20 | November 30, 2017 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com
COMMUNITY
SPECIAL
SPECIAL
Forsyth County employee, Nell Tapp, was recently recognized by the Board of Commissioners for her 25 years of service in the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
Forsyth County employee recognized for 25 years of service FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — At the Nov. 2 meeting of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, Forsyth County employee Nell Tapp, administrative specialist senior with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, was recognized by the board for her milestone 25 years of service.
Participating in the Optimist Club trophy presentation to Riverwatch Middle School were, from left: Optimists Russ Thomas and Brenda Basey, assistant principal Amanda Thrower, zone oratorical winner Vinayak Menon and his mother, Ginger Breyo and Christy Gabbert, and Optimist Jan Norman.
Riverwatch recognized in Honor of Optimist Oratorical Winner CUMMING, Ga. — Riverwatch Middle School was recognized recently by the Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club for the school’s support of the Optimist Oratorical Contest and in honor of Riverwatch student Vinayak Menon. Vinayak was the zone winner in the 2017 Optimist International Oratorical contest. In appreciation of the school’s support, and the help of Riverwatch oratorical coordinators Ginger Breyo and Christy Gabbert, members of the Sawnee-Cumming Club presented a
trophy to assistant principle Amanda Thrower. This year’s oratorical topic was “What the World Gains From Optimism.” The annual Optimist Oratorical Competition includes Forsyth County middle and high school students, along with an elementary school contest for younger students to gain experience. The county-wide competition began with more than 5000 students from 26 schools. The Forsyth contest is the largest in the United States.
From left are Peggie Morrow and Dr. Jim Morrow accepting a check for their Foundation from Randy O’Dell and members of the Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club at BYOT 5-K.
Optimists donate to Morrow Foundation to benefit school system CUMMING, Ga. — The Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club donated $2,500 to the Morrow Community Foundation to support the Forsyth County School System Bring Your Own Technology initiative. The initiative improves student access to technology, especially the internet, for students who do not have it at home. The check was presented at the recent Bring Your Own Technology 5-K run to Dr. Jim and Peggie Morrow by Optimist Randy O’Dell. The donation was derived from proceeds of the Sawnee-Cumming club’s Flags for Education program. American flags are placed in front yards during six national holidays. Subscription cost is $40 per flag per year. Half the proceeds go to the Morrow Foundation to support the technology initiative and the other half to the club’s children’s programs. The Morrows created their foundation in 2013 to give back to the community. When they learned that many
families in Forsyth County did not have the internet in their homes, they decided to join with the school system to support the Bring Your Own Technology initiative. “The donation from the Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club is an incredible gift for our charity,” Jim Morrow said. “This is the largest donation we have received from a community partner. We appreciate what the Optimist Club is doing with their flag program, not only for us, but for everyone in the county.” The Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club is happy to support this initiative through its Flags for Education program, said O’Dell, the club’s flag program chairman. “The Optimist’s moto ‘Bringing out the Best in Kids’ matches the Morrow Foundation goal of enriching young lives, particularly those who need a helping hand,” O’Dell said. “We are grateful to Dr. Morrow for the opportunity to work together to make a difference in lives of children.”
Volunteers needed for Region DECA Tournament CUMMING, Ga. — This year’s Regional DECA tournament will be held by the First Baptist Church on 1597 Sawnee Dr., from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 1. For the competitive experience, local businessmen and women are asked to judge the student events. Judges will be evaluating eight to 10 of the region’s top marketing students
in different occupational events. The events range from roleplay situations to prepared speeches to management decision making events. Judges are fully trained the day of competition and are fully prepared to evaluate the students before competition begins. Visit http://bit.ly/2zKaKgD to register.