2024-2025

July 9, 2024

Columbia County Board of Education Special Recognitions

GHSA 6A Boys Golf State Champions

Lakeside High School

 Team Members:
McCrae Bella 
Jack Demyan
Tommy Eremito  
Nick Flite 
Lukas Fritsch 
Cooper Hawkins  
Qasim Khan 
Jacob Mondi
Theron Sapp 
Coley Shiver 
Bennett Wiggins 
Hamilton Coleman*
Barrett Loftis (All-State)
Jacob Weaver
Head Coach: Justin Crawford
Assistant Coach: Matt Scott
Principal: Juliet King

*Individual State Champion and Boys Player of the Year

The Lakeside High School Boys Golf Team was named the 2024 GHSA State Champions, the school's first title since 2010. The dedication, perseverance, and leadership demonstrated by this team is remarkable. Their commitment to excellence and teamwork has truly set a new standard for future athletes at Lakeside High School.

Never wilting under pressure, the Panthers won the state tournament by four strokes after being down seven strokes on Monday.

These young men came together and took the lead at the midway point Tuesday morning and never looked back. It was a true team effort.

Monday was led by the four underclassmen of Coleman, Wiggins, Flite and Hawkins, but Tuesday’s comeback was spearheaded by the Lakeside seniors of Loftis and Eremito.

With the win, the Lakeside boys golf team claimed their first state championship since 2010!

GHSA 5A Girls Golf State Championship
2nd Place - Greenbrier High School

Team Members:
Adyson Lukich (Individual State Runner up)
Avery Simpson
Allyson Barber
Kate Christiansen
Sara Grace Cribb
Reagan Henderson
Madi Link
Benton Vineyard
Zion Young
Head Coach: Casey Heckathorn
Assistant Coach: Daniel Jordan
Principal: Chip Fulmer

After winning the 2023 State Championship, the Lady Pack entered this year’s event ready to compete against 11 other 5A schools.  The first day’s scores put them in the group with last year’s runner-ups and the school was currently in the lead by 7 strokes.  On the 11th hole, Avery Simpson nearly made birdie, Reagan Henderson made back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12, Adyson Lukich continued to dominate her pairing, and Madi Link completed her round with back-to-back pars. 

The Greenbrier Girls Golf program only had 1 player 4 years ago and currently has a team of 9.  This group of girls has created a culture of excellence.  They practice hard, and have high expectations.   

CCSD Police Department State Certification

The Columbia County School District Police Department (CCSDPD) received State Certification by successfully completing the Georgia Association Chiefs of Police (GACP) Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program.

After a rigorous application and process review, the CCSDPD joins the ranks of only 140 top law enforcement agencies, out of 700 law enforcement agencies across the state, of which 41 are school police, to successfully demonstrate best practices for effective and professional law enforcement. Out of the 180 school districts across the state, the CCSDPD is now one of only five to earn certification. Cornerstones of the certification program include professionalism, positive community support, transparency, ethical conduct, and more. As part of the accreditation process, the CCSDPD met a required 141 standards covering nine areas essential to effective law enforcement. Additionally, the typical 36-month process was completed by the CCSDPD in an impressive 13 months, signifying the department’s commitment to excellence.

“We are so proud of our outstanding team of professional law enforcement officers and staff for their continued dedication to the safety of our schools, students, and staff,” said Dr. Steven Flynt, Superintendent. “This certification is an impressive achievement and is emblematic of the great work that is taking place all across the CCSD every day to help ensure our students receive the high-quality education they deserve, in a safe, positive environment.”  

In 2018, the Columbia County Board of Education approved the placement of a dedicated, POST-certified, School Resource Officer in every school. In 2022, the CCSD PD was established along with full jurisdiction of school safety. Today, the Columbia County School District has a dedicated district training officer, and a School Resource Officer in every school, with two at every high school.

With accreditation complete, the CCSDPD will continue to participate in compliance monitoring.

Congratulations, CCSDPD.

JROTC leads Pledge of Allegiance
Harlem High School

August 13, 2024

Columbia County Board of Education Special Recognitions

Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA)
24-25 Youth Advisory Council
Ryan Schluter - Evans High School

Ryan Schluter of Evans High School has been invited by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) to be a member of the GSBA Youth Advisory Council (YAC). 

The YAC is a dynamic platform that brings together young leaders from various public schools to participate in the discourse on educational policies and practices actively. This council empowers students to voice their perspectives and contribute to decision-making processes, ensuring that youth viewpoints are integral in shaping the academic landscape. 

The YAC was formed by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) to give high school students the opportunity to provide meaningful input to school board members. The goal of the feedback is to help aid school board members in their decision-making and implementation processes. The YAC Committee is composed of GSBA staff and serves as a resource to students enrolled in the program. Through this program, they hope that students and school board members can achieve greater awareness regarding academic programs and school climate.

 

 

 

National Junior Beta Club Convention Winners

Students from Columbia Middle School and Lakeside Middle School took home top 10 wins at the National Beta Club Convention.  Students attended the State Junior Beta Club Convention in Savannah this past fall where they competed and qualified for the National Junior Beta Club Convention in June.  

Kathryn Lawrence
Columbia Middle School 
8th Place - National Visual Arts

Kate is an 8th grader at Columbia Middle. She won fourth place at the State Convention with a colorful fish sculpture. For the National Convention, she created a new recyclable art project themed around sea turtles. She collected recyclable materials from family and neighbors for about 2 months, worked many long hours, and used a lot of hot glue. Her art piece reminds us to cherish our oceans and to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  She won 8th place in the National Visual Arts category.  

 

     

From left: Kate Lawrence, from Columbia Middle School shows off her recycled artwork that won 8th place in the visual arts category at the National Beta Club Competition. Far right is the artwork that Kate won 4th place for at the state level competition last fall. 

 

 

 

 

Lakeside Middle School
5th Place - Engingeering

2nd Place - Meeting of the Minds

5th Place - Lead Outside the Box

 

 

 

McKayla Benjamin

Adain Cox

Emma Cox

Logan Cox

Arya Doshi

Peter Kenny

Isabelle Pendley

Madeline Smith (Golden Ticket Winner)

Emery Smitherman

Zavier Voigt

Vash Whaley

Grace Williams

Beta Club Sponsor -  Emily Gainey 

Principal - Jeremy Medlin

These students spent countless hours during the school year and over the summer practicing and preparing for their events. This was their first time competing in Meeting of the Minds and Lead Outside the Box, and their second year competing in Engineering. Last year LMS students placed 6th in Engineering, and this year they placed 5th. 

There were 5 “Golden Tickets” given to students who competed in the performing arts category at the state competition last November. Students were chosen for their performance quality and stage presence. Madeline Smith was one of the 5 chosen performers in the state of Georgia to be one of the National Premier Performers at the National Convention this summer. As one of the “Golden Ticket Winners” from around the nation, they lead the Opening Session with a series of choreographed routines. 

All of the students represented themselves and LMS with integrity and impressed everyone with their commitment, teamwork and problem-solving to come to a viable solution during all of their competitions.

Students, sponsor, and principal, please come forward when you are called and remain until a photo is taken. Family members here to support these students, please stand and be recognized. Please hold your applause until all team members have been called.

 

 

Evans High School 
JROTC Color Guard

Thanks to the Evans High School JROTC for leading the Pledge of Allegiance at the Board Meeting.