St. Andrews Honors

Joanna Elizabeth Hipp, of Cameron, Andrea L. Judge, of Pinehurst, and Paula Diane Yeager, of West End, were among the 140 students honored during the Annual Awards Convocation at St. Andrews Presbyterian College Friday, March 13.

"Other than commencement, this coming together of the community is the most significant event in the academic life of the College," said St. Andrews President Paul Baldasare. "It is an opportunity to honor the achievement of our students in a significant way."

Hipp, a member of the class of 2010, was inducted into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society and the St. Andrews Honor Society. She also received the McNair Fellowship. Hipp is the daughter of Teri Harvey and Eddie Hipp and the granddaughter of Betty and Keith Harvey.

Judge, a member of the class of 2009, was inducted into the St. Andrews Honor Society. She is married to Mike Judge.

Yeager, a member of the class of 2009, was inducted into the Alpha Chi National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Paul and Sandy Morrow.

All-State Orchestra

Meagan Watkins, of Aberdeen, a freshman at The O'Neal School, auditioned for the Eastern Regional Junior High All-State orchestra Saturday, March 7, at Murray Middle School in Wilmington.

Watkins has been playing the violin since she was 8 and has auditioned for and received a position on the All-State orchestra three times in the last three years she competed. She is also a member of the Moore Philharmonic.

The competition was challenging, with over 120 violin students in District 2 auditioning. The orchestra, which will consist of 47 violins, 16 violas, 16 cellos, and six basses, is an annual event for students who compete from sixth through the ninth grades.

Watkins will be attending the clinic and concert, which will be Saturday, May 2, at Swansboro Middle School in Swansboro.

Western Carolina Grads

Western Carolina University Chancellor John W. Bardo presided over commencement exercises for 679 students at the university's Ramsey Regional Activity Center Saturday, Dec. 13.

A total of 185 undergraduate students received academic honors. Sixty-nine graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors), 55 graduated magna cum laude (with high honors), and 61 graduated cum laude.

Moore County residents graduating include Rachael Michelle Dyck, of Aberdeen, who earned a bachelor's degree in sociology; Twana Michelle McKnight, also of Aberdeen, who received a master's degree in education; Robert Lucas Sutphen, also of Aberdeen, a bachelor's degree in business administration; and Kristie Corrine Bennett, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice (magna cum laude).