Speaking up

Thumbs up to Seymour’s Kayla Griffin for being asked to address her peers during Eastern Kentucky University’s College of Justice and Safety and College of Letter Arts and Social Sciences fall 2019 commencement ceremony Dec. 13. The 2017 Seymour High School graduate was able to maintain good grades and graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in homeland security and threat specialist intelligence and security management operations certificates after just two and a half years at the university in Richmond, Kentucky.

Thumbs up to Brownstown’s Cole Brock for being selected by Purdue President Mitch Daniels to give the commencement speech to Purdue University’s Class of December 2019. Brock received a Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering technology and minor in supply chain management during the ceremony Dec. 15. He also finished up his studies in three and a half years thanks to credits he earned in high school.

Scholarly

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Thumbs up to Brownstown Central High School senior Trey Hackman who recently was selected as the 2020 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. Hackman, the son of Stuart and Stephanie Hackman, was selected from a group of 142 applicants from all six high schools in Jackson County. With his selection, Hackman is the 39th Lilly Endowment Community Scholar from Jackson County with the first recipient selected in 1998. Criteria for selection included academic achievement, school and community activities showing depth of involvement and leadership and employment showing time management and a desire to help oneself.

Student of the Month

Thumbs up to Brownstown Central High School senior Zoe Fountain who recently received the Brownstown Exchange Club’s November Youth of the Month award. Fountain, the daughter of Dwayne and Rhonda Fountain, plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University to study nursing.

Going global

Thumbs up to the hundreds of Jackson County residents who contributed to Operation Christmas Child by packing more than 1,500 shoeboxes full of toys, school supplies and hygiene items this year. The global project delivered the gifts to children in need.

Silent night

Thumbs down to those who feel the need to play their music loudly in the wee hours of the morning when a lot of people are sleeping.