The Col. William Candler chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently held its annual Awards Tea at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville.
- DAR Good Citizen awards for high school seniors were awarded to: Kelcie Evenson, North Hall High School (overall winner); Elizabeth Nakamura, Johnson High School; Katie Lee Collier, Johnson High School; Austin Atherton, Lakeview Academy; Ana Karina Garcia, Lanier Career Academy; Kathryn Elsie Barnett, Chestatee High School; Ashton Blackwood, Johnson High School; Travis Peters, East Hall High School; and Kayla Faye Cansler, West Hall High School.
- DAR Good Citizenship awards for eighth-graders were awarded to: Victoria Elizabeth Rogers, North Hall Middle School; Haley Dempsey, Maranatha Christian Academy; John Hughes Cox, North Georgia Christian School; Dalton Chase Reed, East Hall Middle School; Marissa Lizann Baer, Lakeview Academy; Dani Lorraine Taylor, C.W. Davis Middle School; Lauren Kari McNitt, Chestatee Middle School; Catherine Aurora Cubera, Lumpkin County Middle School; Jose Manuel Martinez, South Hall Middle School; Cassie Kornstadt, West Hall Middle School; and Brenda Dang, Gainesville Middle School.
- The American History Essay award was presented to Cole Burchardt, who is homeschooled.
- The Junior American Citizens awards were presented to: Cody Smith, poetry; Maysun Hale, essay; Michelle Nguyen, stamp; Joy Nish and Katherine Wright, poster; and Emmeline Jones, American History Good Citizen.
- Maj. Kevin Jarrard of Riverside Military Academy was awarded as outstanding teacher.
- The Patriotism award was given to retired Maj. Brad McCanna for his 16 years as senior military instructor for the Navy JROTC program at East Hall High School.
- Community Service awards were presented to William Galardi and Cleda Locey.
The Best in Show award for sculpture was presented to Dawsonville sculptor Allen Ferg recently at the 2009 Fine Arts and Music Festival sponsored by the Cumming First United Methodist Church in Cumming. The show was judged by members of the visual arts faculty at Kennesaw State University. Ferg creates figurative and portrait sculpture and works from his home studio.
Ashley Valentine, a junior at North Georgia Christian School, won the Hall County chapter of Georgia Right to Life's annual writing contest. She represented Hall County in the state contest, held May 2.
The following local artists won awards in the recent Painting in the Gardens on Green event at the Hall County School Board office in Gainesville.
- First place, Anne Brodie Hill, "Weeping Redbud," pen, ink and watercolor
- Second place, Sandra Landergott, "Winner's Circle," oil on panel
- Third place, Cheryl Hardin, "Gardens on Green," oil on canvas
- Honorable mention, Anne Brodie Hill, "Bowl of Pansies," pen, ink and watercolor.