Elisa Cox, an administrator of Rowan-Salisbury School System, has been named a STAR Discovery Educator by Discovery Education for her commitment to harnessing digital learning to inspire students’ curiosity and prepare them for future careers.
STAR Discovery Educators are active members of the Discovery Educator Network (DEN), a global community of educators who are passionate about teaching with digital media and technology and sharing ideas and resources. As a STAR Discovery Educator, Cox has proven herself as a leader in transforming and enhancing learning in Rowan-Salisbury classrooms.
“Discovery Education and the DEN are proud to honor the hard work and dedication of Elisa,” said Lance Rougeux, vice president of learning communities and instructional implementation for Discovery Education. “It is the work of passionate and committed educators like her who are engaging students through the use of digital media and technology that is making a difference across the country.”
As a STAR Discovery Educator, Cox will share resources and innovative teaching methods with fellow educators across the district, state and world to improve student engagement and achievement.
STAR Discovery Educators have exclusive access to a wide range of free professional development activities provided by the DEN. The DEN offers best practices for effective and appropriate use of digital media and technology in the classroom and provides educators a forum for collaborating and networking online and in-person.
Rowan-Salisbury Schools Director of Transportation Judy Burris has recognized the following employees for exemplary service as bus drivers for September. A bus driver must adhere to all the duties and responsibilities set forth by the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Transportation Department and are nominated by their bus coordinator for this honor each month.
North area: Tammy Veach, North Rowan Elementary School (Bus 330);
East area: Sherry McCree, Granite Quarry Elementary School (Bus 65);
West area: Rita Marshall, Woodleaf Elementary School (Bus 318);
South area: Jessica Furr, Carson High School (Bus 188);
Salisbury area: Hullen Walker, Salisbury High School, Knox Middle School (Bus 106);
Special Needs: Carol Talley (Bus 54)
Substitute driver: Sue Dekok.
Hanford-Dole Elementary has recognized the following students as the September Good Citizens for the character trait of respect. Each student received a certificate and has his/her picture on the Good Citizen bulletin board in the hall for the month.
Pre-kindergarten: Aiden Meacham;
Kindergarten: Mallory Eagle, Franshesca Dubon, Jhya Lloyd, Natalia Robinson;
First grade: Jasper Neely, Chloe Bradley, Jaiden Burch, William Klinger;
Second grade: Trenesha Leach, Jadarious Cosm, Lanie Davidson, Bailee Goodlett;
Third grade: Savannah Reynolds, Noah Ediston, Aubrey Barron, Golden Tucker;
Fourth grade: Jaquez Wallace, Karina Aguilar, Braeil Goodlett, Jose Ochoa-Mejia, Annslee Hopper;
Fifth grade: Aaliyah Rosales, Daisy Albarran, Breanna Mincey.
Amy G. Poteat of Salisbury has recently become a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Sigma Alpha Lambda is a national leadership and honors organization dedicated to promoting and rewarding academic achievement and providing members with opportunities for community service, personal development and lifelong professional fulfillment. She is the daughter of Annette and Russel Parker of Salisbury.
Western Carolina University conferred degrees on approximately 291 students who completed their studies during the summer session of 2013.
A total of 55 undergraduate students received academic honors, with 18 graduating summa cum laude (with highest honors), 20 graduating magna cum laude (with high honors), and 17 graduating cum laude (with honors).
Kannapolis: Michael T. Johnson, BS, business administration, accounting; Gloria Angelina Montalvo, Bachelor of Science, anthropology.
Salisbury: Erin Brooke Foster, Bachelor of Science, sport management; Renee Rose Morici, BS, business administration, entrepreneurship, magna cum laude; Austin Wayne Stafford, BS, business administration, marketing; Benjamin T. Young, Bachelor of Science, emergency medical care.
Twenty-five new members were inducted into Catawba College’s Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi, the national college honor society, during an initiation ceremony held Sept. 20 in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on campus. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the college’s annual Family Weekend.
The organization’s 2013-2014 president, senior Elizabeth J. White of Salisbury officiated, assisted by faculty sponsor Dr. Margaret L. Stahr, and faculty advisers Drs. Barry Sang and James Stringfield. Teacher Education Professor Dr. Lou Ann Kasias delivered the homily for the ceremony, “Lessons Learned in My Sojourn Here.”
Alpha Chi member Olivia Myers of Lexington delivered the invocation, while White brought words of greeting. Alpha Chi members Anna Toole and Lindsay C. King of Kannapolis introduced Kasias. Catawba alumnus Dustin Shelton of Kannapolis was the ceremony’s organist.
Candidates initiated include seniors Shakeisha Gray of Salisbury, Marco Gupton of Salisbury, David Jones Jr. of Linwood, Kayce Kimrey of Ramseur, Rebecca Rider of Rockwell and Janel Swearingen-Ruiz of Mooresville. Juniors initiated included Gregory Alexander of Goldsboro, Jacob Breig of Greenfield, Minn., Caleb Casper of Waxhaw, Kimberly Fesperman of Kannapolis, Kathryn Heidt of Salisbury, Kenneth Hipp Jr. of Salisbury, Janin Kassner of Giesen, Germany, Lauren Kennedy of Salisbury, Sloan Kessler of Onalaska, Wis., Paul Kronenfeld of Greensboro, Ekaterina Kruglov of Karmiel, Israel, Taylor Lee of Kannapolis, Andrew T. McCollister of Rockwell, Darby Reedy of Reading, Pa., Chelsea Retalic of Concord, Maggie Saunders of Huntington, W.Va., Theodore Shepard of Southport, Jacob Shepherd of Claremont and Paige Smart of Mocksville.
Catawba’s Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi was founded in May 1978 with the induction of 13 members. To date, more than 650 members have been inducted. Membership is open only to those students in the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes. 
The Good Citizens for September at Hurley Elmentary School are as follows:
Kindergarten — Zachary Barnett, Samuel Faulkner, Kevin Landaverde Aldana, Megan Lentz and Sh’taviah McCluney.
First grade — Avery Arnez, Daniel Brucker, Sunny Landeros, Gabriel Cole Price and Ashley Price.
Second grade — Allison Campos, Grayce Pittman, Angelita Salas and Inara Shelton.
Third grade — Corbin Barber, Abigail Jordan, Aubrie Nance and Caylyn Roysdon.
Fourth grade — Jason Campos, Brian Flores-Lopez, Jan Navarro Perez and Geraldo Pacheco-Mendoza.
Fifth grade — Meredith Burton, Kathryn Knorr, Janayia Phifer and Nikolas Wolfe.
Enochville Elementary School recently selected Wise Owls for September. The following students have consistently exhibited good citizenship, good manners and exceptional behavior:
Kindergarten — Logan Roberts, Jessica Beaver, Julia Burleson, Alex Contreras, Maddison Lowder, Will Kelly.
First grade — Kadence Kepley, Desitae Hamm, Savanah Fowler, Devin McChesney, Carson Owensby, Marissa Stephens, Brooks Overcash, Vyla Puckett.
Second grade — Aiden Shepherd, Alex Furr, Carolyn Stamey, Jerrel Jackson, Alex Ochoa, Isabell Juarez.
Third grade — Bryan O’Neal, Karen Betancourt, Kaden Burleson, Jennifer Thompson, Corey Alvarnas, Bryleigh Beaver.
Fourth grade — Jake Shackelford, Mallory Larrimore, Skyler Gilbert, Mia Long,
Reagen Love, Brock Parker.

Fifth grade — Shelby Walter, Evan Carson, Jagger Childers, Cassidy Coggins, Isabella Cline, Andrew Kennerly.
Sacred Heart Catholic School Good Citizens for September:
Pre-kindergarten — Kellen Beal, Joseph Harrison.
Kindergarten — Mayla Brinkley, Holly Fisher.
First grade — Maggie Antosek, Jacob Trainor.
Second grade — Anthony Beltran, Emma Rose Dishman.
Third grade — Gianna Patella.

Fourth grade — Jake Denhard.
Fifth grade — Katy Klein.

Sixth grade — Victoria Jones.
Seventh grade — Lauren Denhard and Olivia Dagenhart.
Eighth grade — Alex Antosek and Julia Honeycutt.