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UC grad to address Top 10 Banquet honorees

UC grad to address Top 10 Banquet honorees

Posted: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 9:02 pm
By: Glenda Caudle, Special Features Editor

By GLENDA CAUDLE
Special Features Editor
He’s learned how to make money for his company. He’s learned how to save money for his company.
And a large portion of Tony Bass’ learning began in the Union City School System.
The son of Union City resident Doris Bass and the late Henry Bass, the 1979 Union City High School graduate is the vice president of sales at Polar Electro Inc. in Lake Success, N.Y. He has also been vice president of customer marketing and communications for that company and has worked with Kraft Foods during his distinguished career.
Bass, who holds a bachelor of business administration degree in managing/marketing from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, will be the guest speaker at Thursday evening’s annual UCHS Top Ten Banquet.
The UCHS alumnus makes his home in Jersey City, N.J., near Manhattan. Since rising to his current executive status, he has helped his company to an impressive increase in sales and has saved the corporation more than a million dollars annually by providing a new vendor program.
Bass will be discussing his success in the business world and stressing the importance of commitment to education when he addresses the 10 students from each grade level at UCHS who have the highest academic averages in their class. Their parents, the generous sponsors of the annual celebration of classroom achievement, school board members and several faculty and staff from the school system have been invited to attend the event, which is a highlight of each school year.
“The people of Union City have a long-standing and impressive commitment of support for education,” says Union City Director of Schools Gary Houston. “Young people who begin their educational careers here learn early on that their success will be celebrated in many ways. These students who have worked their way to the top of the class deserve this focus on their achievement and we are both delighted to have a distinguished alumnus such as Mr. Bass join us to do that and grateful for the generous support for this banquet. It is all made possible by our sponsors. They have been unwavering in their commitment to academic achievement through the years and, as will be evident Thursday night, several of our Top Ten students have enjoyed their hospitality and support multiple times. It is an event we always look forward to.”
Students who will be honored for their hard work from the freshman class include Alex Darnall, Tara Elam, Aubree Guess, Claire Jackson, Garrett Ransom, Grant Ransom, Luke Searcy, Chloe Smithson, Jacob Triplett and Calla Ziegler. Their awards will be presented by UCHS vice principal Jacob Cross.
Sophomores invited to celebrate their achievement are Blair Beachum, Breanna Brown, Ashlyn Chism, Cameron Elam, John Kirkland, Anna Moore, Nancy Sanchez, Morgan Stone, Kaitlyn Wheeles and Benjamin White. Judy Wilson, UCHS Family and Consumer Science teacher, will present the sophomore class awards.
Juniors who will be singled out for academic excellence are Chase Bowling, Britton Bugg, Taylor Edwards, Shenisha Huff, Matthew Keathley, Trey Maddox, Sarah Riley, Laura Sanchez, Erica Sturkie and Brady Tidwell. Celebrating the success of the juniors will be UCHS biology teacher Angela Keathley.
Members of the Class of 2010 who will be marking the close of their academic careers at UCHS with honor include Will Arnold, Allison Bruff, Brenna Duncan, Rebecca Easley, Paige Fisher, Nicole Hardin, Katie Hawks, Treymar Johnson, Caitlin Nelson and Will Regan. UCHS chemistry teacher Mandy Hopper will be announcing these high-achieving graduates.
Classroom/curriculum coordinator Vicki Wilkinson will make a special presentation, and UCHS principal Wes Kennedy will welcome those attending. Miss Bruff will provide the invocation and Houston will introduce special guests and the speaker.
Sponsors for the banquet, which will be staged in the UCHS commons area, are CBK Ltd., Commercial Bank, First Citizens National Bank, First State Bank, Reelfoot Bank, Russell and Donna Caldwell, Mrs. Mike Dickerson, Mrs. John W. Drerup, Janice Sloan Faulk, Bob and Beverly Hunt, David and Teresa Johnson, Jack and Arlene Keeling, Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation, Bill and Carol Latimer, Reynolds Brothers Oil Co., Terry Petty Chevrolet, Union City Insurance Agency, Virgin’s Nursery and Warner Law Firm PLC.
Bass has also been invited to speak at Friday’s noon meeting of Union City Rotary Club at the Hampton Centré.
Published in The Messenger 5.5.10