As I write this column in early January, students are returning to school to start both a new semester and the countdown to summer break (yes, already!). Learning and extracurricular activities abound to fill in the time between now and then … along with some celebrations. Speaking of celebrations …
Congratulations to Erno Linder and Olivia Chemin as Signal Mountain’s High School and Middle School nominees for the Carson Scholars Program! They were selected from students who submitted essays in the local school competition.
The Carson Scholars Program recognizes and rewards outstanding students in the United States who exemplify academic excellence and humanitarian qualities. Notification letters will be mailed to applicants in March.
Scholarship winners named “Carson Scholars” will receive a $1,000 scholarship invested towards a four-year college or university. Good luck to both Erno and Olivia!
Thrasher Elementary
Next time you’re at an event at Thrasher Elementary School, check out those beautiful new stage curtains! Those were updated in December for the first time since 1961! Third-grader Lucy Benefield won an opportunity through the MEF Auction to serve as guest host and cut the ribbon at a special ceremony to present the new curtains.
While “new” is wonderful, Thrasher’s PTA also wanted to honor the past so it had the ‘WTT’ letters from the school’s original curtains preserved and framed. PTA co-presidents Jessica McCarthy and Caroline Wilson presented those to Principal Jeff Paulson to be displayed at the school.
MEF Celebration
We hope you were able to secure a ticket to the “Starry Night on Signal” at the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club on February 4. So many folks were thrilled the Mountain Education Foundation brought its MEF Celebration for Education event back to the mountain! This is such a wonderful event to both celebrate and raise more money for our local schools.
SMMHS Academics
Congrats to these Signal Mountain Middle School students on qualifying for Regionals in the International Academic Competition!
Eighth grade place winners were Connor Pogue, first; Ben Marsden, second; and Seven Dapp, third. Seventh grade winners were Olivia Chemin, first; Ethan Bhosale and Ryder Ratliff tied for second; and Ben Sapp, third. Sixth grade winners were Russell Green, first; Klien Boyd, second; and Robert Summerlin, third.
With so many students qualifying for state and national IAC events, SMMHS was selected to host the 2023 Tennessee Winter History Bee and Bowl in late January.
SMMHS Athletics
Just before winter break ended, Signal Mountain’s high school bowling teams competed in district tournaments where both boys and girls finished as runners up. Teams were preparing for regional competition as this column was being written.
Kudos to these bowlers for the following recognitions. All District regular season: Carson Gayton; Clay Cooper; Landyn Sanders; Georgia Bartlett; Siara Ellis; and Britton Williams. All District tournament team: Henry Nord; Sawyer Guffey; Georgia Bartlett; Siara Ellis; Landyn Sanders; and Britton Williams.
Our high school basketball teams competed in various tournaments over winter break, while our wrestling team had a couple of regular-season matches.
Congratulations to two of the Uhorchuk brothers for earning extra recognitions at a prestigious national tournament.
Freshman Joseph “JoJo” Uhorchuk (107 pounds) put together an incredible run, defeating multiple nationally ranked wrestlers en route to a second place finish at the Powerade Invitational in Pittsburgh. His lone loss came in a hard-fought match 5-3 in overtime to the No. 9 ranked wrestler in the country.
Senior Caleb Uhorchuk finished in fourth place in the 127-pound weight class at the same tournament. Caleb went an impressive 6-2 and wrestled seven matches that were decided by three points or less. Caleb, a three-time state champ and West Point commit, was also honored in December for becoming the all-time career wins leader for Signal Mountain wrestling. (He surpassed the record held by his older brother, Daniel, who is now wrestling for West Point.)
Congratulations to Emily Redman and Carlee Lowry, who were named to the 2022 All-State volleyball teams by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
Congrats to the Signal Mountain Middle School’s boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, which had advanced to the district championship matches before those were cancelled by weather. With winter break just a day away and students moving on to other sports afterward, the final round was never played.
Kudos also to the Signal Mountain Middle School basketball teams; both finished in third place in a district tournament! Earning a place on the All-County team were Nick Harwood, Colton Johnston, Wil Flenniken for boys and Callie Cooper and Tess Roberson for girls. Roberson and Johnston also made the District All Tournament team.
Several SMMHS students continue to participate in climbing and robotics meets through interscholastic leagues. Lacrosse will kick off its season soon, followed by the spring sports of baseball, softball, track, boys’ soccer, and tennis for high school with middle school athletes competing in wrestling, volleyball, baseball, track, and golf.
February brings the Signal Mountain Middle School drama club’s presentation of “The Music Man Jr.” that first weekend of the month, the Youth in Government high school conference in Nashville mid-month, and more intense Mock Trial rehearsals. These are just a few of a myriad of activities going on in all our schools. Be sure your school reps contact me with news and photos!
Congratulations to Erno Linder and Olivia Chemin as Signal Mountain’s High School and Middle School nominees for the Carson Scholars Program! They were selected from students who submitted essays in the local school competition.
The Carson Scholars Program recognizes and rewards outstanding students in the United States who exemplify academic excellence and humanitarian qualities. Notification letters will be mailed to applicants in March.
Scholarship winners named “Carson Scholars” will receive a $1,000 scholarship invested towards a four-year college or university. Good luck to both Erno and Olivia!
Thrasher Elementary
Next time you’re at an event at Thrasher Elementary School, check out those beautiful new stage curtains! Those were updated in December for the first time since 1961! Third-grader Lucy Benefield won an opportunity through the MEF Auction to serve as guest host and cut the ribbon at a special ceremony to present the new curtains.
While “new” is wonderful, Thrasher’s PTA also wanted to honor the past so it had the ‘WTT’ letters from the school’s original curtains preserved and framed. PTA co-presidents Jessica McCarthy and Caroline Wilson presented those to Principal Jeff Paulson to be displayed at the school.
MEF Celebration
We hope you were able to secure a ticket to the “Starry Night on Signal” at the Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club on February 4. So many folks were thrilled the Mountain Education Foundation brought its MEF Celebration for Education event back to the mountain! This is such a wonderful event to both celebrate and raise more money for our local schools.
SMMHS Academics
Congrats to these Signal Mountain Middle School students on qualifying for Regionals in the International Academic Competition!
Eighth grade place winners were Connor Pogue, first; Ben Marsden, second; and Seven Dapp, third. Seventh grade winners were Olivia Chemin, first; Ethan Bhosale and Ryder Ratliff tied for second; and Ben Sapp, third. Sixth grade winners were Russell Green, first; Klien Boyd, second; and Robert Summerlin, third.
With so many students qualifying for state and national IAC events, SMMHS was selected to host the 2023 Tennessee Winter History Bee and Bowl in late January.
SMMHS Athletics
Just before winter break ended, Signal Mountain’s high school bowling teams competed in district tournaments where both boys and girls finished as runners up. Teams were preparing for regional competition as this column was being written.
Kudos to these bowlers for the following recognitions. All District regular season: Carson Gayton; Clay Cooper; Landyn Sanders; Georgia Bartlett; Siara Ellis; and Britton Williams. All District tournament team: Henry Nord; Sawyer Guffey; Georgia Bartlett; Siara Ellis; Landyn Sanders; and Britton Williams.
Our high school basketball teams competed in various tournaments over winter break, while our wrestling team had a couple of regular-season matches.
Congratulations to two of the Uhorchuk brothers for earning extra recognitions at a prestigious national tournament.
Freshman Joseph “JoJo” Uhorchuk (107 pounds) put together an incredible run, defeating multiple nationally ranked wrestlers en route to a second place finish at the Powerade Invitational in Pittsburgh. His lone loss came in a hard-fought match 5-3 in overtime to the No. 9 ranked wrestler in the country.
Senior Caleb Uhorchuk finished in fourth place in the 127-pound weight class at the same tournament. Caleb went an impressive 6-2 and wrestled seven matches that were decided by three points or less. Caleb, a three-time state champ and West Point commit, was also honored in December for becoming the all-time career wins leader for Signal Mountain wrestling. (He surpassed the record held by his older brother, Daniel, who is now wrestling for West Point.)
Congratulations to Emily Redman and Carlee Lowry, who were named to the 2022 All-State volleyball teams by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
Congrats to the Signal Mountain Middle School’s boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, which had advanced to the district championship matches before those were cancelled by weather. With winter break just a day away and students moving on to other sports afterward, the final round was never played.
Kudos also to the Signal Mountain Middle School basketball teams; both finished in third place in a district tournament! Earning a place on the All-County team were Nick Harwood, Colton Johnston, Wil Flenniken for boys and Callie Cooper and Tess Roberson for girls. Roberson and Johnston also made the District All Tournament team.
Several SMMHS students continue to participate in climbing and robotics meets through interscholastic leagues. Lacrosse will kick off its season soon, followed by the spring sports of baseball, softball, track, boys’ soccer, and tennis for high school with middle school athletes competing in wrestling, volleyball, baseball, track, and golf.
February brings the Signal Mountain Middle School drama club’s presentation of “The Music Man Jr.” that first weekend of the month, the Youth in Government high school conference in Nashville mid-month, and more intense Mock Trial rehearsals. These are just a few of a myriad of activities going on in all our schools. Be sure your school reps contact me with news and photos!