Congratulations

Chessa Halpin, a seventh-grade student at Faith Christian School, recently attended the Grand Recognition Ceremony sponsored by Duke University Talent Identification Program held in Durham, N.C.

The Duke University Talent Identification Program's talent search identifies students in sixteen states in the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest who have scored in the 95th percentile on a grade-level achievement test. As part of the program, these academically talented students take above-level college entrance exams (SAT and ACT) exams.

She is the daughter of Mike and Kathy Halpin of Eulaton.

Haley Chaney was selected as Miss Ohatchee 2008 in April. She is a student at Ohatchee High School and was sponsored by Glenda's Tanning Salon of Ohatchee. She is the daughter of William and Connie Chaney of Ohatchee and the granddaughter of Robert and Glenda Watts of Ohatchee and William and Pat Chaney of Jacksonville.

The Major General Patrick R. Cleburne Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy recently announced Lauren Ashton Allred as the recipient of a scholarship from the UDC, Alabama division, for the 2008-2009 school year. Allred is a recent graduate of Jacksonville High School. She is the daughter of Thomas and Amelia (Amy) Allred. Amy is a member of the Gen. Cleburne chapter of the UDC, joining on the service record of John Will Dyer, her great-grandfather.

George Pope of Anniston graduated cum laude from the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in May earning a doctor of veterinary medicine degree. He earned an animal science degree in 2000 from Auburn and is a 1995 graduate of The Donoho School. His parents are Tommy and Dianne Pope.

The veterinary program at Auburn University is the oldest in the South and has been a continuous program since 1892. More than 5,850 doctors of veterinary medicine have graduated since the first degrees were officially awarded in 1909.