Thank you. Students (Today is all about you), teachers and staff, parents and families, members of our Watauga communities, and to all of our distinguished guests, we welcome you to the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Watauga High School 2010! This is a momentous and very exciting occasion for education in Watauga County. Over the next few minutes we will reflect on the journey to the accomplishment of this vision. We will take time to express our gratitude to everyone for their contribution in the realization of this dream. Of great importance, we will speak to the dimensions of design in our new school and how these qualities promise to empower students, and our communities, with resources, knowledge, skills, and opportunity for greater success both in the present and beyond high school.
It is most fitting to have the Class of 2010 student-body president from the original WHS with us today (Dillon Russell), and Dillon will stand with our new student-body president (Jesse Nash) during the ribbon cutting to symbolize the transfer of a rich history of experiences from 400 High School Drive to here, 300 Go Pioneers Drive. The transfer of many historical artifacts, décor, the names of facilities, and of most importance our returning high school students and staff will keep the flame of the Spirit of the Pioneers alive and well at WHS 2010.
We are honored this morning to have many of our local and state leaders present. Please stand, and remain standing, as you are recognized. I ask that we hold our applause until all of our leaders have been announced and are standing.
Local Government & Educational Leaders:
Board of Commissioners:
Chairman Jim Deal
Vice-Chairman William Winkler, III
Mr. John Cooper
Mr. Tim Futrelle
Mr. Winston Kinsey
Board Attorney Anthony Di Santi
Recent Former Commissioners: Ms. Mary
Moretz/Mr. David Blust/Mr. Keith Honeycutt
Board of Education:
Chairman Lowell Younce
Vice-Chairman Dr. Lee Warren
Mr. Steve Combs
Ms. Deborah Miller
Ms. Marsha Walpole
Board Attorney Paul Miller
Recent Former Board Members: Mr. Ron Henries/Mr. Joe
Isaacs/Ms. Brenda Reese representing Mr. Andy Reese
Local/Regional Leaders in Education:
President of CCC&TI Dr. Kenneth Boham
Executive Director for NWRESA Dr. Joseph Sinclair
Chancellor of A.S.U. Dr. Kenneth Peacock
Former Superintendents of the Watauga County Schools
Mr. David Greene
Dr. Richard Jones
Dr. Bobbie Short
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Ms. Jennifer Combs
Principal of Watauga High School
Mr. Michael Wyant
Assistant Principals of Watauga High School
Ms. Tamara Stamey
Mr. Jeff Link
Ms. Martha Clark
Former Principals of WHS
Ms. Angela Quick
Mr. Gary Childers
The Principals of Watuaga’s PK-8 Schools
Bethel: Mr. Randy Bentley
Blowing Rock: Mr. Patrick Sukow
Cove Creek: Mr. Toby Cone
Green Valley: Mr. Phillip Griffin
Hardin Park: Ms. Mary Smalling
Mabel: Mr. Mark Hagaman
Parkway: Mr. Doug Faulkner
Valle Crucis: Mr. Wayne Eberle
Educational Cabinet of Watauga County Schools
Asst. Superintendent Ms. Billie Hicklin
Asst. Superintendent Ms. Scarlet Davis
Personnel Director Mr. Marshall Gasperson
Watauga Education Foundation
Executive Director Ms. Melanie Bullard
President of the Board of Directors Dr. Jay Fenwick
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee
President/CEO of BACOC Mr. Dan Meyer
BACOC Chairman Dr. Harry Davis
Education Committee Chairman Michael Maybee
Watauga County Association of Educators:
President Larry Ball
Town of Blowing Rock:
The Honorable Mayor J.B. Lawrence
Town Council Members
Mr. Tommy Klutz
Mr. Doug Matheson
Mr. Phillip Pickett
Mr. Jim Steele
Mr. Doug Yount
Chief of Police Mr. Eric Brown
Town of Boone:
The Honorable Mayor Loretta Clawson
Town Council Members
Mayor Pro-Tem Lynn Mason
Mr. Andy Ball
Mr. Rennie Brantz
Ms. Jamie Leigh
Mr. Stephen Phillips
Chief of Police Mr. Dana Crawford
Town of Seven Devils:
The Honorable Mayor Bob Dodson
Town Council Members
Mayor Pro-Tem Cathy Copely
Mr. Richard Demott
Mr. David Ehmig
Ms. Kay Ehlinger
Chief of Police Mr. Chuck Davis
Watauga County:
County Manager Mr. Rocky Nelson
Assistant County Manager Mr. Deron Geouque
Sheriff Len Hagaman
Strategic Local/Regional Partners in the Design & Construction of WHS 2010
Barnhill & Vannoy
Presidents: Mr. Eddie Vannoy & Mr. Mark Vannoy
Project Manager Mr. Mike Kesterson
Director of Preconstruction Mr. Marty Moser
SFL+a Architects
President/CEO Robbie Ferris
Manager Dan Robinson
Watauga County Schools Project Coordinator Mr. Donald Critcher & Director of
Maintenance & Facilities Mr. Dennis Ray
State & National Leaders in Support of Education:
Institutes & Foundations for the Support of Education
The Friday Institute *Coming after school starts
The Golden Leaf Foundation Senior Vice-President Mark Sorrells,
GLF Board Member Michael Almond
MCNC Consultant Dave Furiness
Federal Government
Representing the Office of Senator Kay Hagan (Freddie Harrill)
State Government
State Board of Education of North Carolina
Vice Chairman Mr. Tom Speed
NCDPI
Deputy Chief Academic Officer Angela Quick
Director of Instructional Technology Neil Kimrey
Regional Lead for LEA Projects Rob Hines
Regional Instr. Technology Consultant Melanie Honeycutt
Regional Lead for Transformation Bobby Ashley
NC General Assembly
The Honorable Representative Cullie Tarleton
The Honorable Senator Steve Goss
Former NC Attorney General
The Honorable Rufus Edmiston
Executive Branch of North Carolina
The Honorable Governor Bev Perdue
Now, please join me in expressing our thanks to all of our leaders for their commitment and contributions to the students of Watauga County and across the state of North Carolina! (Pause) And now, it is my honor to introduce our next speaker—the chairman of the Watauga County Board of Education—Mr. Lowell Younce.
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