Emotional Night at the Mayor's Education Awards

The Mayor’s Education Awards were presented at Monday night to a large audience, showing that education is indeed very important to Mayor Max Bacon and the Smyrna City Council.

Awards were presented to a student, staff member and volunteer from 12 Smyrna schools and were recognized based upon excellence and other criteria. Students could be honored for outstanding academic performance, while leadership, helping others or rising above circumstance to do their very best were further criteria. Staff awards could be either for faculty or office staff and volunteers may also be couples who take an active involvement in the betterment of the school.

Schools represented were: Campbell High; Griffin Middle; Campbell Middle; International Academy of Smyrna; Teasley Elementary; Norton Park Elementary; Nickajack Elementary; King Springs Elementary; Green Acres Elementary; Brown Elementary; Belmont Hills Elementary; and Argyle Elementary.

See here for a complete list of winners.

“Tonight it is about the kids, the volunteers and the teachers,” Bacon said as the ceremony began. “We have the best, without a doubt.”

In addition to the mayor, city council members were also present, showing their support to the award winners. The principal from each school presented the individual awards during the hour-long ceremony to winners from their respective school. Principals took time to give the background of each award winner and the reasoning behind why they were chosen.

While laughter filled the room for most of the night, things took an emotional turn when awards were presented to the International Academy of Smyrna. The student winner from that school, eighth grader Danielle Williams, is a stage 4 cancer survivor; having battled and beaten lymphoma.

“She is a fantastic young lady,” Assistant Principal Kyle Hibbler. “When we see her in the classroom, she is always engaged, with not only the students but also the teachers. We know that because of her courageousness and because of her belief in her God; we know that He brought you through this and we are so very proud of you for that.”

Each award winner was presented a gift card from Jim 'N Nick's Bar-BQ. While this token of appreciation is much deserved, Bacon would be the first to admit that the importance of what the award winners have accomplished goes well beyond a gift.

“There is nothing more important in a child’s life than the education they have an opportunity to receive.”

At the Smyrna city council meeting following the ceremony:

-  A public hearing was held for approval of an amendment to the Code of Ordinances regarding signs. The ordinance regarding the increase of monument signs and additional entrance signs for completely redeveloped sites, was approved 7-0. The ordinance will first directly affect the new RaceTrac on Spring Road.

- The new Kroger, which will be located at The Crossings at Four Corners on South Cobb Drive, was awarded a license transfer for the sale of beer and wine from the old location, located at 3240 South Cobb Drive. The motion was approved 7-0.