Rotary Program: 5/14/03

Program Chairperson: Janie Justice

Program: Seniors of Pike County and Pikeville Independent Schools.

Janie Justice introduced the graduating seniors from the Pike County

Schools and the Pikeville Independent Schools who have the distinction of

being the Valedictorians or Salutatorians of their respective High Schools.

She also introduced each Principal or Guidance Counselor who brought them to

the meeting today. We want to honor these fine students for their hard work

and accomplishments during their last four years of high school and

particularly in this their senior year. As the students were introduced,

they were given the opportunity to speak to the Club about their future

plans for college or other educational or career goals. The following

schools, administrators and students were our guests today:

Phillip Haywood, Counselor of Belfry High School introduced Ondria

Hager, Jonathan Masters, Tiffany Ooten, Jessica VanZant and Meghan

Williamson. Mrs. Gail Hunt, Choral Director also accompanied the students

from Belfry. Mr. Ralph Kilgore, Principal of East Ridge High School

introduced Jeanna Childers, Bemedji Epling, Emily Ruth, and Emily Robinson.

They were accompanied by Counselors Clydine Branham and Kathi Fletcher.

Darlene Bowling, Counselor from Phelps High School introduced Sara Dotson,

Adam Dotson, Joseph Mayhorn, Scarlett Pinson, and Krystal Dotson. They were

accompanied by Mr. Rick Mounts, who is the EXCEL teacher and Coach. Mr. Jon

Stratton, Prinicpal of Pikeville High School introduced Curt Lowndes, Katie

Reasor, Shaun Reynolds, Dee Webb, and Menaka Nadar. Our own Rotarian

member, Jerry Green, Superintendent of Pikeville Independent Schools, also

congratulated these students on their achievements. Sharon Allen, Counselor

of Pike County Central High School introduced Tara Davis, Charla Hall,

Jennifer Hopkins, Bobbie Jo Mullins, Felecia Nichols, and Donald Smith.

They were also accompanied by Basketball Coach, David Rowe. Forrest Dale

Johnson, Principal of Shelby Valley High School introduced Rachel Adkins,

Samantha Childers, Nicholas Compton, Rachel Hall, Christina Mullins, Jesse

Riddle, and Shelley Walters. They were accompanied by Diana Compton,

Counselor and Coach Rodney Rowe.

After a round of applause from the audience, Janie asked our own Mickey

Anders to come to the podium to offer some words of advice and challenge to

these students. Mickey spoke of the disease of arteriosclerosis, a serious

medical condition in which the walls of the arteries become hardened and the

life-giving flow of blood to the body is dangerously restricted. He

compared it to another terrible affliction of the human condition in which

he termed "attitudinosclerosis" or a hardening of the attitude toward

positive outcomes in life that steal the joy of living and rob the person of

the will to succeed. He quoted several famous people and spoke of their

success because of their positive attitudes that overcame affliction,

persecution, poverty, and adversity. Mickey challenged these young people

to never let their attitudes become hardened by applying the cure in Romans

12:1-2. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you

present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which

is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that

good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Congratulations, seniors and thanks Mickey for the words of

encouragement. Submitted by J. Morgan Chapman