Garner Honors Academic Achievement

The Garner Magnet High School family took time out of their schedules on Monday, April 18 to honor the fine achievements of the students at Garner High School as the school held their 12th Annual Academic Awards Program. After a great opening speech from the Senior Class Salutatorian, Amanda Jordan, the awards began flying left and right as all four classes were honored.

The Senior Class was the last to be honored as 80 of the 154 Honor and Distinguished Honor Graduates were in attendance to receive several awards on the night. However, some of the loudest cheers of the night came at the end of the Awards program when Garner Principal Drew Cook presented some very special awards.

Senior Class Valedictorian, Mary Burkey was awarded the 2008-2009 State Employees Credit Union People Helping People Scholarship, which is a four year scholarship worth a total of $10,000.

The next special award presented was the US Army ROTC Scholarship which is a four year scholarship worth $132,000 and was awarded to Gabe Chrismon. The US Navy also presented a scholarship with also had a Marine option. The four year scholarship is worth $150,000 and was given to the Senior Class President, Jordan Hammond.

Next, was a very special award as the JoAnn Watkins Memorial Scholarship was given to Gillian Meyer. Mrs. Watkins was a social studies teacher at Garner High School from 1968 until she retired in 1995. She was also an Advisor in the Drama department, involved in the fine arts the department and was very involved with the Asheboro Retreat among other things.

The last award presented was the Edward Sheppard Wasdell Teacher of the Year Award which was awarded to a Garner Magnet High School teacher who makes a difference in the lives of the students that he teaches. Mr. Wadell was an Auto Tech teacher at Garner and after his death in 2001 his friends and family created this award in his memory. This year, the award winner was fitting as current Auto Tech teacher; Jacob Stevens was presented the award.

All in all, those in attendance got to see all the great and positive things that Garner Magnet High School has to offer.