ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS

Academic Achievers include achievements earned in school-sponsored activities that are based on grades and academic performances. Information comes from universities, colleges and local schools. It is published, as space permits, on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, call Cathy Myers at 740-5733 or e-mail to cathy.myers@timesdaily.com.

Academic Achievers include achievements earned in school-sponsored activities that are based on grades and academic performances. Information comes from universities, colleges and local schools. It is published, as space permits, on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, call Cathy Myers at 740-5733 or e-mail to cathy.myers@timesdaily.com.

* Matthew Burgett, a seventh-grade student from Muscle Shoals Middle School, won the Colbert County Spelling Bee. He competed against students from area schools. He will compete in the state spelling bee March 13 in Birmingham. He is the son of Stephen and Melissa Burgett, of Muscle Shoals.

* Sheffield High School senior Tyler Keenum was accepted into the Computer Based Honors Program at The University of Alabama. He is president of senior class, Interact Club and National Honor Society; vice president of Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta and Latin Foreign Language Club; student council secretary and yearbook co-editor. He was also marching band drum major, Boys' State representative and Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award recipient. He is the son of Anthony and Martha Keenum.

* Jennifer Waldrep, of Crane Hill, was named to the fall 2003 dean's list at the University of North Alabama for making at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and being in the top 10 percent of each of UNA's four colleges. Waldrep is an elementary education K-6 major.

* Elizabeth O'Bannon, of Florence, was named to the 2003-2004 first semester's high honors dean's list at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., for achieving a grade-point average of 3.8 on a scale of 4.0. A graduate of Coffee High School, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart O'Bannon.

* Local students named to the fall 2003 College of Arts and Science dean's list at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., for receiving grades equivalent to a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale are Ashley Meredith Hobbs, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William A. Hobbs, of Florence, and Amy Chin-Rou Ly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Ly, of Muscle Shoals.

* The University of North Alabama awarded Whitney Darlene Cook, of Tuscumbia, an academic scholarship. Cook, a senior at Russellville High School, will attend UNA as a freshman majoring in nursing. At RHS, Cook is a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, annual and newspaper staffs, Health Occupation Students of America and softball team. She is chemistry club president, show choir vice president, drum major and first lieutenant for the Marching One Hundred and a jazz band member. A National Leadership Conference nominee, she participated in the Franklin County Junior Leadership Program and received a Lions Club leaders-in-service award. She is also on the all-A honor roll, is in the top 10 percent of the senior class and received the academic excellence award. She is the daughter of Mark and Vickey Cook.

* The University of North Alabama awarded Amber Nicole Timmons, of Russellville, an academic scholarship. Timmons, who will be a freshman at UNA, is attending Russellville High School. She is a drum major of the Marching Hundred, member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, drama club president and treasurer, Future Business Leaders of America historian and junior varsity mascot. Named to "Who's Who Among American High School Students," Timmons was first alternate in the Northwest Alabama Junior Miss. She is the daughter of Milton and Judy Timmons and plans to major in pre-engineering.

* The University of North Alabama awarded Angela Crittenden, of Tuscumbia, a full academic scholarship. Crittenden will be a freshman at UNA with a pre-engineering major. While attending Deshler High School, Crittenden was a member of Leo club, Key club, science club, National Honor Society, chorus, annual staff, Distributive Education Clubs of America, American Field Service, Junior Classical League, band council and Shoals and Auburn honor bands. A senior class reporter, she was voted senior class who's who. Crittenden has attended Northwest-Shoals Community College. She is the daughter of Gerald and Sara Crittenden.

* Sara Long, of Florence, received a four-year University of Alabama at Birmingham University Scholars Award. A graduating senior at Shoals Christian School, she is a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of the Student Government Association. She will major in biology at UAB. She is the daughter of Patty and Allen Long, of Florence.

* Local students named to the fall semester deans list at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., for average scholarship levels of at least 3.65 are Lauren Smelser and Carrie Springer, both of Florence and both seniors majoring in English.

* The Muscle Shoals High School Science Olympiad team was third out of 16 at recent regional competition at The University of Alabama. Members will take part in the state competition April 10 at Samford University in Birmingham.

Students winning individual medals for the top three scores-are:

Cell biology - Sanjay Palakshappa and Wesley Rich; chemistry lab - Joel Chasan and Seth Jarrell; Disease Detectives, Sanjay Palakshappa, Sarabeth McLendon, Joel Chasan and Adrienne Elliott; forestry, Davis Bradford and Will Whitlow; Mission Possible and physics lab, Zac Aday and Glenn Miller; qualitative analysis, Sarabeth McLendon, Sanjay Palakshappa, Seth Jarrell and Rebecca Whitlow; and Write It, Do It, Shelly Boatwright and Glenn Miller.

Other team members are Cody Vanderford, Elizabeth Boatwright, Rachel Brocato, William White, Kelly Gronemeyer, Brent Oakley, Bradley Carter, Amber Cunningham, Zac Jordan, Nicole McGee, Anna Hailey, Olivia Woodard, Erica Sanders and Kate Conner.

* Dustin Wade, of Florence, received a four-year University of Alabama at Birmingham University Scholars Award. A graduating senior at Mars Hill Bible School, he is a member of the Senior Beta Club and American Junior Red Cross. He will major in chemistry at UAB. He is the son of Deana and Keith Wade, of Florence.

* Tiffany Canerday, of Florence, received a four-year University of Alabama at Birmingham University Scholars Award. A graduating senior at Wilson High School, she is a member of the Key Club and the Drama Club. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Tim Canerday, of Florence.