39 Hall finalists for Governor's Honors Program; one from Brenau

GAINESVILLE - Thirty-nine Hall County high schoolers have been selected as finalists for the 2008 Governor's Honors Program.

Thirteen are from Flowery Branch High; nine from Johnson; six from Chestatee; five from North Hall; four from West Hall; and two from East Hall.

They and others nominated from around the state will be interviewed early next year, with the names of those making the cut to be released March 28.

In addition to nominees from Hall County Schools, Kelsie Bates, a sophomore at Brenau Academy, has also been nominated for the Governor's Honor Program in the category of Dance.

The nominees from Hall County and their respective schools are:

Chestatee:

James McKay Hatch (Social Studies)
Ashley Diana King (ComArts)
Bridget Leigh Neukum (Math)
Cameron Edward Phillips (Math)
Rachel Eleanor Siegfried (ComArts)
Hadassah Naomi Lee Sweet (Visual Arts)

East Hall:

Christina Denise Aguilera (Music, Trumpet)
Amanda May Brock (ComArts)

Flowery Branch:

Robert Curtis Bland (Social Studies)
Justin Eckelberry (Science [Biology])
Justin Tyler Ellis (Music [Saxophone])
Elizabeth Ann French (Math)
Madison Leigh Koeneke (Visual Arts)
Tyler Jacob Pettit (Theater)
Natalie Robin Pilcher (Spanish)
Andrew Popovici (Science [Chemistry])
Chelsea J. Pucket (Music [Clarinet])
Hannah Lee Smith (Spanish)
Madison Nicole Stockel (Music [Soprano])
Rachel Faith Stoker (ComArts)
Emily Ann Wilson (Social Studies)

Johnson:

James Brett Bellamy (Music [Tenor])
Kyle Marcus Bellamy (Music [Tenor])
Yen Kim Bui (French)
Jordan Emile Etienne (Music [Jazz Piano])
Amy Guzman (French)
Peyton Georgia Marie Owen (Theater)
JinYong Sim (Math)
Ariel Marie Simmons (Music [Soprano])
Kelli Elizabeth Wade (Music [Soprano])

North Hall:

Cody Dalton Ballard (Theater)
Anna Catherine Harris (Music [Flute])
Brittani Nichol Matthews (Spanish)
Raymond Thaddeus McCormick, Jr. (Math)
Leah Marie Smith (Theater)

West Hall:

Krista Emaly Banda (Music [Bassoon])
Benjamin Orr Golden (Music [Baritone])
Andrea Lynn Palmer (Theater)
Mary Elizabeth Poole [Math)