Potential Magazine Summer 2016 | Page 28

Saint James Students Compete at TEAMS Montgomery Academy Students Name National Merit Finalists William Moore, Gracie Trulove and Lindsey Warwick, seniors at The Montgomery Academy, have been named finalists in the 2016 National Merit® Scholarship competition, a privately funded national academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently announced the names of approximately 15,000 finalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered in the spring. The two Saint James School high school teams who competed at TEAMS on February 16, 2016 (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science) both placed First in the State. During this one-day competition, students apply math and science knowledge in practical, creative ways to solve real-world engineering challenges. The STJ ninth and tenth grade team included: Hayden Cruse, Kylie Eng, Josh Garnett, Jin Kim, Minji Kim, JB Ramsey, Hawthorne Ramsey, and Jacob Turcotte. The STJ eleventh and twelfth grade team included: Isabel Blancett, Joseph Gary, Gyuna Kim, Sean Jung, Will Prater, Connor Taylor, Ian Tsekouras, and Jason Zhang. PCA Appoints Katie B. Furr As New HS Principal Prattville Christian Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Katie B. Furr to junior high and high school principal, effective June 1, 2016. Furr has considerable experience in the classroom as well as school administration. She has been an integral part of the senior leadership team at PCA and will be an excellent servant leader in this position. “Katie has been a key leader in changes made to move the PCA academic program forward,” said Ron Mitchell, president. “She is a proven professional with a true love for our students and a desire to serve the Lord.” Furr began her career in the classroom nearly 20 years ago as a third grade teacher at MacMillan International Academy in Montgomery, Alabama. She later transferred to Hooper Academy to serve as the Spanish and Language Arts teacher before moving to PCA in 2008 as a Spanish and Bible teacher. In 2011, Furr accepted her current role of academic director. She graduated from Troy University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and received a Master’s Degree in Education from Walden University with a focus on Professional Development. She is married to Jason Furr and they have one child, Shelby. “It is a huge blessing to not only watch students mature as they age but to aid in that process. The students at Prattville Christian have been given many gifts and the possibilities for their futures are incredible,” said Furr. “I look forward to continual service with PCA in this new role as we seek to prepare students to reach their full potential.” L8 | Summer 2016 www.potentialmagazine.com