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Bridges receives TSSAA award
Ripley High School Athletic Director Joe Bridges has been
recognized by the TSSAA with a Distinguished Service Recognition
award.
The award was announced in a recent issue of TSSAA’s
quarterly news booklet. Each year, the TSSAA presents the award
to an administrator, a coach, an official and a contributor for
their efforts in high school athletics over the course of a
career.
“What this award means is that you are old and have been around
good people and good athletes,” Bridges said. “I’ve been
fortunate to have a lot of both in my time.”
Joe Bridges
Bridges graduated from Adamsville High School and the University
of Tennessee at Martin before earning a master’s degree from
Tennessee State University.
He was head baseball coach at his alma mater at Adamsville for
20 years before moving to Ripley in 1997.
After building a powerhouse program at Adamsville, Bridges’ work
at Ripley has produced two state tournament appearances and a
state championship in 2003. At both schools, he has been to 11
state tournaments and 10 region championships.
During his time at Ripley, he has also been recognized as the
2000 FOP Man of the Year and has been honored twice by the
Tennessee House of Representatives.
“I think he’s very deserving,” RHS Principal Bobby Baker said.
“He works hard for the athletes that he coaches.”
Gene Menees, assistant executive director with the TSSAA, said
he has watched Bridges build two baseball programs into winners,
but he has been more impressed with the impact the coach has had
on young lives.
“He’s been a great asset to high school athletes for as long as
I’ve known him,” Menees said.
While Bridges said he appreciates the honor, he believes it is
one that is shared by the many people who have supported the
programs he has worked to build over the years.
“I’ve had great support from the community over the years,”
Bridges said.
RHS art students excel in contest
The Lauderdale County Council for the Arts recently sponsored
an art contest for students in Pam Webb’s advanced art class at
Ripley High School, in conjunction with the school’s recent
production of “Beauty and the Beast.” According to Webb, the
students are some of the most talented she has taught in her
career.
“This is such a talented class,” said Webb. “I usually really
have to work to find enough entries for the competition, and
this year, we had to turn away several pieces.”
Winners were: Anna Kennedy, who received the Faculty Award for
her pencil drawing, “Vase of Flowers;” Mary Elizabeth Carnell,
who received the Principal’s Award for her acrylic painting,
“Jungle Animals;” and April Lankford, who received the Art
Teacher’s Award, with her acrylic painting, “Vase with Tulip.”
The artwork is on display in the front foyer and upstairs
hallway at the school.
RHS baseball season a success
The Ripley High School baseball team fell short of its
post-season goals, but still finished a successful season
despite an 8-3 loss to the University School of Jackson in last
week’s district tournament.
The Tigers fell in the finale despite good performances from
Tyler Pattat, Khayyan Norfork, and Tyler Rodgers. Pattat had a
hit and scored twice, while Norfork had a hit and two RBI’s.
Rodgers had a triple, scored and drove in a run in the game.
Ripley baseball Coach Joe Bridges said the loss, which ended
Ripley’s season with a 24-14 record, was disappointing, but did
not overshadow a great many accomplishments by his players both
this year and in past years.
“For a lot of people, this would be considered a successful
year,” Bridges said. “Our goals are set high, but it still
doesn’t take away from the fact that our kids worked hard and
did everything we asked them to. We just didn’t get a lot of key
runs at crucial times this year.”
Bridges said his seniors, Pattat, Kyle Vickery, Danny Joe
Edenfield, Matt Powers, and Steven Rhoades, can look back on
their careers with pride as they were a part of two state
tournament teams, including the state championship team in 2003.
“We have five seniors who have won a lot of baseball games and
contributed a great deal,” Bridges said. “They can be proud of
what they have been able to do.”
Ripley High School
seniors graduate
Ripley High School held its graduation
ceremonies Tuesday, May 16, honoring 148 students who earned
their high school diplomas. At the Senior Awards Night on May
15, students received a total of $350,000 in scholarships.
The Top Ten students in the class are
Kallie Glenn, 97.68; Alyssa Davis, 97.63; Mary Elizabeth
Carnell, 96.92; Lauren Meadows, 96.67; Abby McBroom, 96.65;
Chellsi White, 96.56; Meagan Ryan, 96.55; Marley Sigman, 96.38;
Tyler Pattat, 96.22; and Josh Nolen, 95.73.
RHS holds Senior Awards Night
Ripley High School seniors were recently
honored at the school’s annual Senior Awards Night, with
students from the school earning over $350,000 in scholarship
awards.
The event took place at 7 p.m., on Monday,
May 15, in the Bank of Ripley Performing Arts Theater.
Scholarships awarded at Monday night’s
ceremony included:
 Bank
of Ripley Valedictorian Scholarship - Kalli Glenn
Bank of Ripley DSCC Scholarship - Jaleesa
Garrison, Jessica Danley, Jerry Coleman, and Tyler Pattat
Exchange Club Student of the
Year - Marley Sigman
Regions Bank Salutatorian Scholarship -
Alyssa Davis
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Scholarship
- Chris Buckner, Kayla Keeley, Nicole Leake, Dorisha
Wright, Summer Halliburton, Merissa Ward, Trey Tyus, Marcus
Holloway, and Chris Taylor
The Hayden Ferguson Memorial
Scholarship - Kallie Glenn
Grace Baptist Church
Scholarship - Jessica Danley
The Junior Auxiliary
Scholarship - Paige Williams and Marley Sigman
The Aaron Schuh Memorial
Scholarship - Tyler Pattat
The Carol Ann Douglas Fine Arts
Scholarship from the Lauderdale County Council of the Arts -
Chris Buckner
The First Citizen’s Bank Scholarship to
Dyersburg State Community College - Brandi Williams
The Lauderdale County Education
Foundation Scholarship - Alyssa Davis
The Lauderdale County Food Services
Scholarship - Tyler Pattat
The Baptist Memorial Hospital-Lauderdale
Auxiliary Nursing Scholarship - Abby McBroom
LCEA - Mary Elizabeth Carnell
DSCC scholarships - Jessica Casey,
Jaleesa Garrison, and Meagan Ryan
U.S. Army Scholar Athlete Awards - Tyler
Pattat and Candice Wright
Tollie Cheek Scholarships - Jessica
Treadway, Tyler Pattat, Kalli Glenn, Mary Elizabeth Carnell, Dan
Henderson, Ginny Hankins, Abby McBroom, Marley Sigman, Candice
Wright, Karie Webster, Taylor Layne, Kayla Keeley, Josh Nolen,
Paige Williams, Chris Buckner, Cody Harwell, and Elizabeth
Garrett
The Tollie Cheek Scholarship with full
fees to Dyersburg State Community College - Meagan Ryan
Crain’s Pharmacy Scholarship - Elizabeth
Garrett and Chesli White
Sally Estes Memorial Scholarship - Chris
Buckner
The Segal-Robert North Scholarship -
Jaleesa Garrison and Jessica Treadway Thursday Evening Musicale
Scholarship - Chris Buckner and Karie Webster
RHS Student Council Scholarship - Mary
Elizabeth Carnell
The Robert and Charlene Ward Memorial
Scholarship - David Brown and Paige Williams
the C.M. Kelly Scholarship - Chris
Buckner
The Margaret Ann Wright Williams
Scholarship - Karie Webster
First United Methodist Church
Scholarship - Marley Sigman
Students who had already been notified of
their scholarships and were recognized at the ceremony include:
Meagan Ryan for the Nucor-Yamato Steel
Corporation Scholarship
Dan Henderson for the National FFA
Organization Cargill Community Scholarship Paige Williams for
the National Wild Turkey Federation Scholarship
Mary Elizabeth Carnell for the
Mississippi State University Entering Freshman Academic
Excellence and non-resident tuition scholarships
Taylor Layne for the University of
Tennessee at Martin Dean’s Scholarship
Tyler Pattat for the Tennessee Titans
“Join the Team” Scholarship
Marcus Holloway for the Middle Tennessee
State University Scholastic Achievement Scholarship
Alyssa Davis for the University of Mary
Washington Scholastic Excellence Award
Karie Webster for the Union University
music and other scholarships
Abby McBroom for the Union University
Academic, Alumni Leadership Scholarship
Merissa Ward for the Rhodes College
Dean’s Scholarship
Kalli Glenn for the Rhodes Presidential
Scholarship and grant
Lauren Meadows for the University of
Memphis Provost’s Scholarship
Ginny Hankins for the University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga Provost Scholarship and Dean’s
Scholarship
School officials also recognized Lottery
Scholarship winners and Tennessee Scholars.
Ripley High School Class of 2006
Ashley Nicole Adkins
Tiffany Adkins
Laporcha Nicole Alston
Zachary Dane Arwood
Ronald Dean Barlow
Carmen Renea Barnett
Anthony Ryan Beck
Ja Vonne Martise Bennett
Troymeka Lotorrius Bonds
Veronica Elaine Bonds
Dustin Eugene Braden
Bobbi Jean Bricco
Lashonda Antanette Britt
David Lee Brown
LaPorshia Lanette Brown
Joshua Stephen Brudnicki
Christopher Marvin Buckner
Kraneshia Burnett
Bobby Glynn Butner
Joshua Levi Canup
Mary Elizabeth Carnell
Jessica Lynn Danley
Alyssa Christine Davis
Steven Russell Dodson
Jones Harrison Douglas
Chelsea Lashauna Dowell
Kristen Renee Downs
Ronald Rashad Durham
Daniel Joseph Edenfield
Brett Adam Elder
John Leslie Elder
Eric Charles Ellis
Joshua Dale Emerson
Ivy Elizabeth Garrett
Jodie Lynt Garrett
Jalessa Nicole Garrison
Kalli Rebecca Glenn
Travis Dewon Graves
Finley Joe Green
Summer Patrice Halliburton
Ginny Corinne Hankins
Leigh Ann Harmon
Devon Letrey Harrell
Avis Nicole Harris
Cody Austin Harwell
Amber Nicole Haynes
Robyn Haynes
Christopher Cortez Hayslett
David Daniel Henderson
Brittney Lynn Henson
Distinctive Holloway
Marcus Traymayne Holloway
April Michelle Houston
Samuel Humphrey
Megan Christine Hunter
Tiffany Hurdle
Charles Maxwell Hutcherson
Alexandria Nicole Jackson
Corey Johnson
Brittany Ann Jones
Crystal Nicole Jones
Demetrice Jones
Sharon Arnette Jones
Kayla Julisa Keeley
Antwoine Ken Knighton
April Elizabeth Lankford
Lakeisha LaTreece Lattimore
Robert Santrial Lattimore
Taylor Chapman Layne
Antoinette Nicole Leake
Tony Derrel Lee
Martha Jean Lewis
Jennifer Casey Littles
Jeremy Dewayne Lovelady
Samantha Linn Lovelady
Martavius Deon Lucas
Michael David Lynch
Renaldo Bouviea Maiden Jr.
Jerry Lynn Maners
Abby Michelle McBroom
Letitia Schante McCoy
Lauren Elizabeth Meadows
Lee Michael Middleton
Whitney Nicole Murley
Tiffany Ann Nelson
Tiffany Lecole Nelson
Norris Tayor Nix
Joshua Wayne Nolen
Ellen Lovelia Norfolk
Jason Michael Osborne
Tyler Evans Pattat
Keosha Lanette Pearson
Bianco Sheree Perry
Amanda Elaine Pettigrew
Lakeshia Cortize Phillips
Michael Hunter Pittman
Matthew Blaine Powers
Amy Doehner Prescott
Christopher Read
Ramona Antoinette Reed
Jordon Tyler Rhoads
Steven Joseph Rhodes
Sasha Diana Roark
Darian Donte Robins
Meagan Kristine Ryan
Jordan Andrew Shempert
Marley Elizabeth Sigman
Arron Patrick Silviera
Jason Lee Smith
Wyneshia Dynette Smith
Anthony William Spencer
Shayna Danielle Spivey
John Stallings III
Tiffany Ann Stenson
Marcus Antwan Tate
Brittney Markesha Taylor
Canisha Shantell Taylor
Christopher Ellis Taylor
Justin Taylor
Marilyn Taylor
RaTavious DeAngelo Thompson
Jessica Treadway
Katrina Cytoys Treadway
Lakili Treadway
Laisha Nicole Treadway
Marquita LaNette Treadway
Tammy Renea Tucker
Patrick Ryan Tutor
Ulysses Trey Tyus
Sherita Jay Upchurch
Kyle Andrew Vickery
Amanda Jean Walker
Merissa Renee Ward
Shaunell Nicole Ward
Michael Daniel Warren
Cecilia Ann Washington
Lakisha Renee Washington
Pierre Maurice Washington
Tabitha Trenise Weaver
Karie Amanda Webster
Jessica Marie Wells
Chelsi Elizabeth White
Brandi Nakia Williams
Lena Paige Williams
Venuka Laijell Williams
Candice LeShell Wright
Dorisha Lashay Wright
Kendra Young
FFA members celebrate
at annual banquet
The Ripley High School FFA Department recently
held its first annual awards banquet, on Thursday, April 27.
State Representative Craig Fitzhugh was the guest speaker for
the event, with State FFA Officer Emily Wood, also speaking. The
club's 2006-2007 officers were also installed at the banquet.
New officers pictured with Fitzhugh and Wood are: president,
Kyle Hendren; vice-president, Virginia Arwood; secretary, Marie
Bing; reporter, Lisa Ballard; treasurer, Katelande Neal;
sentinel, Kyle Harrell; historian, Ashley Conrad;
parliamentarian, Danielle Kirkpatrick; and chaplain, Malcom
Norwood.
RHS JROTC, Unit of Distinction
Ripley High School’s JROTC has been very busy over recent
weeks, with the unit gaining national attention with its Air
Rifle Team, and its unit capturing the highest award possible in
its formal inspection as a “Unit with Distinction.” Members of
the program also celebrated the end of the school year with its
annual ball and awards banquet.
The JROTC’s Air Rifle Team took first in the nation in the
postal phase National Guard Bureau Junior Air Rifle Tournament.
This is the fourth time in the last five years that
RHS has qualified for the national competition, with the team
placing fourth nationally last year.
In the team competition, sporter class, Matthew Berkley shot a
276, with Clisty Buie shooting a 273, Jordan McCalvin earning a
261, and Tramarqus Brown shooting a 257. Ashley Rorie also shot
for Ripley, earning a 251, with Jasmine Shaw shooting a 235.
The tournament has two phases, a State Championship Postal Phase
and a National Championship Shoulder-to-Shoulder Phase. The
second phase of the tournament, the National Championship, will
be held June 27 through 29, at Western Kentucky University in
Bowling Green, Ky. In this shoulder-to-shoulder competition, the
10 highest qualifying sporter and precision state champion teams
in the State Championship Postal Competition and the winners of
the 2005 tournament will compete.
The National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit will provide award
plaques and medallions to the winners of the national
championship individual and team competitions in sporter and
precision class.
The winner of the Precision Class National Team Championship
will receive the NGB precision traveling trophy and a trip to
Bisley, England, to participate in the British National
Championship air gun events.
It its recent formal inspection, the unit also received 583 out
of 600 points available, giving the unit the honor of a “Unit
with Distinction” designation, which is the highest award
possible. This is the third time that the unit has been awarded
this honor. The formal inspection takes place every three years.
One of the highlights of the inspection include the Cadet Staff
Brief, where cadet seniors had to conduct a formal interview
with a staff of Army Inspectors covering all aspects of what the
cadets had accomplished throughout the year.
In this report, one inspector wrote, “Great! One of the best I
have done this year.”
Ripley High School was also given an award for its support of
the JROTC program. The school received 2000 of 2000 points
available to achieve the Distinguished School Support ranking.
On April 28, the unit held its annual Tiger Battalion Cadet Ball
at the Pat Thompson Center, located across from the Millington
Navy Station. First and second semester
JROTC cadets attended, as well as their guests and officials who
presented awards.
Many cadets received awards and recognition for their
achievements throughout the year, with Halls High School
graduate Colonel William P. Wenzler, Commander of the Tennessee
Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command, featured
as the main speaker.
RHS boys’ track team runs away with region
title
The Ripley High School boys’ track team finished first in
last week’s regional
competition with the girls’ squad taking third place in the
event.
At the start of the 2006 track season, there was doubt in the
region that Ripley could repeat as region champions.
Last week, the RHS boys went out with a vengeance and left
nothing to doubt. After the field portion of the meet, the team
was in first place and stayed in front until the end. The Ripley
boys’ team won the event with 126 points. Dyersburg was
runner-up with only 96 points.
“All year long, I’ve told these boys they could win,” said Coach
Don Myers. “They worked hard and focused and got the job done.”
Ervin Ward was named Most Valuable Field Event Participant after
a jump of six-feet in the high jump and a jump of 20-feet,
one-quarter inch in the long jump.
The girls’ track team had a good meet, as well. With 11 girls on
the team, they were able to finish third behind Dyersburg and
USJ.
“We need to get our numbers up in order to win region,” said
Myers. “We had four events where no one was entered. It is hard
to score enough points against teams that have every event
covered. Next year, we need girls that are willing to stick it
out and work hard. They can join those 11 and become champions.”
Senior Marquita Treadway was named Most Valuable Field Event
Participant, finishing first in the long jump with a jump of
15-feet, six-and three-quarter-inches, and second in the Triple
Jump.
“Marquita is a valuable member of this team,” said Myers. “She
is a good leader and a hard worker. She will be missed next
year.”
Those who finished fourth place or better will go to the
Fairgrounds in Memphis to compete in the upcoming sectional
meet. The top two spots at the sectional will advance to the
state contest.
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