Gaston County’s
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The Banner News / banner-news.com
Thursday, June 9, 2016
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News From a Neighbor
Volume 82 • Issue 23
Thursday, June 9, 2016
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
East Gaston grad Kyle Truett Sky is the limit for Stuart a winner on and off the field Cramer's Stephen Moore
By Alan Hodge
By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
“Kyle is a winner.” That's what East Gaston baseball coach Randy Sellers says about graduating senior and standout athlete Kyle Truett and it's the truth. Truett not only played great baseball during his senior year, he also served as captain of the football team and was on the wrestling team. On the scholastic side of things, he completed all Electrical Trade courses with high academic success and received his NCCER (construction engineering training) certification. But, according to Truett, his rise to the top during his four years at East Gaston got off to a sketchy start. “I was a wild kid my freshman year,” Truett said. “I had a bad attitude.” However, a love of sports and willingness to take guidance from his coaches polished what was a diamond in the rough. “Sports helped me learn discipline,” Truett said. “I learned to control my temper. I learned that when you show your butt on the See TRUETT page 8
East Gaston graduate Kyle Truett not only served as captain of the football team during his senior year, he also starred on the baseball and wrestling teams as well. Photo by Alan Hodge
According to Stuart Cramer High graduate Stephen Moore, he's always wanted wings. “I knew since I was six years old that I wanted to fly,” he said. Well, now he's gonna get his chance because Moore has received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was nominated by North Carolina's US Senator Thom Tillis and Congressman Patrick McHenry. “I've wanted to go to the Air Force Academy since I was in sixth grade,” Moore said. “When I found out I got the appointment I was speechless, ecstatic, thrilled, honored, and shocked.” According to Moore, much of his aviating ambition comes from the fact that his great-grandfather Victor Stanchi flew B-17 bombers with 409th bomber wing, 8th Air Force from England in WWII. “My mom says she thinks I am him reincarnated,” Moore said. Once he graduates from the Air Force Academy, Moore plans on being a military pilot. See MOORE page 8
Stuart Cramer grad Stephen Moore holds a model of a B-17 bomber like his great grandfather Victor Stanchi flew in WWII. Moore says Stanchi's aviation exploits fueled his own desire to fly. Photo by Alan Hodge
Jonathan Lam- a creative leader at MICS
South Point grad Grace Russell mature beyond her years
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
South Point graduate Grace Russell may only be 18, but she has the work ethic, maturity, and sense of social responsibility of someone much older. Russell, the daughter of attorneys John and Erin Russell, spent her elementary and middle school years at Gaston Day, then plunged directly into the thick of activities as soon as she set foot on the South Point High campus. In her senior year alone she was a National Merit Scholar, Student Advisor to the North Carolina Board of Education, President of National Honor Society, homecoming queen, and varsity soccer captain. While she was accepted to Harvard, Princeton, and Vanderbilt, Grace will be attending Wake Forest on a full, $280,000, scholarship. Just one of the many programs that Russell was involved in at South Point was Project Unify. “We worked to bring together students in the exceptional children department with other students in a variety of social activities In addition to her prodigious scholastic and extracurricular achievements, graduating South such as the Halloween party,” she said. Point senior Grace Russell also excelled on the See RUSSELL page 8 soccer field. Photo by Alan Hodge
Over the past several years, whenever there was a need for an Audio-Visual expert at a Mt. Island Charter School event, the call went out to graduating senior Jonathan Lam. Lam, the son of Vietnamese natives Mot Lam and Cam Phan, came to MICS in 2012 after having attended schools in CharlotteMecklenburg. “I had a rough time in elementary and middle school,” Lam said. “But Mt. Island Charter is a great place where everyone gets along. It's like a big family.” Lam especially liked the relationship between students and staff at MICS. “The teachers are close to us and guide us,” he said. “They make a big impact on us. They teach us moral values and give us advice. We are not just a number.” That atmosphere gave Lam the freedom and inspiration to pitch in when and where he could to utilize his many talents and help make MICS even better. “Jon Lam has been an ever-present behind-the-scenes help to our entire school these past few years,” said Jessi Clarkson, middle and high school Chorus, Band, and
Graduating Mt. Island Charter School senior Jonathan Lam played piano in the school band and was the lead audio-visual tech for theater productions and other activities. Photo by Alan Hodge See LAM page 8
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