Charles Co. Board honors students for outstanding achievements

The Board of Education at its Feb. 12 meeting honored five Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students for exemplary accomplishments in the areas of academic achievement, career readiness and personal responsibility. Honored were Renata Ashton, Hunter Headley, Lauren Kahler, Kush Patel and Nya Whitney.

Ashton is a fifth-grade student at J.C. Parks Elementary School and was honored by the Board in the area of academic achievement. She is a role model for her peers and consistently earns straight A’s in all subjects. Ashton is a member of the school safety patrol, student leader broadcast team and chorus. She is also an active member of the school’s Green team and helped to lead the Save the Straw campaign to eliminate un-needed waste. In December, Ashton and other members of the Green team presented at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting about their research efforts at Mallows Bay. The presentation was well received and Ashton and her classmates were interviewed about their presentation by an online newspaper, Science Live. She is known by her teachers as a student who models personal responsibility. Ashton aspires to be a fashion designer.

Headley is a fifth-grade student at Malcolm Elementary School and was honored by the Board in the area of academic achievement. Headley is consistently named to the school honor roll and takes accelerated classes. He enjoys challenges and enjoys learning about math and using Dream Box, a computer-based math program. Headley has earned straight A’s since he started third grade. He is a member of the school math team, safety patrol and Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA). Outside of school, Headley plays baseball and is active in the youth group and choir at his church. He also works with local organizations to assist the homeless population in Charles County.

Kahler is a sixth-grade student at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School and was recognized by the Board in the area of personal responsibility. She comes to school each day prepared and ready to learn. Her positive attitude is present in all that she does and her peers see her as a role model. During the first quarter this year, Kahler had to take time off from school for health reasons. Although she was out of school for a few weeks, she returned to class caught up as if she had missed no instructional time. She demonstrates an admirable work ethic, determination to overcome obstacles and personal responsibility. Kahler’s teachers describe her as a role model student who is a joy to have in class and a great friend to her peers.

Patel is a senior at St. Charles High School and was honored by the Board in the area of career readiness. He is a third-year high school student on track to graduate in June, a full year ahead of his peers. This past summer, he took English III and is currently taking the financial literacy course through the NOVEL program. His senior class schedule also includes all Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Patel is one of the key members of the Hackathon planning team, an event in which students spend 24-hours working to solve a computer science problem and then present their findings to a panel of industry experts. He volunteers as a videographer for several school events and publishes his work on YouTube to promote school and community engagement. Patel also helps his father, a local business owner, and plans to attend the University of Maryland to major in business.

Whitney is a fifth-grade student at Dr. James Craik Elementary School and was recognized in the area of academic achievement. She has attended Craik since she started elementary school and earned Principal’s Honor Roll nine consecutive times. Whitney has received a perfect score on math and reading county assessments, and is enrolled in gifted classes. Last year, she received an award from the Maryland Advisory Council on Gifted and Talented Education for exceptional achievement. Whitney recently received 16 awards from the Daughters of the American Revolution contest, first place in the math team competition and helped her MESA team earn first place at both the state and regional competitions. Outside of school, Whitney likes to read and plays lacrosse.

The Board at its monthly meetings honors CCPS students and staff who are nominated by their principals for recognition.

About CCPS


Charles County Public Schools provides 27,108 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 36 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

[ This article originally appeared here ]
 
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