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Spencer Wilson receives Myrick-sponsored ORPSEF Scholarship

Posted at 8:42 pm May 27, 2016
By Jessica Steed Leave a Comment

Spencer Wilson

Oak Ridge High School senior Spencer Wilson, center, is pictured above with Teresa Myrick, right, and ORHS teacher Deni Sobek. (Submitted photo)

 

Spencer Wilson grew up fishing in the lakes and mountain streams of the area, an activity that fostered his interest in the environment. The Oak Ridge High School senior, who plans to pursue his interest in fish and the environment in college, has received the $1,000 Tim and Teresa Myrick Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a hard-working student interested in environmental science, a field of study important to Tim Myrick. Spencer plans to major in aquatic biology, continuing to build on his lifelong interest.

“Spencer has an interest in the environment, a desire to work and ‘play’ outside. He is an avid fisherman, which was one of Tim’s favorite pastimes,” said Deni Sobek, Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher at ORHS, who recommended Spencer for the scholarship. He was a student in Sobek’s class in his junior year.

In 2012, Myrick and his wife Teresa pledged $25,000 to the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation’s “Making the Critical Difference” campaign for grants and scholarships. Their pledge provides an annual scholarship to a top AP Environmental Science student, as well as grant funds to be awarded to ORHS Science Department applicants. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Community, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Advanced Placement Environmental Science, AP Environmental Science, aquatic biology, Deni Sobek, environmental science, Making the Critical Difference, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, ORHS, scholarships, Spencer Wilson, Teresa Myrick, Tim and Teresa Myrick Scholarship

Photo: Tennessee education commissioner speaks at ORHS Honors Night

Posted at 11:41 am May 24, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Candice McQueen at ORHS Honors Night May 23 2016

Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen, left, speaks at the Oak Ridge High School Honors Night on Monday, May 23, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak Ridge High School celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s graduating senior class with Honors Night on Monday, May 23. The celebration was in the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen spoke at the ORHS Honors Night. Here is a photo by Julio Culiat.

Filed Under: Education, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Slider Tagged With: Candice McQueen, Honors Night, Julio Culiat, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center

Oak Ridge school board passes budget on second, final reading

Posted at 11:18 am May 24, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Board of Education passed the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 on second and final reading on Monday.

The budget includes 3 percent salary increases and a request for an additional $538,048 from the city, a 3.6 percent increase in municipal funding.

The schools budget was approved unanimously in the first of two readings on Wednesday. It passed unanimously again on Monday. The school board made no significant changes to the budget proposed by the school system.

The budget will now be considered as part of the annual budget deliberations by the Oak Ridge City Council. The city typically provides a little less than 30 percent of the school system’s funding. The schools also receive state and federal funding. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: budget, Hall Income Tax, Keys Fillauer, municipal funding, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge School Board, salary increases

Four ORHS seniors sign to continue athletics in college

Posted at 11:17 am May 20, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Rizk Welsh Thompson and Beckett Signings May 2016

Jasmine Rizk, Katie Welsh, Caelyn Thompson, and Daniel Beckett are pictured above from left at signings to continue their athletic careers in college in May 2016. (Submitted photo)

 

Four Oak Ridge High School seniors recently signed to continue their athletic careers in college.

Daniel Beckett signed to run cross country with Maryville College. Caelyn Thompson signed to compete in track and field at Milligan College. Jasmine Risk signed to play girls soccer with Carson Newman College. And Katherine “Katie” Welsh signed to play girls soccer with Centre College.

Daniel Beckett Signing May 2016

Daniel Beckett signed to run cross country with Maryville College. (Submitted photo)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College, College, Education, Front Page News, High School, K-12, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: Caelyn Thompson, Daniel Beckett, Jasmine Rizk, Katherine Welsh, Katie Welsh, Oak Ridge High School

ORHS Choral Department has Spring Concert on Thursday

Posted at 1:00 pm May 18, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ORHS Choral Department Collage

The Oak Ridge High School Choral Department will present its annual Spring Concert on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Choral Department will present its annual Spring Concert on Thursday, May 19.

Students representing the five high school choirs will take the audience on a musical journey around the world, a press release said. Elizabethan motets, German art songs, Motown favorites, a selection or two from “Pitch Perfect,” and the ever-popular “Rainforest Sound Scape.”

“Join the ORHS Choral Department as we celebrate the school year and say farewell to our seniors,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Entertainment, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: Amanda Ragan, high school choir, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge High School Choral Department, ORHS Performing Arts Center, Spring Concert

Relay for Life is in Oak Ridge on Friday

Posted at 11:59 am May 18, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Relay for Life Oak Ridge is Friday, May 20, at the Oak Ridge High School track. It’s scheduled from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday.

Here is the schedule of events for what will be a fun evening that will raise money and awareness of the awfulness of cancer, and the effects it has on so many people, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: cancer, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge High School, Relay For Life, Survivors Lap

In rematch, Wildcats play Maryville in Region 2 semifinal today

Posted at 1:29 pm May 17, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Wildcats-Clowers-Maryville-May-3-2016

Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3) scored the one goal for the Wildcats during a 4-1 loss to Maryville at home on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

They last played two weeks ago during the regular season, and Oak Ridge and Maryville will play again tonight (Tuesday, May 17) in a Region 2-AAA semifinal.

The game starts at 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge High School.

The Rebels beat the Wildcats 4-1 in a regular-season game on Tuesday, May 3.

But it was a tale of two halves, and Oak Ridge (13-7) won the second half, Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said. Maryville (13-5-2) picked up all its scoring, all four goals, in the first half. They were scoreless in the second, when the Wildcats scored one.

“The score was not as lopsided as it looks,” Maryville Coach Steve Feather said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Sports Tagged With: Bearden, Ben Smith, Blake Clowers, District 4-AAA, District 4-AAA championship, Jeff Trombly, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge High School, rebels, Region 2-AAA, Region 2-AAA semifinal, Steve Feather, Wildcats

Soccer: Wildcats play for district championship against Halls today

Posted at 12:55 pm May 13, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Header-on-Corner-Kick-Campbell-County-May-11-2016

Oak Ridge beat Campbell County 9-0 in a District 3-AAA semifinal game at home on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The Wildcats attempt to score on a header here after a corner kick by Austin Vinyard. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play Halls for the district championship this evening.

The District 3-AAA championship game starts at 7 p.m. today (Friday, May 13) at Oak Ridge High School.

The Wildcats (12-7, 7-0 D3-AAA) beat the Red Devils 3-1 in a regular-season game on April 7.

Oak Ridge eliminated Campbell County (11-4-1, 4-2) in a 9-0 blowout during a semifinal district tournament game on Wednesday, May 11. Halls (10-6, 6-2) advanced to the district championship on a 1-0 victory over Gibbs on Wednesday.

Oak Ridge’s 9-0 win over Campbell County this week was the most lopsided victory for the Wildcats this season. Oak Ridge beat Campbell County 4-0 in the season opener on March 15. [Read more…]

Filed Under: High School, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: Austin Vinyard, Casey Nigh, Cougars, Dean Stetzl, District 3-AAA, District 3-AAA championship, district championship, district tournament, Halls, Jose Rodriguez, Masa Kato, Noah Calhoun, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Wildcats, Red Devils, Ricky Rodriguez, Stefan Mortl

ORHS student wins first in Chemistry Division of national competition, earns $12,000 scholarship

Posted at 1:11 pm May 5, 2016
By Holly Cross 1 Comment

Thomas Colburn — Decomposition of Plastics

Thomas Colburn — Decomposition of Plastics (Photo by Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Oak Ridge High School senior Thomas Colburn was a divisional first-place winner in a national science and humanities competition in April. Colburn received a $12,000 academic scholarship.

He was announced as the first place winner of the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in the Chemistry Division on April 30.

Colburn and Albert Xue, both from Oak Ridge High School, were part of a five-student delegation that traveled from Tennessee to Dayton, Ohio, to showcase their research at the end of April. The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium is a tri-service U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force program designed to encourage student research in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. While more than 7,600 students competed at the regional level, fewer than 100 students were invited to give an oral presentation this year at the 54th National JSHS competition. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Albert Xue, Bearded High School, Chemistry Division, Farragut High School, Karla Mullins, Madeleine Mason, National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORHS, scholarship, Thomas Colburn, Todd Toops, Vinila Baljepally

Oak Ridge teachers Jane Sasser, Brian Smith receive Outstanding Educator awards

Posted at 7:30 pm April 26, 2016
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

Jane Sasser, English teacher at Oak Ridge High School, and Brian Smith, history teacher at Jefferson Middle School, were two out of only six recipients from the entire state who received the Outstanding Educator Awards from Humanities Tennessee.

According to the Humanities Tennessee website, these awards were available for up to six full-time, third- to 12th-grade teachers in Tennessee who have demonstrated excellence in teaching the humanities. Since 1985, Humanities Tennessee has awarded almost $400,000 to 169 teachers in Tennessee.

Applicants for this award are expected to be skillful and dedicated teachers who exhibit expansive and in-depth knowledge of the subjects they teach, a press release said. They are to have the respect of students, parents, and co-workers, and have a record of active involvement in community activities and professional organizations, particularly those that promote the humanities.

Sasser and Smith will each receive a $2,000 fellowship to further their professional development in the humanities. Oak Ridge High School and Jefferson Middle School will each receive a $1,500 grant to be used for the purchase of humanities instructional materials or for student humanities projects. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Brian Smith, Humanities Tennessee, Jane Sasser, Jefferson Middle School, Oak Ridge High School, ORHS, Outstanding Educator, Outstanding Educator awards

ORHS welding students bring home gold, bronze medals from Skills USA

Posted at 9:49 am April 24, 2016
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

ORHS Welding Students and Instruction April 2016

Pictured above from left to right are students Abigayle Allison, Peyton Ooten, and Evan Eschenberg, and instructor Jeff Hankins. (Submitted photo)

 

Two Oak Ridge High Schools received gold medals and were named state champions in two different welding categories, while a third student received a bronze medal.

The students and their medals are:

  • Senior Evan Eschenberg received a gold medal and is the state champion in the category of Welding.
  • Sophomore Abigayle Allison received a gold medal and is the state champion in the category of Welding Sculpture.
  • Junior Peyton Ooten received a bronze medal for third place in the state in the category of Action Skills.

The students are in Jeff Hankins’ welding classes at Oak Ridge High School. They competed and placed in several events in the Skills USA State Championships from April 17-20 in Chattanooga. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Abigayle Allison, bronze medal, Evan Eschenberg, gold medal, Holly Cross, Jeff Hankins, Oak Ridge High School, ORHS, ORHS welding, Peyton Ooteng, Skills USA, Skills USA State Championships, Skills USA State Conference, welding

Community Matters leaders report back at ORHS on Sunday

Posted at 1:02 pm April 23, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Community-Matters-Unitarian-Universalist-Nov-1-2015-14

Pictured above at a Community Matters forum at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Nov. 1, 2015, are the Reverend Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church, center, the Rev. Jake Morrill of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, left, and Father Brent Shelton of St. Mary’s Parish. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The leaders of the Community Matters series of forums held last fall will report back on what they’ve learned at Oak Ridge High School on Sunday.

The informational session is scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24. All Oak Ridge residents are invited to attend.

This event will feature community leaders including Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, Police Chief Jim Akagi, ORHS Principal Martin McDonald, and leading pastors in town, all to continue the conversation begun last fall, a press release said.

“In the last couple of years, communities around the country have engaged the conversation sparked by Black Lives Matter,” the press release said. “In some communities, this has looked like protest. In others, it has looked like study and reflection.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Community, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: Black Lives Matter, Community Matters, Derrick Hammond, J.B. Shelton, Jake Morrill, James Akagi, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Oak Valley Baptist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

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