Magnolia School District

NEILSEN RECOGNIZED AS YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR During the annual Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce awards program, Magnolia High School senior, Tanner Neilsen, was recognized with the 2021 Young Person of the Year award. Tanner has been greatly involved in his community, church, and school. Throughout his years as a student with the Magnolia School District, Tanner has participated and excelled in many different academic and extracurricular areas of interest. He is a member of the MHS Panther football and baseball teams. He has been a member of the Magnolia Choral Program since the seventh grade and consistently earned All-Region honors. Tanner is a member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta and has a competitive grade point average that includes AP coursework. This past fall, Tanner completed his Eagle Scout project by planning, organizing, fundraising, building, and delivering seven brand new dog houses to animals housed at CCAPS. Tanner has also excelled in his entrepreneur skills by starting and running his own “Lawnboy” lawn care service.

Magnolia High School Students Will Attend Girls State Magnolia High School will have juniors Lindy Westfall, Myka Craig, Samantha Wilson, Lindsey Cornwell and Sutton Nelson participate in the 78th Session of the American Legion Auxiliary Arkansas Girls State May 30 - June1, 2021. Harding University in Searcy normally hosts the Girls State delegates, but this year the event will be held virtually. Three local businesses or agencies sponsors and pays the registration fee for the participants. The local sponsors are the American Legion Auxiliary, Farmers Bank and Trust Co., and the Magnolia Junior Charity League. Arkansas Girls State in an immersive civics education program designed for young women who have completed their junior year of high school. Since 1942, the Arkansas Girls State program has been working to teach future generations of Arkansans citizens to be actively involved in their communities and government at every level. The program informs them about the duties, privileges, and participation in the functioning of their government; and to help them grasp the meaning of some of the responsibilities, which they must assume when they become adults. The delegates elect their own officials, organize their own legislature, and have official visits to their respective counterparts in the capital. Once a student completes an application, a committee of teachers and a representative of the local American Legion Auxiliary make the decisions on who will attend Girls State based on the following qualifications: leadership, character and honesty, scholarship, cooperativeness, and community participation and service.

Today concludes the Magnolia READS financial literacy project for East Side and Central Elementary Schools. In today’s video, Mr. Ward, Mrs. Rader, and Mrs. Waters share some final thoughts and words of appreciation. Click the link below to view the final Magnolia READS video. https://youtu.be/t_lhy1K7F9k

MAGNOLIA JUNIOR CHARITY LEAGUE AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP Magnolia High School senior, Dorian Pressley, was recently awarded a scholarship from members of the Magnolia Junior Charity League (MJCL). Dorian received a $1,000 award that may be used to attend Southern Arkansas University or SAU-Tech. The members of the MJCL organization volunteer to promote projects that improve Columbia County by assisting the needs of the children of the community.

WILSON WINS WOODMEN OF THE WORLD AMERICAN HISTORY AWARD Magnolia High School senior, George Tully Wilson, was named the 2021 recipient of the American History Award presented by the Woodmen of the World. Woodmen of the World is one of the largest fraternal orders in America today. The student selected for the honor must have a proficiency in American History. The Woodmen of the World organization encourages the study of our country’s history by challenging students to make their best grades and demonstrate outstanding performance in American history. Hunter Fowler, Wilson’s Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher based the nomination on his demonstrated love of both country and community as a student at Magnolia High School.

Dadgar Receives Mary Brown Florence Scholarship Magnolia High School senior, Leila Dadgar, is the recipient of the 2021 Mary Brown Florence Scholarship. Mrs. Florence’s son, W.P. Florence, established the scholarship in 1998. The amount of the award is $1,500, which will be sent to the school of choice. The criteria to be considered for the scholarship includes cumulative GPA, number of AP courses taken, ACT score, extracurricular activities, and participation in athletics or band.

MHS TELEVISION PRODUCTION STUDENTS WIN ASU AWARDS Magnolia High School Television Production instructor, Alix Tiegs, was recently notified that students in the MHS Television Production course had received awards in the 2021 A-State Creative Media Competition. Arkansas State University hosts the competition. The MHS team won first place in the Live Production category and eleventh-grade student, Jaden Bush, won an individual Honorable Mention award in the Long-Form video category. Bush’s video is entitled, “Smashing into E-sports at SAU.” All winners received certificates and were recognized at a live-streamed award ceremony on April 9, 2021 through the A-State Creative Media Production page. The ceremony was archived at http://www.facebook.com/AStateCMP for future viewing. Jaden Bush’s story, along with other stories from the television production students will be included in the year-end news broadcast. The release date for that broadcast is May 20, 2021 and can be seen on the PanthersTV YouTube page at www.youtube.com/PanthersTV. The last PanthersTV live broadcast of the year will be Magnolia High School’s graduation ceremony. The date is set for May 20, 2021 with the ceremony beginning at 7:00 p.m. The members of the MHS Television Production team that participated in the competition are: Front (LtoR): Malaya Wincher, Riley Hall, Ja’Kayah Hill-Fields, Neiya Howell, Makala Leslie, Ke’Nia Land Middle: (LtoR): Sha’Lanyce Jones, Ja’Shaun Hartsfield, Nicolas Green, Kah’Mijah Taylor, Morgan Holly, Romero Frazier, Devonte Dennis, Jaden Bush Back (LtoR): Jackson Boyd, Alix Tiegs, Gabriel Garcia, Ja’Quarius Easter, Carson Bridges, A’Darius Franks, Jarod Tatom, Dalton Claiborne

Teacher Appreciation Week The Magnolia School District celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week May 3-7. Thanks to all the dedicated teachers and staff members for all you do for the District!

Magnolia District Art Show May 5-8

BAND BOOSTERS TO HOLD MEETING The Magnolia Band boosters will be hosting an interest meeting on Monday, May 3 at 6 PM in the MHS Band Hall. All parents of band students are encouraged to attend. The support that our boosters provide is absolutely critical to the success of the band program. Whether your child is just starting band, or is getting ready to graduate, we would love to involve you! If you are unable to attend, use the zoom link below to participate in the meeting virtually. > > Chris Sanders is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. > > Join Zoom Meeting > https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74958788499?pwd=WW5WY3FNdGYyUVg4Y1QvclR3Q2gzQT09 > > Meeting ID: 749 5878 8499 > Passcode: panthers > > Band booster meeting > Monday, May 3rd > Magnolia High School Band Hall”

The final student entrepreneur video for Magnolia READS comes from Maggie McDonald, a sophomore at Magnolia High School. Maggie shares her journey to becoming the owner of M² Genetics and Testing. Click the link below to hear Maggie’s story of becoming a business owner at the age of fifteen. https://youtu.be/08mADMPXGuU

The Magnolia School District appreciates Farmers Bank and Trust for being a partner for the second year in the Magnolia READS project. Jason Ray, a 1997 graduate of Magnolia High School and Vice President of Commercial Lending at Farmers Bank and Trust, shares his thoughts on the importance of Magnolia READS and students learning financial literacy at a young age. Click the link below to watch Jason’s video. https://youtu.be/VW7q1GLIA10

The Magnolia School District appreciates Marsha Masters, the Associate Director of Economics Arkansas, for sending a video sharing her thoughts on the Magnolia READS financial literacy project. Economics Arkansas is one of the sponsors of Magnolia READS. Click below to hear Marsha Masters. https://youtu.be/2Jda5LCiIEM

MHS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BANQUET Magnolia High School’s Internship Program held its annual Employer Appreciation Banquet at the Magnolia High School Auxiliary Gym on April 6. Students in the program worked together to show each employer how grateful they are to work with such inspiring individuals. The theme for the evening was A Night in Paris! The Internship students were responsible for planning and implementing every step of the banquet. The guest speaker for the evening was Mr. Darnell Ford, Magnolia High School. Mr. Ford shared encouraging thoughts with the students. Presiding over the program were Internship president, Keshunti Brantley; vice-president, Makayla Bradford; secretary, Chloe Lambert; treasurer, A.J. Williams; reporter, Mynasia Crockett; and historian, Denasia Hardin. Students, Doria Beasley with the MHS OWLS Program, Keshunti Brantley with Magnolia School District Registrars office, Zoie Dixon with Story’s on the Square, Imanol Guzman with Dairy Queen, and Megan Reyome who works for MHS – Art Department spoke on their positive experiences with the program. Magnolia High School Principal, Chris Carter challenged the seniors to strive for greatness. Students and businesses participating in the 2020-2021 Internship Program are Doria Beasley, OWLS, Magnolia High School; Keshunti Brantley, MSD Registrar, India Burton, Taco Bell; A’Darius Franks, Kindergarten Food Service; Imanol Guzman, Dairy Queen, Ja”shaun Hartsfield, MHS Food Service; Dennis Jones, City of Magnolia; Emma Rich, Magnolia Veterinary Services; A.J. Williams, Magnolia Middle School; Qua’najah Willis, MHS Media Center; Marley Bismark, Kindergarten; Makayla Bradford, MHS Band; Demarian Carter, Mac’s Fresh Market; Mynasia Crockett, Eastside; Zoie Dixon, Story’s on the Square, Patrick Graham, Graham Law Firm; Denasia Hardin, Wee Care; Chloee Lambert, Chicken Express; Todd Metcalf, Brookshire’s; Dallas Nalls, Brookshire’s; Cammie Neill, Dairy Treet; Megan Reyome, MHS Art Department; and Tyrese Wilson, KFC. During the school year, Internship students worked 12,534 hours and earned $122,422. Any employer interested in employing a part-time worker for the 2021-2022 school year is encouraged to call Internship Coordinator, Jodi Waters at 901-2542 to arrange for interviews with prospective students.

2021 GOVERNOR’S SCHOLASTIC HONORS DAY Magnolia High School seniors, Sierra Putney and Angie Saldana were recently recognized as 2021 Governor’s Scholastic Honors students. The girls both have the same grade point average, which ranks them as the top two students in the MHS senior class. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Directive on Indoor Venues, the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced on behalf of Governor Asa Hutchinson and First Lady Susan Hutchinson that the 2021 Governor's Scholastic Honors Day would be celebrated virtually this year. Governor Hutchinson expressed his admiration of the achievements Arkansas’ most outstanding high school seniors have made, especially during these trying times. The Governor's Scholastic Honors Day is an annual event that highlights academic achievement throughout the state.

Ayana Patel: Junior Division Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge Winner Magnolia Middle School (MMS) student, Ayana Patel, was notified on March 5 that she was selected as the Junior Division Research winner of the Arkansas Soybean Science Challenge. The sixth-grade student had spent months developing her local science fair project, GOT OXYGEN? In this plant-based experiment, Ayana wanted to see which type of leaf released the most oxygen in 2 hours. The judges of the science fair were so impressed with Ayana’s work that they recommended it be entered into the Soybean Science Challenge. The Challenge is directed by the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension in connection with the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Ayana soon heard that she had been chosen as the Junior Division Research winner and would receive a box of gifts and a 200-dollar cash prize upon the completion of a soybean course though the college. Ayana did complete the course, which covered all things soybeans and included many sections and exams. Ayana’s MMS science teacher, Ryland Ochs, was also recognized with a Junior Division Teacher Mentor Award. Ayana is the daughter of Hetal and Kal Patel. The Soybean Challenge is a farmer-funded, statewide, high school education program that seeks to increase student knowledge about the value of Arkansas soybeans to the Arkansas economy, to the labor force, and ultimately to feed and fuel the world. The Challenge has reached thousands of students and teachers through real-time and on-line education, in-service training, Virtual Field Trips, classroom lab instruction, Arkansas-based educational publications, mentoring, and awards for independent student research.

Tristan Malone, a senior at Magnolia High School, opened his business, Sub-Zero New Orleans Style Shaved Ice, at the end of his freshman year. Using the advice provided from his business-owner dad, and the skills he learned in his eighth grade Career Development class, Tristan set out to be a business owner at the age of fifteen. In his video, Tristan shares what he has learned on his path to being an entrepreneur. Click the link below to hear Tristan’s story. https://youtu.be/9a71qLm1pI4

Panther Plaza, Magnolia High School’s Panther merchandise store, opened in October 2018. In today’s Magnolia READS video, MHS teacher, Wendy Love, and students in her Marketing and Small Business Operations classes share the history behind Panther Plaza, the hands-on knowledge, experience, and certification gained by being a student working in the store, and the daily process of maintaining a successful business. Click the link below to hear about Panther Plaza’s journey to being a campus business. https://youtu.be/lImChyXQdEY

MHS HONORS STUDENTS WITH ADVANCED PLACEMENT RECEPTION Magnolia High School hosted an Advanced Placement (AP) Reception April 16 in the Magnolia High Cafeteria and honored a number of students for their academic accomplishments. The awards included cash, yard signs, honor cords, and medals. Farmers Bank and Trust, who provided cake for the attendees, sponsored the event. Magnolia High principal Chris Carter announced this year’s awards recipients. In May 2020, 151 students who were enrolled in AP courses took 227 AP exams. From that test administration, 49 students, some of whom graduated last spring, passed 64 tests. AP tests are scored 1-5 and all scores of 3, 4, or 5 are considered passing. At the banquet, students who passed an AP exam last May were awarded a $100 cash incentive for each passing score and a yard sign that reads, “An MHS AP Scholar Lives Here.” The checks and signs went to Cage Arnold, Eli Barnett, Maggie Cassidy, Lindsey Cornwell, Peyton Creech, Leila Dadgar, Chris Dai, Olivia Ferguson, Ethan Franks, Troi Kacsir, Emily Kelley, Cade Key, Kade Kuykendall, Tristan Malone, Hallie May, Seth McKamie, Thomas McWilliams, Emmi Miller, Heather Millican, Sierra Putney, Megan Reyome, Jadelyn Snider, Clara Souter, Reagan Sweeney, Samuel Trout, Rachel Ward, Zaria Whitaker, Elizabeth Wilson, and George Wilson. Students who passed AP tests but graduated in May are also getting the cash incentives. They are Azaria Broomfield, Gabrielle Bulliard, Elizabeth Burgess, Lauren Chambliss, Joseph Goza, Megan Green, Haley Huffman, Haley Johnson, Hunter McLaughlin, Bethany Morgan, Raegan Nix, Adam Pieratt, Terrianna Robinson, Jordan Sigala, Victoria West, Parker Williams, Amy Wooldridge, Abigail Young, Kateijah Young, and Kevin Zhao. Students who have passed multiple tests are designated for higher honors by College Board, the governing organization for Advanced Placement nationwide. AP Scholar status is granted by College Board to students who pass three or more AP exams. These students were presented black and silver cords to wear at graduation: Leila Dadgar and Emmi Miller. Others named AP Scholars were members of the Class of 2020: Elizabeth Burgess, Megan Green, Haley Johnson, Jordan Sigala, Amy Woolridge, and Abigail Young. AP Scholar with Honor status is granted to students who pass four or more AP exams with an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken. The student who achieved this status – Sierra Putney – was presented with an engraved medal to wear at graduation. ¬ AP Scholar with Distinction status is granted by College Board to students who pass at least five AP exams and earn an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams. The 2020 graduates who earned this status are Gabrielle Bulliard, Adam Pieratt, Parker Williams, and Kevin Zhao. Also recognized at the event were the AP and Pre-AP teachers: Amanda McMahan, Katherine Long, Melanie Ladner, Laurie Hicks, Hunter Fowler, Melissa Chandler, Shauna Jackson, Kaci Myers, Julie Carter, Katie Herren, Connie Hinton, and Morgan Smith.

The next video in the Magnolia READS series comes from Randy Reed, a 1976 graduate of Magnolia High School. Randy, the owner of R.L. Reed Funeral Home, shares the career experiences that led him to becoming a business owner in 2016 after working in the funeral home business for thirty-six years. Click the link below to watch Randy’s video. https://youtu.be/0cBtbGRCtcY