Yearly Archives: 2017

Wade Desmarais and Anna Glynn Lott have been selected to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program based on their performance on the ACT Aspire test taken last spring.  This is the 38th Annual Scholastic Talent Search sponsored by Duke recognizing students who score in the 95th percentile or higher on one or more subtests of their school’s standardized testing.  The 7th grade talent search gives eligible students the opportunity to take either the ACT or SAT college entrance exams and get greater insight into their aptitude and abilities. Congratulations Wade and Anna Glynn on this outstanding honor.

Macon East alumni Kyle Amerson and Anna Bianchi were honored in the White Coat Ceremony at Auburn University’s Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine on Sunday, October 15. The White Coat Ceremony symbolizes the beginning of a medical student’s entrance into the healthcare profession. Kyle previously received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Faulkner University. Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Birmingham-Southern College, a Master of Public Health from UAB, as well as a Master of Science in Anthropology from the University of Alabama. We congratulate these outstanding MEA alumni on their entrance into medical school.

Each year Macon East Academy lower school students invite their grandparents to enjoy a special lunch and take a look into their classroom and what’s going on in their grade.  The students and grandparents alike always look forward to this fall celebration.  On Thursday, October 5th, the PTO transformed the gymnasium into a luncheon for over 100 special guests.  The students had prepared for weeks with special treats, songs and classroom presentations to show off what they had been learning this year.  Macon East Academy is honored to have so many grandparents who actively support our school.

Three Macon East upper school art students were selected for this quarter’s Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts ARTWORKS Corridor themed “Inspired by Stella.”  Based on the abstract “Frank Stella Prints: A Retrospective,” the corridor called for lines, volume, color and shape using gestural brushwork.  With over 200 entries from Montgomery area high school students, 68 works of art were selected for the gallery.  Madison Folkes’ cross-stitch Burning Buffalo, Sarah Bishop’s string art Void, and Haley Wren’s piece This is Not the X You’re Looking For was a repetition of X’s in alternating warm colors.  The exhibit runs through November 12 at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.

The 1st annual Peggy Lanier Memorial Run, held September 23, was a huge success.  With 75 runners participating in a 5K, 1 Mile, and Biscuit Dash, the event included a pancake breakfast, silent auction, and delicious Nancy’s Italian Ice treats.  Many of Peggy’s family and friends were on hand to support the event in loving memory of this avid runner and supporter of Macon East.  Peggy’s son Vic Lanier, a MEA graduate, finished the 5K in 2nd place.  The 4th grade class had the most number of student participants at the run, and were rewarded with a pizza party.  A special thanks to MAC Sporting Goods for sponsoring this inaugural event and providing the t-shirts.

Macon East senior, Hannah Johnson competed in the Macon County Distinguished Young Women scholarship program on Saturday, September 23.  DYW (formerly Junior Miss) is a national scholarship program that celebrates the accomplishments of young women in the areas of scholastic achievement, leadership, and talent.  The contestants are judged in the areas of poise, physical fitness, and talent during the performance as well as academic achievement and judges’ interviews held prior to the competition.  Singing “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music, Hannah was named 1st Runner Up for Macon County.  Hannah was also selected to receive the Spirit of DYW award, which is a special award voted on by the other contestants.  We congratulate Hannah on her accomplishments and applaud her for representing Macon East in the 2018 Distinguished Young Women program.

“Home Sweet Homecoming” was the theme of this year’s Homecoming week, September 18-22.  The SGA sponsored events each night including a boys volleyball tournament and the Jr./Sr. powder puff football game.  Each school day students dressed up for theme days such as home for the holidays, homerun day, and spirit day.  The week was full of fun and excitement and culminated on Friday with a school wide tailgate party, parade, and crowning of the 2017 Homecoming queen.  The Knights hosted the Wildcats of Springwood for the big game and easily defeated them 34-7.  At halftime the Homecoming attendants were escorted onto the football field by their fathers/escorts and Madison McKee was crowned as queen.  The 2017 attendants were Hannah Kate Hodges (7th), Ali Churchwell (8th), Mary Hunter Wright (9th), Kayla Boroff, Spencer Lindemood (10th), Annslie Gourlay, Ellie Kate Wilkerson, Anne Auston Wright (11th), Katie Jo Dickey, Jaycee Cook-McCollum, Madison McKee, and Taylor Watkins (12th).  Following Friday’s win, upper school students celebrated on Saturday night at the Homecoming Masquerade dance.  Many thanks to the Student Government Association and President, Katie Jo Dickey on all the hard work put into a successful 2017 Homecoming.

Congratulations to the 2017 Homecoming Attendants.

7^th Grade Attendant:         Hannah Kate Hodges

8^th Grade Attendant:         Ali Churchwell

9^th Grade Attendant:         Mary Hunter Wright

10^th Grade Attendants:     Kayla Boroff &Spencer Lindemood 

11^th Grade Attendants:     Annslie Gourlay, Anne Austin Wright, & Ellie Kate Wilkerson

 12^th Grade Attendants:     Jaycee Cook-McCollum, Katie Jo Dickey, Madison McKee, & Taylor Watkins

Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for high school juniors. Delegates are nominated by their high school faculty during their junior year.  Macon East students, Katie Jo Dickey and Tyler Watson attended this summer’s programs at the University of Alabama. Katie Jo was elected to the State Board of Education at Girls State and enjoyed lunch with Kaye Ivey and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Girls State program.  She serves as Macon East’s SGA President and plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall. At Boys State, Tyler was elected to the State Senate and also ran for Mayor of his city. His favorite speaker of the week was Alabama head coach, Nick Saban.  Tyler is an academic leader at MEA and Vice-President of the SGA.  He is still undecided on where he will attend college in the fall of 2018.  Delegates to Boys and Girls State must have an interest in government and current events, high moral character, strong leadership ability, and above average scholastic standing.  The week-long immersive program helps students understand and respect our governmental process by participating in mock government, running for elected office, developing leadership skills, and hearing from many state officials.  Macon East students, Katie Jo Dickey and Tyler Watson, were honored to be selected as delegates to the 2017 Girls and Boys State.

In June, four area students had the opportunity to represent Dixie Electric Cooperative in Washington, D.C.  Macon East senior, Tyler Watson was among the over 1,500 students selected from across the United States to attend the week-long tour hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.  Participants toured many historic sites in D.C. and learned more about the importance of political involvement in their local areas.  They learned leadership skills and heard from various speakers about the cooperative world.  The all-expense paid trip is a great outreach program giving students a new outlook on their local cooperative and broadening their education.  Tyler enjoyed meeting students from all over the country on the tour and said he will never forget this experience.