By SABRINA CARL
News-Sun intern
SEBRING -- Several top mathematics and science students and teachers were recently recognized by The Florida Highlands 173 Chapter of the Air Force Association and The School Board of Highlands County.
The awards luncheon was held April 25 in the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center. The program was designed 17 years ago to encourage excellence in math and science.
Dr. Cary Pigman, president of the Highlands County Medical Society, was the guest speaker. Pigman served active duty with the U.S. Navy as a regimental surgeon. After leaving active duty, he retired in 2001 from the Civil Affairs Group of the 4th Marine Division as a commander.
Today, he is Hardee County's fire rescue medical director and a volunteer physician with Samaritan Touch Care Clinic.
Schools and recipents of the awards were Eileen Islas, math student and Nicholas Ramnarain, science student (Avon Elementary); math teacher Tracy Lee, math student Chase Langston, science teacher Lyn Heacock, and science student Leighton Jahna (Park Elementary); math teacher Crystal Vaughn, math student Nicholas Ruffini, science teacher Leslie Simpson, and science student Erik Parker (Avon Park Middle School); math teacher Janice Newton, math student Alexandria Garcia, science student Jonathan Guerrero, Junior ROTC instructor Col. William Hutchinson, and Junior ROTC students Trevor Edwards and Eric Steed (Avon Park High School); math teacher Danielle Ward, math student Chenille Winter, science teacher Jackie Maibach and science student Forest Ritenour (Cracker Trail Eelementary); math teacher Mary Comers, matah student Jordan Acevedo, science teacher Jeannie Inagawa, and science student Cristina Rivera (Sun 'N Lake Elementary); math teacher Trisha Portis, math student Kelsey Keefe, science teacher Susan Harris, and science student Jared Lang (Hill Gustat Middle School); math and science teacher Alejandra Knott, math student Spenser Madden, science student Rachel Todd (Fred Wild Elementary); math teacher Debra Crandall, math student Maribel Torres Esparza, science teacher Patty Skipper, and science student Lissette Moran (Memorial Elementary); math and science teacher Tim Bowers, math student Anne Marie Stupinski, and science student Connor Elwell (Woodlawn Elementary); math teacher Pat Willard, math student Dalton Helvey, science teacher Donna Tomlinson, and science student Bruce Kimball (Sebring Middle School); math teacher Alan Kent, math student Vihang Nakhate, science teacher Angie Mann, science student Bryan Kirsch, Junior ROTC instructor SMSgt. Larry Fergerson, and Junior ROTC students Veronica Gallardo and Reginald Fergerson (Sebring High School); math teacher Kimbery Wells, math student Luis Rodriguez, science teacher Linda Veley, and science student Marcy Grace Bates (Lake Country Elementary); math teacher Cathe Gibney, math student Emily Miller, science teacher Dianne Jarvis, and science student Celeste Schneider (Lake Placid Elementary); math teacher Jane Keyser, math student Kevin Colley, science teacher Tracy Robinson, science student Hiram Obregon (Lake Placid Middle School); math teacher Kevin Whitney, math student Amanda Dixon, science teacher Sharla Elliott, science student Nicole St. Pierre, Junior ROTC instructors retired U.S. Army Col. Warren Johnson and retired U.S. Army SFC Robert Robinson, and Junior ROTC students Kurtis Tucciarone and Robert Komasa (Lake Placid High School).
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - www.newssun.com/0513-Air-Force-Luncheon-