Rutherford Weekly

OUR 24 th YEAR • ISSUE NO. 23 • June 9, 2016 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE OUR GRADUATION EDITION! OUR GRADUATION EDITION! ©Community First Media Community First Media Mon-Sat 11am-6pm E Juice • Glass Pipes T-shirts • & More 719 S. Broadway, Forest City Right off Exit 182 from US74 828-229-3123 ©Community First Media Community First Media FOREST CITY FOREST CITY • • 720 South Church Street • 720 South Church Street • 828-245-7274 828-245-7274 Located Located inside inside LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL BUY Articles By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly Articles By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly Fletcher follows family footsteps to UNC Fletcher follows family footsteps to UNC Mackenzie Fletcher credits her senior project with helping her decide her college major. The East High School senior has been accepted to the University of North Carolina where she will pursue a degree in elementary education. "I've always loved the school," Fletcher said of UNC. "My sister is there now, and my family is kind of legacy there." Fletcher has spent her time at East High School being active. She's served on the Student Government Association, been a part of Key Club and Young Life and has cheered for both the junior varsity and varsity cheerleading squads. "I look forward to getting involved in new things," she said. "My main goal is to get involved with Young Life or Campus Crusade." High school, she said, has "flown by." "I have a cousin who was a freshman this year, and it seemed like that flew by. I don't think you think about how fast it goes when it's your four years," she said. Fletcher will miss the relationships she has with teachers and staff at East once she's no longer there. "The way teachers reach out to students here … it shows that they care about more than just your grades. They care about you," she said. Fletcher will speak at graduation, which makes her nervous. "I don't mind public speaking if I can let people know I'm awkward," she laughed. "But I won't be able to look at anyone!" Fletcher's advice to those who will be entering high school this fall is to take part in all you can. "Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way," she said. "You never know what revelation you'll come to." The daughter of Monica and Chris Lee and Rich Fletcher plans to spend this summer as a nanny and with her family at the beach. Following college, she plans to get her masters degree. East Rutherford High School's graduation is scheduled for Saturday, June 11, at 8 p.m. Student came from behind to Student came from behind to graduate a year ahead of graduate a year ahead of sched schedule ule Tabitha Dotson went from being two years behind on her high school coursework to now graduating a year ahead of time. "I busted my rump," Dotson said of finishing her high school credits early. A student at Rutherford Opportunity Center, Dotson began high school at Rutherford Early College High School, but fell behind. "I probably would've graduated, but it would've been way later," she said. Leaving REaCH, where the student body is "one big family" was scary for Dotson, and she was worried about what she might experience at the ROC. "Most people think it's a school for bad kids, but that is a stereotype," she said. "Most students come to the ROC because they want to graduate early." The ROC proved to be a good fit for Dotson. Her teachers were more understanding and she could work at her own pace, which proved especially beneficial during her senior year when her mother's illness kept her from being able to attend school. "Because everything was online and I had my MacBook, I was able to be at home with my mom and keep up with my school work. My teachers and I stayed in contact, and anytime I had questions they were quick to email me back," Dotson said. The daughter of Angela Ault and Thomas Dotson, Dotson plans to go to dental hygiene school this fall. This summer she plans to take it easy in order to jump right back into her studies. "I don't want to do what a lot of people are doing and take a break from school - I want to stay in the swing of things," she said. The Rutherford Opportunity Center graduation will be June 9, 7pm at Isothermal Community College. Red & black instead of Tar Heel blue that Red & black instead of Tar Heel blue that senior Haley Newton is sporting this fall senior Haley Newton is sporting this fall Newton, who was on the volleyball and track teams as well as being a member of HOSA and Beta and Student Council President, received the Goodnight Scholarship at N.C. State University. The Goodnight Scholars Program is a comprehensive student development program designed to develop scholars into leaders within the STEM and/or education fields. "I plan to be a chemistry or biology major and pursue a pharmacy degree," Newton said. Newton's interest in a pharmacy degree began in sixth grade, she said, when she had to do research on a career that matched her interests. Her senior project on the impact of prescription drug abuse cemented her desire to become a pharmacist. "I was surprised by the impacts on loved ones, not just the abuser," she said. "Especially the financial impacts. I think, too, that going into college I might find myself in a situation where folks might abuse drugs. I have a background to say not but also educate others as well." Newton has spent her senior year celebrating "lasts" and trying to make as many memories as possible. "I think you should savor every moment," she said, when asked what advice she might give to those entering their senior year. "I never believed it would fly by. I read something I believe to be true - don't count the days you have left, but make the days you have left count." Newton, who is the daughter of Russ and Penny Newton, plans to work this summer to save money for school and visit the beach a few times. She will also work at a camp her church holds each summer. RS Central High School's graduation is planned for Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m. Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy graduate's favorite subject was science & chemistry favorite subject was science & chemistry "I plan on majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in French and intercultural studies," Colnot said. Colnot will attend the University of North Carolina this fall and has a goal of becoming a pediatrician. "I've kind of pulled for UNC, and it is a prestigious school," she said. "The student body is so culturally diverse, and I'm grateful I will get to experience that." Her love of science turned into a desire to practice medicine after undergoing several surgeries on her knee. "I've had two ACL and three meniscus surgeries," she said. "I think seeing what the inside of the knee looks like and how the body reacts to medicine is where I found my passion for medicine. I love the idea of being in a hospital setting and helping people." She settled on working with children because of her time working at IGA. "I love working with kids and helping them in any way," she explained. Going from a small school to one as large as UNC is a little scary, Colnot admitted. But she feels prepared by her experience at TJCA. "I think some of the most important advice I've learned is that you are here for a reason, and that reason is to learn," she said. "Don't just let your subjects just be subjects - take what you've learned in history class and apply it to English class. And then take the knowledge you've learned in the classroom and apply it to the world around you." This summer Colnot plans to spend time with friends and babysitting to have spending money. She will go along with her brother, sister and parents, Marcel and Ruth Colnot, to visit extended family in France. "I've learned that the world is becoming even more interconnected," she said. "Being placed in situations where I might not know what to expect has made me ready to be able to interact with all kinds of people." Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy's graduation ceremony was held June 6. Chase's Roach bound for NC State Chase's Roach bound for NC State As Matthew Roach looks back at his senior year at Chase High School, he would give this advice to those who will graduate next year: Be aware of all that is going on. "This year flew by," Roach, who will serve as valedictorian, said. "When I got to the point of applying for scholarships, it went even more quickly. I had to keep a calendar - if I didn't write it down, I couldn't remember it all." With extracurricular activities that include marching band, Key Club, academic team, jazz band, Beta Club and New Century Scholars, it's no wonder Roach needed a calendar. Being involved, as well as keeping up with his classes, lead to his overall success. "I have been accepted into the scholars program at N.C. State University," Roach said. "I will either major in political science or engineering. I felt like being at State and in Raleigh, I'd have opportunities with either career path." Roach, who enjoyed high school, plans to jump in at N.C. State and look for opportunities to be involved. "I want my time there to be as fulfilling as it has been here," he said. His time at Chase High has prepared him for the future, Roach said. Through band and the leadership class at school, he learned leadership skills. His teachers, he said, challenged him to think. He also took advantage of opportunities to take college courses. "I was able to accumulate quite a few college credits," he said. "My extracurriculars taught me about being more than just an 8 to 3 student." This summer he plans to get a part-time job and then visit State for orientation for the fall. After college, the son of Charles and Amy Roach plans to become a politician, starting at the local level. Chase High School's graduation is scheduled for Sunday, June 12, at 8 p.m. Owens' future plans up in the air Owens' future plans up in the air Jared Owens may be as comfortable in an airplane as he is in a classroom. He plans to take his love for flying and science and put them together to obtain an aerospace engineering degree. The Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy graduate will attend N.C. State University this fall, and eventually would like to be an airline pilot for an international airline. "I had a tough time choosing where I wanted to go to college," he said. After visiting several campuses, he realized that it was at N.C. State that he felt the most at home. "One thing I like about N.C. State is the Hunt Library," he said. "It is the engineering library, and there's a makerspace. It's the hub of campus in many ways." When not in school, Owens has spent his free time as a junior volunteer with the Ellenboro Volunteer Fire Department. It is a way for him to give back to a unit he credits with saving his life. "When I was 9 I nearly died in a car accident," Owens explained. "The brakes locked up on our van, and we went into the woods. Because we'd been camping, we had propane tanks in the car. The fire department volunteers got us from the car before it caught on fire and exploded." Many of those responders are who Owens now works alongside, he added. Being a volunteer firefighter will prove beneficial for Owens on long flights in the future. "I do stay very calm under pressure," he said. This summer he will work to get his instrument rating by flying more and will continue to volunteer for the fire department, which is something he'd like to do during his summers off from college. Owens also enjoys to whitewater kayak and plans to go to the National Whitewater Center this summer to watch Olympians train. Owens is the son of David and Theresa Owens. Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy's graduation ceremony was held June 6.

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