The writer is a member of The Journal's staff and president of the board of the Big Sandy Independent School
District.
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BIG SANDY, Texas—Big Sandy High School conducted its 13th annual Academic Banquet May 10 in the building owned by the Church of God Big Sandy.
As in past years, the banquet-meal preparer was Melodee Overton, who is the consumer-sciences teacher at Big Sandy. Volunteers from various Church of
God groups served the meal.
The end-of-school banquet gives the school administration and teachers the chance to acknowledge and award students who excel in academics and
extracurricular activities such as the one-act play, National Honor Society, student council and University Interscholastic League (UIL) competition. The UIL is the organization in Texas
that regulates academic and athletic competition in public schools.
School districts send students to compete in academic competitions that include mathematics, writing, public speaking, science and the oneact play.
Two sisters, Jessica Killingley, a 15-year-old junior, and Jennifer Killingley, a 14-year-old freshman, who attend the Church of God Big Sandy, reaped
many awards. The siblings are daughters of Reg and Carol Killingley of Big Sandy.
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Matt and Mark Fisher claimed top honors at the awards banquet, as did Jennifer and Jessica Killingley. (Photos by
John Warren) |
Event organizers asked Jessica to come to the microphone to give the invocation at the beginning of the banquet.
That was the first of many trips into the spotlight. She was recognized for being on the A honor roll, received an award as the highest-ranking
student in Advanced Placement Language and garnered the Yearbook Award.
Jessica was recognized as a cast member of the oneact play for placing in district UIL academic competition and was inducted into the National Honor
Society.
Jessica's sister Jennifer gained awards for Pre-Advanced Placement English I and Algebra I as well as being on the A-B honor roll.
Another sibling team of Matthew and Mark Fisher, also members of the Church of God Big Sandy, garnered multiple awards. Matt, a 17-year-old junior,
and Mark, a 15-year-old sophomore, are the sons of David and Laurie Fisher.
The school recognized Mark for qualifying for the A-B honor roll and for earning the highest grade in Pre- Advanced Placement English II and inducted
him into the National Honor Society.
Matt received awards for precalculus and Work Co-Op, which is a school-sponsored employment-apprentice program
. Other recognition came for the A-B honor roll, district UIL academic competition and induction into the National Honor Society.
Matt also presented the benediction at the close of the ceremonies.
Two other Church of God Big Sandy teens were honored for their efforts. Shane Case of Big Sandy earned the Theater Arts Award. Shane is the son of
Vern and Jeanine Case.
Because of an oversight, Meagan Overton, a 17-year-old junior and daughter of Mac Overton of Gilmer and Melodee Overton of Hawkins, was not inducted
into the National Honor Society at the banquet but was before the end of the school term.
The Killingley girls and the Fisher boys are also members of the Big Sandy ISD's student council.
Jeff Dozier, superintendent of schools, thanked Mrs. Overton for her work on the banquet and Wayne Weese, who helped set up for the
event.
Mr. Weese, who also attends the Church of God Big Sandy, is the transportation and maintenance director for the school. Mr. Dozier thanked the Big
Sandy congregation "for the use of this wonderful facility."
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