LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY LITERARY TEAM WINS REGION 8A PUBLIC CHAMPIONSHIP

Greensboro, Ga. (April 19, 2021) –The Lake Oconee Academy Literary team captured the Georgia High School Association State Literary Region 8A Public Championship title on Saturday, April 17, 2021.  Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) students competed at Region against students from Commerce High School, Social Circle High School, and Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy. 

All first-place individual event winners advance to the GHSA State Literary Championship on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga.

Essay (Argumentative): 1st place, Thomas Chillemi

Essay (Rhetorical): 1st place, Bhumi Sukha 

Oral Presentation (Duo): 1st place, Elisha Copeland, Elisa Garcia

Boys Quartet: 1st place, Walker Cannon, Lucas Minton, Jacob Moore, Braden Strickland

Essay (Personal): 2nd place, Ella Darby

Extemporaneous Speaking (Domestic): 2nd place, Halsey Bosart

Extemporaneous Speaking (International): 2nd place, Bailey Carr

Oral Presentation (Humorous): 2nd place, Julia Kate Dixon

Girls Solo: 2nd place, Rylie McDonald

Boys Solo: 3rd place, Lucas Minton

Girls Trio: 2nd place, Remi Baker, Elisa Garcia, Sarah Grace Ingle

Many thanks to LOA educators Amy Reber, Lora Garcia, Kelly Ingle, Caroline St. John, and Colleen Ham for their hard work and dedication to prepare these students for competition.

Photo: The LOA Literary team celebrates eleven top-5 finishes and a win at the 8A Region Championship.

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY NAMED AP® HONOR SCHOOL FOR 2021

Greensboro, Ga. (April 9, 2021) – The Advanced Placement® (AP®) program is an integral part of the rigorous academic offerings in high school at Lake Oconee Academy, and the school has been recognized as an AP Honor School for the fourth consecutive year. 

The AP program is administered by the College Board and offers college-level coursework to high school students. Colleges and universities will often grant course credit and advanced placement for qualifying scores on exams. AP exams are scored on a scale from 1 to 5: 5 - extremely well qualified; 4 – well qualified; 3 – qualified; 2 – possibly qualified; 1 – no recommendation.

During the 2019-2020 school year, LOA offered 18 AP courses: English Language, English Literature, Seminar, Statistics, Calculus AB, Computer Science Principles, US History, Human Geography, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, American Government, Comparative Government, Psychology, World History, Biology, Chemistry, Spanish Language, Studio Art 2D, and Studio Art Drawing.

Based on 2020 AP courses and exams, LOA earned the 2021 AP Honor School designation in the following categories:

AP Challenge Schools - Schools with enrollments of 900 or fewer students and students testing in English, math, science, and social studies

AP Schools of Distinction - Schools with at least 20 percent of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50 percent of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher

AP Expansion Schools - AP schools with 25 percent growth in AP student participation from May 2019 to May 2020 and a minimum of 25 students testing in May 2019

AP Humanities Schools – Schools with a minimum of five students testing in each of the following AP categories: one ELA course, two history/social science courses, one fine arts course, and one world language course

AP STEM Schools - Schools with a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles)

AP STEM Achievement Schools - AP STEM schools (see above definition) with at least 50 percent of all AP STEM exams earning scores of 3 or higher

“We truly believe that all of our teachers are AP teachers,” LOA CEO Dr. Otho Tucker said. “Quality instruction to prepare students for college-level coursework begins in Pre-Kindergarten. I commend every elementary, middle, and high school teacher, along with our outstanding AP teachers, for their continued commitment to motivate and inspire students to achieve at the highest level.”

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF RICARDO PATTON AS DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL AND VARSITY BOYS HEAD BASKETBALL COACH

Greensboro, Ga. (March 22, 2021) – Lake Oconee Academy is pleased to welcome back Ricardo Patton to the basketball program for the upcoming school year. Patton will return to the court as the Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach and Director of Basketball. He brings with him more than 30 years of coaching experience at the middle school, high school and college level, including 11 years as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Colorado from 1996-2007. He currently serves as the High School Golf Coach and Behavior Coach at Lake Oconee Academy.

Patton has lived in Greensboro since 2015 when he began coaching basketball at LOA. Prior to that, he served as a Basketball Advisor to the Men’s Basketball Team at Vanderbilt University,  Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at The University of Denver,  Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shores, the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Northern Illinois University and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Colorado. Patton is the second winningest coach in University of Colorado history with 184 career wins, two NCAA Men’s Basketball appearances, and four NIT appearances.

Chris Ingle, LOA’s Director of Athletics and Activities said, “Coach Patton’s extensive background at the highest levels of coaching basketball make him uniquely qualified to coach in the high school environment. His passion for the sport is evident whether it is in the classroom, at practice, or in big games. I look forward to working with him again as the leader of our boys basketball program. He is an outstanding coach and an even better person.”

Patton and his wife Jennifer have had ties to the area since 2002 and were regular visitors until they decided to make Lake Oconee their permanent home in 2015.  After a chance meeting with LOA CEO Dr. Otho Tucker in 2014, Coach Patton kept up with the progress and growth of LOA. Then, he had the opportunity to coach at the school. He was the head basketball and golf coach for one year before being called back to the college ranks. Rodney Billups, the brother of Chauncey Billups, who was one of Coach Patton’s former players at the University of Denver called to ask for his support.

“The Billups brothers are like my family,” said Patton. “I had a wonderful year at LOA in 2015-16, but I just could not say no to him. However, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to coach the Titans again. Since I have been away, the facilities have grown tremendously. The Titan Center Gym and the new weight room are second to none in Class A- Public schools in the state of Georgia. With the addition of our new baseball stadium and upcoming football and soccer complex, it is an exciting time to be a part of LOA Athletics. I cannot wait to get to work with our young men who want to play basketball for LOA. We will have opportunities for them throughout their 12 years on our campus.”

“Coach Patton and his wife, Jennifer are assets to Lake Oconee Academy and the entire community,” stated Dr. Tucker. “Her work as a counselor at LOA and his work as a coach and mentor are invaluable.  We are excited that they are a part of our faculty, and I am glad that he will again lead our boys basketball program.” 

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EARN TOP REGIONAL HONORS IN THE PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS COMPETITION

Greensboro, Ga. (March 16, 2021) – Lake Oconee Academy high school students won top regional honors in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Competition. The students competed against thousands across the country in the century-old competition. 

This contest is the "nation's longest running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens." Past student winners include Sylvia Plath, Andy Warhol, John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, Ken Burns, Lena Dunham, Truman Capote, John Lithgow, Zac Posen, and Amanda Gorman.

The awards celebrate students locally and nationally, with awards, exhibitions, publications, and scholarships. Judges look for works that embody the Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision.  All entries are considered for Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Visions Nominee, and American Voices Nominee Awards.  Gold Key entries are automatically considered for national awards that honor hundreds of students and their educators with a star-studded ceremony in New York City. 

Gabrielle Gruszynski, the Gold Key winner, qualified for the national competition with her award-winning essay.  Last year, Lane Herndon, a graduate of LOA and current freshman at the University of Chicago, received a writing National Gold Key. 

Honorable Mentions in Art: Katie Ciavola, Art Portfolio; Logan Fedelem, Mixed Media; Gemin Manto, Comic Art

Honorable Mentions in Writing: Gemin Manto, Poetry

Silver Keys in Writing: Lauren Harris, Poetry; Rylie McDonald, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Gold Key in Writing: Gabrielle Gruszynski, Critical Essay

Photo: Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners from Lake Oconee Academy are (back row, left to right) Katie Ciavola, Gemin Manto, Logan Fedelem, (front row, left to right) Gabrielle Gruszynski, Lauren Harris and Rylie McDonald.

LOA PLAYERS DOMINATE 2021 REGION 8-A PUBLIC ALL-REGION TEAM ROSTER INCLUDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR DESTINY MCCLENDON

Greensboro, Ga. (March 15, 2021) – The success of the Lady Titan varsity basketball team’s 2021 season was evident in the selection of seven players to the Region 8-A Public All-Region Team. In addition, senior Destiny McClendon was named Player of the Year and Head Coach Kevin Furtado is the region Coach of the Year.

The Lady Titans recorded a 25-1 overall record this season with its only loss coming in the Elite Eight round of the GHSA Girls State Basketball Tournament with a 53-57 loss to Clinch County on the road. McClendon and the team also celebrated her 2000th career point milestone this season.

LOA team members named to the Region 8-A Public All-Region Team are:

First Team: Destiny McClendon (Player of the Year), Piper Bosart

Second Team: Hannah Heinen, Georgia Bosart

Honorable Mention: Kensi Stevens, Jada Williams, Kala Jo Ogletree

“This has been a historic season for the Lady Titan Basketball team,” said Coach Furtado. “Our #Rowtheboat culture took off this season culminating in a 25-1 overall record, Region 8A Championship and a 21-0 regular season. Even though we were defeated in the Elite 8 by a very strong Clinch County team, we represented the community of Lake Oconee Academy with dignity, grace and class. I absolutely love these kids and they will go down as one of the best teams in school history.

“We were very honored to have two 1st team players in Piper Bosart and Player of the Year Destiny McClendon. They were the backbone of our program and got us to this point of success. Our 2nd team All-Region players Georgia Bosart and Hannah Heinen gave us consistent scoring and defense throughout the season, and as a freshman and a sophomore they have a bright future. Our honorable mention candidates Kensi Stevens, Kala Jo Ogletree, and Jada Williams filled their team roles with unbelievable effort and tenacity.”

“I want to congratulate Coach Kevin Furtado on being named Region 8-A Public Coach of the Year,” said LOA Athletic Director Chris Ingle. “The region is full of great coaches, and this is truly an honor for him and his program. He led the LOA girls basketball team to an unprecedented undefeated regular season and on to the Region Championship. He is truly an outstanding coach, leader, and teacher for the students of Lake Oconee Academy. You simply will not find a more passionate example of a basketball coach. He is the definition of ‘All In.’ We could not be prouder that he is a Titan.”

Photo: 8-A Public All-Region Team members are (left to right) Kala Jo Ogletree, Kensi Stevens, Georgia Bosart, Piper Bosart, Hannah Heinen, Destiny McClendon, and Jada Williams.

Photo: 8-A Public All-Region Coach of the Year Kevin Furtado.

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY’S ARIE’UNA LONG RECEIVES 2021 GEORGIA YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD

Greensboro, Ga. (March 9, 2021) – Lake Oconee Academy student Arie’una Long has been selected as a top 21 youth leader by 21st Century Leaders, a Georgia-based non-profit youth leadership and talent development program for high school students from diverse backgrounds. Long is one of 21 students from across Georgia chosen for their significant impact on their schools, communities and beyond.

21st Century Leaders (21CL) brings together business and civic leaders to raise support for 21CL’s year-round leadership programs for high school students and members of 21CL. The students nominated for the Georgia Youth Leadership Award were carefully chosen by a 28-member selection committee comprised of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under 40 members, who also serve as mentors to the 21CL students and 21CL Board of Directors, corporate volunteers, alumni and student peers.

Long, currently a junior, started attending Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) in Pre-K. She is the daughter of the late Reginald Long, Sr. and Audra Lawrence-Long, and the sibling of Reginald Long, Jr. She has a passion for music and has been honored with the LOA Band Achievement and the LOA Band Musicianship award during her high school years. Long’s goal is to pursue a career in the music business. As an A/B honor roll student, Long has challenged herself academically by completing four dual enrollment courses and seven AP® courses, all for potential college credit hours. She has participated in the Girl Scouts, Beta Club and is a REACH Scholarship recipient. In 2020, she started her own business, Mystical Kreations, selling bracelets, anklets, keychains and self-defense keychains.

“Arie'una's consistent demeanor and work ethic have remained steadfast,” said Dr. Jody Worth, LOA’s Chief Academic Officer. “As a school community, we are so proud of her accomplishments and personal growth.”    

Long will attend a virtual celebration originating in Atlanta with other student leaders on Thursday, March 25, 2021, where she will receive a $500 grant.

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY THEATRE WINS BACK-TO-BACK GHSA ONE-ACT PLAY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

Greensboro, Ga. (February 15, 2021) – Lake Oconee Academy’s high school theatre troupe won the GHSA Class A Public State One-Act Play Competition for the second year in a row at Crisp County High School in Cordele, Ga., on Saturday, February 13. The troupe won the competition in 2019-2020 with the musical Quilters and placed 2nd in 2018 with All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.  

This year the troupe took on a completely new project entitled Life Changers, an original musical with script and songs all written by cast, crew, and staff members. The show follows three characters struggling with life who each stumble upon an app that promises to make life better for them. Upon downloading it, they are sucked into a world in which they must realize the burdens they carry, face their inner demons, and ultimately examine themselves to find the beauty within.  

The process began back in September 2020 when students auditioned for this generative project.  The group initially selected a source text, The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Drawing upon concepts and themes from the text, the students began to write original poems, short stories, and internal dialogue scenes.  After combining various original pieces, they worked to create storylines for each of the three main characters. For the next few months, the cast and crew added to the script with facilitation from their director and guest artist/creative consultant, Henry Scott. Original songs were also added, including 1993, with music and lyrics by Remi Baker and Helen Garcia-Carreras, This Old Guitar, with music and lyrics by Elisa Garcia-Carreras, and I Don’t Know Where to Go From Here with music and lyrics by Henry Scott.

At the state competition, LOA’s show competed against five other plays and musicals from Irwin County High School, Bryan County High School, Dublin High School, Furlow Charter School, and Georgia Military College Prep. All-Star Cast Awards were given to Gabrielle Gruszynski for her role as Dolce, one of the “app-keepers” and Elisa Garcia-Carreras for her portrayal of Casey, a girl who lost her father in a military accident. The three judges gave the show scores of 94, 98, and 98. Life Changers was also selected as a feature show for the 2021 Virtual Georgia Thespian Conference (ThesCon) to be held virtually February 25-27, 2021.  

Cast and crew members include:  Remi Baker, Walker Cannon, Elisha Copeland, Shelby Davis, Julia Kate Dixon, Elisa Garcia-Carreras, Gabrielle Gruszynski, Lauren Harris, Kyra Jackson, Genna Lawson, Rylie McDonald, Tamia Miley-Williams, and Jacob Moore. Live music was provided by Mary Lynn Luke and Helen Garcia-Carreras. The show was directed by Lora Garcia-Carreras with assistant director, Kelly Ingle.  For more on LOA’s state championship win, follow @LOATheatre on Facebook and Instagram. 

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY WELCOMES DREW ANTHONY AS ITS FIRST HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Greensboro, Ga. (February 10, 2021) – Lake Oconee Academy is pleased to welcome Drew Anthony to the new football and athletics staff for the upcoming school year.  Anthony will serve as the Head football coach and will oversee the development of the initial 1st-12th grade football programs at the school.  He will teach various high school Social Studies classes including Advanced Placement Government and Economics.  He brings with him 27 years of coaching experience in the Georgia High School Association as well as an extensive background in teaching Social Studies, Special Education, and Physical Education.

Anthony is relocating to the Lake Oconee area from St. Mary’s, GA where he served as assistant football coach as well as the Special Teams Coordinator and Academic Athletic Coordinator for Camden County High School, a perennial football powerhouse. Prior to that, he served as the Special Teams Coordinator and Tight Ends coach at Buford High School for 14 years.  During his time at Buford, Anthony won Assistant Coach of the Year as well as 13 Region Championships and eight State Championships.  He also coached Track and Field and produced a State Champion in shot put and discus.   Early in his career, he coached at Washington-Wilkes High School and Cedar Shoals High School, where he served as Offensive Coordinator.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Coach Anthony.  We had many great candidates that expressed interest in the opportunity to build a football program at LOA.  Coach Anthony was a great fit for us because of his wealth of experience in high level academic and football environments,” said LOA Athletic Director Chris Ingle. “He is a person of high character and integrity that coaches for the right reasons.  He will be an active and engaged role model in our community.  I am very confident that the young men of the new football program at LOA will be better because he coaches them. ”

Anthony and his wife Lyndi, an Oncology nurse, have three children J.T. (10), Abi (8), and Nate (6).  Coach Anthony credits his family and others for this opportunity.  “I am thrilled to have been chosen to lead the Lake Oconee Academy Football program.  I would like to thank Dr. Tucker, Mark Lipscomb, and Chris Ingle for giving me the chance to start a program from scratch.  I would also like to thank all of the coaches who helped me throughout my career including Jeff Herron, Scott Wilkins, Butch Brooks, Curtis Williams, Dexter Wood, Jess Simpson, Bob Sphire and Welton Coffey,“ said Coach Anthony.  “Most importantly, I would like to thank my wife and children for their love and support.  I could not be the person that I am without them.”

“The educational opportunities at LOA for my children are what first drew me to the school,” said Anthony. “The challenge of starting a new program, the opportunity to teach Social Studies, and the engagement with the LOA community were my motivation to accept the job as Head Football Coach. Our goal for the football  program will be to strive for excellence in everything we do - academically, socially, and athletically.  We will build the program through education-based concepts including character education, relationship building, cutting edge strength and speed development, and the fundamentals of football.”

“During our search process, Coach Anthony showed the type of commitment and enthusiasm that it takes to start a new athletic program. His experience in some of the best football programs in the state, including his success at Buford High School will be invaluable to our football team.  However, what truly set him apart was his passion for teaching and helping students achieve the highest level of academic success.  We look forward to him arriving on campus and are very pleased to have him as part of our faculty,” stated Dr. Tucker.