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ISSUE 38 VOLUME 24
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FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
Class of 2012 send off While addressing his Bearden High School graduating Class of 2012 Friday evening, May 18, Dr. John Bartlett, principal, holds up a marble as a symbol of affection toward Ed Hedgepeth. Hedgepeth, retiring after 41 years in education, is a former BHS and Farragut High School principal (24 combined years) who in recent years has served as executive director of secondary education for Knox County Schools.
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ALAN SLOAN asloan@farragutpress.com
A “small graduating class” worth more than $18 million in scholarships was wearing navy blue gowns, and the first graduating class to ever complete four years at their school also was wearing blue. Add those graduates in maroon gowns, at least one dozen members of which will follow in their principal’s footsteps. These are thumbnail sketches of 2012 graduating classes at Farragut and Bearden high schools and Hardin Valley Academy — all three conducting ceremonies in The University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena last weekend. During FHS Class of 2012’s ceremony Saturday evening, May 19, principal Michael Reynolds said, “Although they are small in number [363] they have accomplished much. The Class of 2012 has earned a scholarship total of
Sallee Reynolds, HVA principal, cracks a smile while addressing her Class of 2012 during graduation ceremonies in UT’s Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday afternoon, May 19. Reynolds spoke of her especially close relationship with this year’s senior class, which dates back to her first group contact with these students as eighth-graders in 2008. Photos: Alan Sloan/farragutpress
$18.3 million. Eighty-two percent of this class earned some kind of scholarship.” This FHS class is led by valedictorian Ramie Fathy, who will attend Princeton University and major in molecular biology after finishing high school with a 4.71 grade point average; a National Merit finalist, National AP Scholar with Distinction who earned 11 scholarships, including Princeton and CaliforniaBerkeley, worth $901,000. Salutatorian Derek Cui Xu also will attend Princeton University majoring in molecular biology (4.69 GPA); a National Merit finalist who received eight scholarships totaling $465,000. “In academics, this class has 16 National Merit Commended students, eight National Merit semifinals … one of two Presidential Scholars from the state of Tennessee, one of two U.S. Youth Senate delegates, one of two students who was named a Siemen’s Award Winner for the
state of Tennessee ... 33 AP Scholars, 21 AP Scholars with honors, 38 AP Scholars With Distinction and six National AP Scholars,” Reynolds said. George Ashe, Hardin Valley Academy assistant principal and athletic director, announced during his school’s ceremony Saturday afternoon that HVA’s Class of 2012 (492) earned more than $21 million in scholarships. Valedictorian Christopher Barnes was recognized with a grade point average “over 4.5 and will be attending The University of Tennessee,” said Sallee Reynolds, HVA principal. Salutatorian Paul Barry, also headed to UT, was recognized with a GPA of “over 4.4,” she added. During her address, Sallee Reynolds said she was “extremely proud of all those sitting before me,” adding this class “is the first to go through all four years at Hardin Valley Academy. … You helped start our tradi-
Michael Reynolds, FHS principal, emphatically reminds a heckler that this graduation ceremony belongs to his Class of 2012 during festivities in The University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena Saturday evening, May 19. Reynolds pointed out a laundry list of accomplishments from this year’s senior class, which he labeled as “small” with 363 graduates listed in the school’s program.
tions, and you have continued to enhance them.” HVA graduate Jonathan Chastain earned his school’s annual Hawk Award, “the highest award voted on by the faculty” to a graduating senior “who exhibits high standards of dependability, responsibility, citizenship, cheerfulness, moral character and academic performance,” Sallee Reynolds said. Chastain earned a $250 check. At Bearden High School’s ceremony Friday evening, May 18, BHS principal Dr. John Bartlett said, “It’s been four years of a great journey.” Valedictorian Kevin Hoang was commencement speaker. Salutatorian Emily Schutt also was recognized. “Total scholarship offers to BHS Class of 2012 is over $70.9 million for a class of [463],” Bartlett said. “You’ve done a great job. … Sixty-seven percent of this class will be in a four-year institution next year.”
A former U.S. Marine, Bartlett added, “And then there’s another 12 or 13 of you, another two percent, I’m going to ask you to stand if you signed to take the great challenge of joining the U.S. military.” Those students received a standing ovation. Referencing 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in his address to the class, Bartlett said Lincoln, prior to his presidency, “Would have gone down in history as a failure. It’s been well documented that he lost on numerous occasions when he attempted [election] in the political arena. Failed in business, lost his job on numerous occasions. “Yet, Abe Lincoln studied and worked hard,” Bartlett added. “And when circumstances called, President Lincoln was prepared. “I am forever grateful, and count it as one of life’s highest honors to be your principal.”
Teenager crashes car in Montgomery Cove yard Curfman, 19, charged with DUI
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DAN BARILE editor@farragutpress.com
Several residents of Montgomery Cove subdivision off Northshore Drive were rousted from their homes to a loud crashing sound Wednesday, May 16. Clarke Curfman, 19, a 2011 Webb School of Curfman Knoxville graduate and lacrosse player, had lost control of the 1994 BMW 325i he was driving and crashed, leaving the car upside down in the front yard of Dr. Mohamed and Kimberly
Mahfouz. The crash left residents scratching their heads wondering how an accident such as this could happen in their lakefront pastoral community. Kimberly Mahfouz said, “Our family was home at the time of the accident; resting, doing homework and getting dinner started.” She added after hearing two loud noises she passed off as perhaps a speed boat splashing high lake water up on the dock, causing the family’s jet skis to rock on the lift and bump up against the wooden dock, she heard the front doorbell ring. “At that point,” she said, “it became quite clear that the two See WRECK on Page 5A
Photo submitted
A passerby examines the wreckage of a BMW driven by Clarke Curfman, 19, after it came to rest in the front yard of a Montgomery Cove home.
Westside Faces 8A • Business 10A • Sports 1B • Community 1C • Memorial Day 6C • Real Estate Gallery 15C • Classifieds 19C • Graduation 1D
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