Education

SWR senior is NC State scholarship finalist

SWR senior is NC State scholarship finalist

RALEIGH — An Asheboro student has been named a finalist for N.C. State's top merit scholarship. Kaitlyn Ann Gainey, a senior at Southwestern Randolph High School, has been named a finalist for the Park Scholarship. The Park Scholarships program announced that 112 finalists were named from 2,260 applicants from across the United States. Gainey, who Randolph Record's Athlete of the Week in October, is the daughter of Stephen and Kelly Gainey of Asheboro. She is currently student body president at SWR and was named homecoming queen in 2021. Gainey is her school's Beta Club chapter president and a member of…
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REMC awards $14,000 to teachers for ‘Bright Ideas’

REMC awards $14,000 to teachers for ‘Bright Ideas’

ASHEBORO — Randolph Electric Membership Corporation recently honored educators by awarding $14,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to twelve local educators. “Randolph EMC is committed to making our communities stronger. One way we accomplish that is by investing in education,” said Nicole Arnold, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for REMC. “For almost 30 years, Randolph Electric has provided grants to local schools. We commend these educators for continually striving to create classrooms conducive to innovation.” Bright Ideas grants, sponsored by Randolph EMC and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, are available to teachers for hands-on projects that would not otherwise be funded.…
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SWR captures 2A state volleyball championship

SWR captures 2A state volleyball championship

The Southwestern Randolph Cougars hold the state championship banner after their win against Camden County Bruins in the 2A State Championship volleyball match at Valvano Arena at Historic Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC on November 6th, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RALEIGH -- The Cougars of Southwestern Randolph are once again state champions in volleyball. The Cougars faced a Camden County Bruins team that was undefeated and had only lost one set all season. The Cougars started quickly at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State Saturday with a first set win. The Bruins came back to tie the…
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County schools use federal COVID education funds for bonuses

County schools use federal COVID education funds for bonuses

Randolph County Schools employees will receive $5,000 RALEIGH — Some North Carolina school boards have announced they will use federal COVID-19 relief funds to give bonuses to educators. The Randolph County Public School System will pay every employee a $5,000 bonus, according to a resolution adopted by the school board on Oct. 25. The resolution described the bonuses as “retention” and “premium pay.” Alamance County schools are giving full and part-time employees a $3,000 bonus while Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools employees will get a $1,400 bonus. According to the American Rescue Plan’s  ESSER "FAQ,"  a district can use federal Elementary and…
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High turnout, GOP ground game impacts contested municipal races

High turnout, GOP ground game impacts contested municipal races

Hailey Lee, left, and current Asheboro School board member Gidget Kidd react to Lee winning a seat on the Asheboro City School board Tuesday, November 2, 2021 (The North State Journal) ASHEBORO — Municipal races in Randolph County are technically non-partisan races but the presence of partisan poll workers and field operations in this year's Asheboro races proved that politics is rarely without partisan influence. In this year's race for Asheboro City School board, the county Republican Party endorsed four candidates and sent mailers on behalf of their preferred candidates. Those four candidates — incumbents Baxter Hammer and Beth Knott…
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Randolph County School Board votes to remove mask requirement

Randolph County School Board votes to remove mask requirement

ASHEBORO — In a special meeting focused on mask rules, the Randolph County School Board has voted to end mandatory mask wearing. The mandate had been in place since the start of the school year. Prior to the school year starting, the county's largest school system had made masks optional. However, after pressure from Governor Roy Cooper — who had removed a statewide mask mandate for schools — the board reversed course just before students returned. The change at the county's largest school system came on election night where GOP-backed candidates swept the four open seats for the Asheboro City…
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Four soccer teams to start states at home

Four soccer teams to start states at home

Uwharrie Charter Academy's Max DeNamur takes a shot on goal against Wheatmore during their conference soccer game last month in Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — Four boys’ soccer teams from Randolph County schools will open the state playoffs with home games Monday. Asheboro tops the list as a No. 4 seed in the West Region bracket for Class 3-A. The Blue Comets (14-1-3) take on North Lincoln in the first round. Asheboro gained the top spot for seeding out of the Mid-Piedmont Conference after it tied with Ledford in the regular season. Both teams had 8-0-2 records, though…
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County schools will hold mask vote Tuesday

County schools will hold mask vote Tuesday

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Education will meet for a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 6:30 pm at the R. Alton Cox Resource Center Auditorium at Randolph Community College. According to a release from the school system, the meeting is for the purpose of discussing the school mask mandate which has been in place since the start of the school year. The school board will hear information from the Randolph County Board of Health which precedes a vote on the system-wide mask policy, according to the announced agenda. The county Board of Health recently…
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Athlete of the Week: Gabi Greene

Athlete of the Week: Gabi Greene

GABI GREENE Uwharrie Charter Academy | Senior | Volleyball The senior outside hitter was a key contributor as the Eagles won all four of their matches. The first three triumphs came on consecutive days in the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament as UCA was a surprise winner. Then came the opening round of the Class 1-A state playoffs against Andrews. Greene was charted for a total of 51 kills, 41 digs, 11 aces, seven blocks and strong serve receiving in those matches.              
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Uwharrie Charter heads to the second round in volleyball

Uwharrie Charter heads to the second round in volleyball

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Carter Duggins spikes the ball against Andrews' Rylie McDonald in the first set in the Class 1-A West state playoffs in Asheboro on October 23, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO -- Coming off of a conference tournament championship, Uwharrie Charter Academy volleyball coach Lee Kennell hoped his team would maintain its momentum in the the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. The Eagles did just that with a three-set victory against Andrews on Saturday, winning 25-8, 25-9, 25-14. The third-seed Eagles were tied at 12-12 in the third set before turning up the tempo…
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