More than 100 awards were presented in recognition of outstanding work in high school newspapers, magazines, news websites, yearbooks, literary magazines and broadcast news shows.

Approximately 450 high school students and journalism teachers saw Mandi Woodruff (A.B.J. ’09) return to her alma mater to serve as the event’s keynote speaker. In her short but accomplished career, Woodruff has worked at several publications, including the Santiago Times in Santiago, Chile; the Athens Banner-Herald; the Gainesville Times; Reader’s Digest; and Business Insider, where she currently works.

The summer after her freshman year in college, Woodruff traveled to Argentina, looking to see some of the world she said she was excited to write about. “I realized there, for the first time, that I didn’t have to follow any cookie cutter path to success. I had this idea stuck in my head that there was a certain order to achieving success,” she said. “And all I was really doing the whole time was sabotaging myself by listening to others and looking what they were doing. So I put on my blinders and followed my gut.”

Woodruff returned to Athens and followed her instincts, which led her to move to Santiago, Chile shortly after graduation to work at a news website. “I carry the lessons I learned there with me every day,” she says. “For the first time in four years, I was free. It was the kind of freedom I could taste each morning when I woke up and watched the sun rise in a city that I fell in love with in the first couple of days. I learned to trust myself and that life was more than just ‘fill in the blank’ pages.”

Since returning from Chile, Woodruff was hired by Reader’s Digest, laid off by Reader’s Digest two weeks later, worked at an online news site, started a blog and was finally hired as a reporter at Business Insider. She said working at Business Insider has been one of the high points in her career.

“I always knew I’d wind up in this business somehow,” she said. “But if there’s one thing I’m proud of, it’s that I got here on my own terms and no one else’s.”

To the high school journalists in attendance, Woodruff had one piece of advice. “Maybe you guys won’t all end up here at Grady or even in journalism at all, but the point is that wherever you go, you put those blinders on and follow your gut,” she said. “I’m still on a journey of my own, but it hasn’t failed me yet.”

At the ceremony, Clarke Central High School’s Carlo Nasisse, of Athens, was named the 2011 Georgia Champion Journalist, the highest individual honor given to a scholastic journalist. As the photo editor of his school’s newsmagazine Odyssey, Nasisse has produced several award-winning photos and page designs. He also has worked for Flagpole and Athens Move. His adviser, David Ragsdale, said it’s the senior’s willingness to work with younger students that stands out.

“He has two young apprentices with whom he works daily—taking them on photo shoots, critiquing their work and engendering an excellent sense of team spirit,” Ragsdale said. “He continues to push himself with photography for the staff and has expanded his role beyond photo editor to that of visuals coordinator, handling the photographs for our website, as well as assuring that graphics, photographs and designs in the magazine are up to par.”

The All-Georgia Awards, the top journalism recognitions in the state, were given to publications that performed best overall in their category. Nasisse’s school publication, The Odyssey of Clarke Central High School (Athens), was named the All-Georgia newsmagazine. The Southerner of Henry W. Grady High School (Atlanta) was named the All-Georgia newspaper. The Grady News Network of Henry W. Grady High School (Atlanta) was named the All-Georgia broadcast, while the Illiad of Clarke Central High School (Athens) was named the All-Georgia literary magazine. The All-Georgia yearbook award was given to Wolverscenes of Union Grove High School (McDonough).

Along with the more than 100 individual awards presented, “General Excellence” awards were given to the top publications in the state. Judges, comprised of journalism professionals and UGA journalism faculty, designated the following publications worthy of General Excellence awards:

Newspaper - Henry W. Grady High School (Atlanta), The Southerner; Johns Creek High School (Johns Creek), The Chariot; The King’s Academy (Woodstock), The Verve; Lowndes High School (Valdosta), The Saga; Roswell High School (Roswell), The Sting; and Starr’s Mill High School (Fayetteville), The Prowler.

Newsmagazine - Clarke Central High School (Athens), Odyssey; and Decatur High School (Decatur), Carpe Diem.

News Website - Clarke Central High School (Athens), Odyssey Online.

Broadcast News - Henry W. Grady High School (Atlanta), Grady News Network.

Yearbook - Chestatee High School (Gainesville), The Eagle; Dawson County High School (Dawsonville), Tiger; Mount Paran Christian School (Kennesaw), Teleios; Starr’s Mill High School (Fayetteville), The Pride; Walton High School (Marietta), The Legend; Union Grove High School (McDonough), Wolverscenes; and Whitewater High School (Fayetteville), Vision.

Literary Magazine - Berkmar High School (Lilburn), Images in Ink; Clarke Central High School (Athens), Illiad; Northview High School (Duluth), The Muse; Roswell High School (Roswell), Helicon; and Wesleyan School (Norcross), Book of Seasons.

For a complete list of awards, see www.gpsa.uga.edu.

Organized in 1928 by UGA’s Grady College, the Georgia Scholastic Press Association assists Georgia high school media programs and students by encouraging the production of quality publications and broadcast programs through instruction and contests. There are 125 GSPA member publications for the 2011-12 school year, representing approximately 3,000 students across the state.

Established in 1915, the UGA Grady College offers undergraduate majors in journalism, advertising, public relations, digital and broadcast journalism, and mass media arts. The college offers two graduate degrees and is home to the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism and the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media. For more information, see www.grady.uga.edu or follow @UGAGrady on Twitter.
 

Livability.com also named Athens as the No. 8 top city for affordable vacations. Click here to read more.

Wanda Sykes has been called "one of the funniest stand-up comics" by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. Her smart-witted stand-up has sent her career in many different areas.

Sykes in the last two years has been seen on several television shows, such as her own late night talk show on FOX, “The Wanda Sykes Show.” In October 2009, she had her second HBO stand- up special “I’ma Be Me.” She also was seen on the CBS comedy “The New Adventures of Old Christine” as “Barb.” Her first HBO comedy special, “WANDA SYKES: SICK & TIRED” debuted in October 2006 and was nominated for a 2007 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special.

Sykes was seen in the feature films “Evan Almighty,” the sequel to “Bruce Almighty,” in which she co-starred with Steve Carell, the feature film “Monster-In-Law” starring opposite Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda, and was heard in the animated feature “Over The Hedge” for Dreamworks, as well as “The Barnyard” for Paramount Pictures. She also can be seen co-starring with Luke Wilson and Uma Thurman in the romantic comedy “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.” Sykes starred and produced the Comedy Central show "Wanda Does It" where she tried various non-showbiz jobs. Her first book titled “Yeah, I Said It,” published by Simon and Schuster, hit bookstores in September 2004. “Yeah, I Said It” is a hilarious collection of essays touching on life, family and current events.

In the fall of 2003 she was seen on Fox's "Wanda at Large," which she wrote, produced and starred in. She also has a one hour Comedy Central special called "Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied.” In addition, she can be seen on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" or heard on Comedy Central's "Crank Yankers” as the voice of Gladys Murphy.

Wanda was born in Portsmouth, Va., and raised in Maryland. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University. Her stand-up career began at a Coors Light Super talent Showcase in Washington, D.C., where she performed for the first time in front of a live audience.

She spent five years as part of the HBO's critically acclaimed "Chris Rock Show." As a performer and writer on the show, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy's and in 1999 won the Emmy for "Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special." In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for "Outstanding Female Stand-Up Comic.” She won three more Emmys, in 2002, 2004 and 2005, for her work on “Inside the NFL” for “Outstanding Studio Show - Weekly- Inside The NFL".

In 2003, Wanda earned a Comedy Central Commie Award for "Funniest TV Actress." Other writing credits include the "MTV 1999 Music Video Awards,” "The MTV Movie Awards,” the "74th Annual Academy Awards," "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" and "Wanda at Large."

She also appeared in the feature films "Pootie Tang,” "Nutty Professor 2; The Klumps” and "Down to Earth".

Visit www.ClassicCenter.com to buy tickets, call 706.357.4444 or stop by The Classic Center Theatre Box Office. 
 

The pops concerts, which begin at 8 p.m. on both days, will conclude the symphony’s 2011-2012 season.

Tickets are required for entry, and are limited to four per person.

The pops concerts will feature trumpet and flugelhorn soloist Jay Beckwith and the Athens Symphony Chorus. Popular musical pieces from Miles Davis, Irving Berlin and other musicians will be featured.

For more information on the Athens Symphony, visit www.athenssymphony.org. 
 

Eight students from the Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School chapter of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) took home top awards at the state leadership conference March 15-17 at the Classic Center. While there, students Tierra Hayes and Tory Nunley were tapped to compete at the national conference being held July 7-12 in Orlando, Fl.

The group is advised by Robyn Baxter.

The students and their honors are:

Nya Bennett won a Silver Medal, Applied Technology; Tierra Hayes won a Gold Medal, Chapter Service Project; Maddie Herrington won a Silver Medal, Focus on Children; Chasity Jones won a Silver Medal, Food Innovations; Mya Oglesby won a Silver Medal, Focus on Children; Tory Nunley won a Silver Medal, Recycle and Redesign; Yusuf Ra’aid won a Silver Medal, Applied Technology; and Jada Watkins won a Silver Medal, Food Innovations.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Setting the Table for Success.” In addition to a variety of speakers, the educational sessions will focus on compliance, customer service, skills building, human resources, equipment, nutrition and wellness.

"This is a great opportunity for school nutrition staff to learn, network and grow professionally,” said Susan Cheshire, executive director of the Georgia School Nutrition Association. “The conference offers in-depth education sessions, as well as new and improved products needed by schools for providing healthy meals.”

The conference also will feature fun activities such as Zumba classes, a scavenger hunt and a talent show.

For more information on the conference, visit www.georgiaschoolnutrition.com. 
 

Georgia HOSA, an association of future health professionals, held its annual conference at The Classic Center in 2009, and earlier this month welcomed its largest group ever of 2,800 middle, high school and college students.

Allen Seigler, the Executive Director and State Advisor for Georgia HOSA, said one of the key reasons the conference is returning to The Classic Center is because of the $24 million expansion under way. The project will double the size of exhibit space to 55,000 square-feet and will include construction of a new 8,000 square-foot atrium.

“Without the expansion, this would have been our last year because of how we’re growing in size,” Seigler said. “We’re really looking forward to the new atrium because it will be the new central location where students will congregate when they are not competing or attending educational symposiums. This will also allow us to host our exhibitors and the HOSA store all in one location with a captive audience.”

Paul Cramer, Executive Director of The Classic Center, said the Georgia HOSA conference is estimated to generate $1.3 million in local economic impact.

“This is an outstanding piece of business for our community, and one we would not have been able to accommodate over the next couple of years without the expansion,” Cramer said. “With this two-year commitment, our SPLOST dollars are already beginning to recognize $2.6 million in economic impact for this one piece of business alone.”

Seigler said The Classic Center’s special attention to customer service is another reason why he decided to keep the conference in Athens.

“We could go to any facility, but at The Classic Center we know all the people there and they know how we operate and we’ve had great event planners,” he said. “I feel like in Athens, we’re truly valued and appreciated by the city.”

Georgia HOSA, with more than 10,000 members statewide, holds the conference each year to showcase the leadership and skills training the students have obtained during the school year as a part of the curriculum in schools across the state and the country. Georgia has the largest state leadership conference of all HOSA state affiliates in the country.