Band receives donation

The Dawson County Pride Marching Band received a gift recently when Walmart presented the group with a $2,500 check. With the donation, the band has collected the $17,000 needed to travel to Atlanta and perform during the nationally televised halftime show of the Chick-fil-A Bowl during the New Year's weekend.

Sophomores receive leadership awards

Dawson County High School sophomores Matthew Holton and Cullen McDonald were named the 2012 Hugh O'Brian Leadership Award recipients last week. Presented annually by the Dawson County Woman's Club, the award recognizes outstanding students for their leadership and service to community.

Assistant principal in running for national award

Riverview Middle School's assistant principal was recently named best in the state by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. As the statewide winner, Kristi Gerrells is in the running for 2013 national assistant principal honors.

Young farmer a ‘Star’

A young entrepreneur from Dawson County has achieved the Future Farmers of America's highest honor. Bradley Weaver, 21, was awarded the American Star Award in Agribusiness on Oct. 27 during the organization's 85th annual national convention in Indianapolis.

Pheasant shoot raises funds for Lanier Tech

The Lanier Technical College Foundation announced it raised more than $22,000 following its second annual Pheasant Shoot earlier this month. All proceeds from the Oct. 13 pheasant shoot go to benefit the Lanier Technical College Foundation's General Scholarship Fund.

Forging ahead

When senior Seth Banks registered for Lanier Technical College's dual enrollment program, he hoped to gain a broader knowledge of welding beyond what he could learn at Dawson County High School. "Now that I'm in the program, it's something I want to do for life," he said. "I wanted to explore welding before I got out of high school and just went into a college on something that I didn't know for sure if that ...

System’s top teacher

Dawson County Middle School has another accolade to celebrate with teacher of the year. Bridges, who teaches sixth-grade language arts, was recognized at the October meeting of the Dawson County Board of Education.

Search for new campus leader begins

The face of Lanier Technical College in Dawson County for the past three years is changing with Dean Tim McDonald's promotion to the school's vice president of economic development. McDonald, who started his new position Oct. 2, will continue as dean of the local campus until a new leader is chosen.

Yearbook staff wins top awards

Dawson County High School's 2012 Tiger Yearbook Staff recently received two national awards for the 2012 Tiger album. Walsworth Publishing Company announced last month that the 2012 Tiger was going to be included in its Gallery of Excellence, meaning the book will be showcased with other top books in both printed form and on the Web.

Options open for students

Local students soon will have the option of taking biblical-based courses to fulfill high school elective requirements. Dawson County Christian Learning Center, a nonprofit and accredited institution, is seeking high school seniors to take part in its inaugural class that begins in January.

Pheasant shoot to benefit students at Lanier Tech

A shooting event in Hall County will benefit Lanier Technical College. The Second Annual European Pheasant Shoot will be held beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at 7743 Persimmon Tree Road in Lula.

Sawnee EMC seeks scholarship applicants

The Sawnee Foundation is currently offering scholarships to eligible seniors graduating in 2013. Scholarships will be awarded to students selected from the Sawnee EMC territory, consisting of parts of Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall and Lumpkin counties.

Event supports literacy

Age most definitely had its benefits Thursday night as the oldest contestant in Reading Education Association of Dawson County's annual "Are You Smarter than a 10 Year-Old" competition showed his younger counterparts some geography skills. Representing the Dawsonville Lions Club, octogenarian Joe Hirsch edged Jill McKee of the Dawson County government team to name all of the U.S. states that border the Pacific Ocean.

Band invited to perform at bowl

The Dawson County High School Tiger Pride Marching Band will ring in 2013 with style after making its national debut on New Year's weekend. In mid-September, the band was officially invited to perform at the nationally-televised Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

Lanier Tech president Vandiver announces retirement

High school chorus named ‘superior’

Not many people are fond of being judged by professionals, but the Dawson County High School Chorus had nothing to worry about last week in Habersham County. According to director Spencer Wright, the results at the state evaluation "couldn't have gone any better," with all three judges giving the chorus "superior" ratings in every area they were judged.

Vandiver exits Lanier Tech after 37 years

OAKWOOD - Telling stories and giving gifts, friends, colleagues and former bosses of Lanier Technical College President Russell Vandiver paid homage March 22 to the longtime campus leader and economic development guru. Kenneth Breeden, who led the school from 1975 to 1984, said that when he heard that Vandiver had been named president in September 2010, he thought "lucky Lanier Tech."

Elder to serve as acting president

Laura Elder has been chosen as acting president of Lanier Technical College following the retirement this week of Russell Vandiver, TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson announced today.