F. T. Corry High School for classes from 1949 to 1960. He also served on the board and budget committee of the Atlanta Old Timers, Inc., an organization that raises money for books and scholarships for students in the Atlanta area and beyond. He was active with students in the Greensboro Dreamers program and lived by the philosophy, "You are never too old to learn; the day you stop learning is the day you stop growing."

Mr. Brooks is survived by his wife Virginia, a retired elementary school teacher who spent over 40 years educating Atlanta students. Together they have truly impacted the lives of countless students.

"James believed that life is not always fair, but with great determination, you can achieve whatever it is you set out to accomplish," said Dr. Otho, Tucker, CEO of LOA.

In that spirit, LOA has started the James Brooks Scholarship Fund that will be awarded annually to a student who exemplifies the three cornerstones of LOA - citizenship, scholarship and community - and shown resilience and tenacity in their educational journey. Each year, LOA will honor a senior pursuing post-secondary educational work that embodies Mr. Brooks' outlook that with enough determination, anything is possible.

Contributions may be made to the James Brooks Scholarship Fund, c/o Lake Oconee Academy, 1021 Titan Circle, Greensboro, GA, 30642.

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Lake Oconee Academy Named Recipient of the 2016-2017 Class A Region 7 Cooperative Spirit Sportsman Award by the GHSA

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY NAMED RECIPIENT OF THE 2016-17 CLASS A REGION 7
COOPERATIVE SPIRIT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD BY THE GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Greensboro, Ga. (August 14, 2017) – Lake Oconee Academy has been announced as the recipient of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class A Region 7 Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award. The award honors schools that demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship during the 2016-2017 school year.

The Cooperative Sportsmanship Award recognizes student athletes, fellow students, school staff, parents and event spectators for the sportsmanship they display during competitive events. The award is not only a school honor, but a community honor as well. The GHSA region secretaries and coaches select winners based upon sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the school year.

“The mission of the LOA athletics is to develop leaders through an education-based athletics program,” said LOA Athletic Director Chris Ingle. “To accomplish that, LOA coaches are committed to academic excellence, integrity, hard work, selflessness, a winning attitude, and the spirit of ONE Titan. We are honored to be selected for the GHSA Cooperative Sportsmanship Award. This signals that our student athletes are heeding the lessons that will develop them into leaders in the athletic arena, the classroom and in their adult lives.”

Since 2006, the GHSA and Georgia’s Electric Membership Cooperatives (Georgia’s EMCs) have sponsored the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award which reinforces the GHSA philosophy: “Students, athletes, coaches, spectators and all others associated with high school activities programs should adhere to the fundamental values of respect, fairness, honesty and responsibility.”

“Congratulations to all of the region winners of the GHSA Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award for 2016-2017,” says Dr. Robin Hines, GHSA Executive Director. “It is an honor for these member schools to be selected by their regions for this award. The characteristics of good sportsmanship are critical to the development of our young people as they transition into productive adults. The GHSA applauds our schools on this accomplishment and appreciates Georgia’s EMCs for their support of this outstanding recognition program.”

Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Awards are presented annually to the GHSA-member high schools in the 56 regions from the seven classifications by representatives from the EMCs during fall athletic events and school assemblies.

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LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY MUSIC TEACHER AMY REBER ANNOUNCED AS A QUARTERFINALIST

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY MUSIC TEACHER AMY REBER ANNOUNCED AS A QUARTERFINALIST

FOR THE 2018 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD™ PRESENTED BY THE RECORDING ACADEMY® AND THE GRAMMY MUSEUM®

Greensboro, Ga. (June 19, 2017) - A total of 197 music teachers from 187 cities across 45 states plus Washington, D.C., have been announced as quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Museum®. Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) music teacher Amy Reber was named as one of the quarterfinalists from among 2,300 initial nominations from all 50 states.

The Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college in public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY® Week 2018.

Reber, originally from Castle Rock, Colorado, has been a music instructor at LOA since 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Baylor University.

Reber has enriched the lives of LOA students across all grade levels, from Pre-Kindergarten to seniors, with her passion for music and music education. Reber shares her love of music with elementary, middle and high school students in general music, piano and musical theatre. She will lead piano instruction for approximately 160 students this school year. As a concert pianist, she supports many organizations in the community through music as an accompanist for Christ Our King Catholic Church, Reynolds Lake Oconee Chorus, Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church (also serves as choir director), and Oconee Performing Arts Society (OPAS). She hosts Kindermusik camps for children ages 2-6 each summer. Reber is an active member of the American College of Musicians in the Piano Guild. She works tirelessly supporting students outside of the school day with private piano and voice lessons. Reber is a parent of five children with her husband Jay.

"I am truly honored to represent my family, my school, and my community with this nomination for the Music Educator Award," said Reber. "There are a lot of people who have poured countless hours, time, and resources into my musical training. I am where I am today because of their sacrifices. I want to provide the children of Greene County and LOA the same opportunity I was given. It is so exciting and rewarding to see the joy that music brings to their lives. I always tell my students, 'I don't have a job. I have a joy.'"

Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students' lives. The fifth annual honoree will be flown to New York to attend the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards and a range of GRAMMY Week events. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants.

Fifteen semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants. The matching grants provided to the schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Museum's Education Champions Converse, Disney Performing Arts, Ford Motor Company Fund, and Journeys. In addition, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies.

Photo: LOA music instructor Amy Reber has been named a quarterfinalist for the Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Museum®.

David Mapp Joins Lake Oconee Academy Board Of Governors

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

DAVID MAPP JOINS LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Greensboro, Ga. (May 1, 2017) - Local attorney and Greene County native David Mapp has joined the Lake Oconee Academy Board of Governors, the public charter school's governing body. Mapp is currently a law associate at the Law Office of Russell W. Wall, LLC in downtown Greensboro.

"The LOA Board of Governors is the guiding force behind the success of LOA," said Dr. Otho Tucker, CEO of LOA. "We are very fortunate to have a person with David's longtime ties to the community, and his professional and educational experiences serve our school and county. He will be an asset to the board in fulfilling the vision and mission of LOA."

Mapp is an honor graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.A. in in Political Science and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. As a law student, he served at the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office of the Western Judicial Circuit in Athens, the Law Office of Russell Wall, and the Greene County District Attorney's Office. He was active in many organizations on campus including the Georgia Trial lawyers Association, Dean's Ambassadors, and the Black Law Students Association.

"I believe that serving on the LOA Board of Governors has given me an opportunity to give back to my community in a unique way," said Mapp. "As a product of the Greene County School System, I have always been told that there is no opportunity for growth or advancement here. That misguided belief does not encourage our graduates to remain in the county to work, or to return after graduating college, serving in the military, etc.

"What would encourage many students to continue calling Greene County home is if there are more jobs, more cultural activities, and more opportunities for advancement. Having quality schools attracts and encourages those things, while also improving the quality of life for all Greene County citizens. "

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Photo: David Mapp, law associate at the Law Office of Russell W. Wall, is a new member of the Lake Oconee Academy Board of Governors.