School

DEBARY -- Paul Lachelier will discuss “Communities in America” at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 210 Sunrise Blvd.

Courtesy photos / Volusia Cty. Gov't / Michelle Coats. "Hot Shot" Aundre Branch of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters visits Samsula Academy in Samula on Monday. At left, fourth-grader Donnie Padgitt with Hot Shot. At right, children see some of Hot Shot's cool basketball-handling tricks.

SAMSULA -- Fourth-grader Donnie Padgitt was among the many children at Samsula Academy on Monday to receive a fast-break visit from "Hot Shot: Aundre Branch, a member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Here are the winners of the recent regional fair at New Smyrna Beach Middle School:

Two students won Best of Show, and with it, a trophy and a prize valued at $50.
They were
Life Science: Victoria Sachs
Physical Science: Sydney Levy

FAST FACTS: Here are key numbers for the New Smyrna Beach High School graduating class of 2009

Number of graduates: 314

Valedictorian: Jurate Juozas Lukosaityte

Salutatorian: Alexander Ashley Chisholm

Total scholarships offered to graduates: $1,348,725

* In area and local scholarships: $264,500

* In college, organization, and military scholarships: $791,400

* In Bright Futures scholarships: $292,825

Courtesy photo. Jurate Lukosaityte is valedictorian of the New Smyrna Beach High School class of 2009. The 18-year-old will attend the University of Florida and major in health science. She gave the following speech to her classmates at Wednesday's graduation ceremony at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach:

Courtesy photo. Alexander Ashley Chisholm, 18, of New Smyrna Beach, is the salutatorian for the 2009 graduating class at New Smyrna Beach High School. He plans to attend the University of Florida where he will major in physics. He gave this speech to his fellow graduates during Wednesday's ceremony at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach:

Jack O. McMahon, 81, of Edgewater, a former supply clerk for Merril Stevens Dry Dock Co., Miami, died Sunday, March 15, 2009.

Ann Marie Weiss, 67, of New Smyrna Beach, who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for 32 years, died Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Robert Lee Megenhardt, 56, of New Smyrna Beach, a heavy equipment operator, died Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Daphne Moore, 79, of New Smyrna Beach, a former supervisor for a bank, died Saturday, March 14, 2009.

Editor's Note: One week after the New Smyrna Beach 'Cudas finished the 2008 football season with a convincing 21-13 victory over the DeLand Bulldogs, Peter Mallory, a member of the 1952 squad that triumphed in the miracle on the gridiron, was so thrilled by what the 21st-century team had done against their playoff-bound opponents that he was inspired to write this story:

The one thing you had to admire about first year Coach Pete Maman was that he showed absolutely no signs of the panic and despair that must have gripped him as he looked out over the practice field. No matter how many times he counted heads he could only find 12 candidates who had shown up for his first August practice session at New Smyrna High School in 1952. I was among them.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The 'Cudas family is comprised of much more than the football team. The cheerleaders, the Show Dolls and the Band all contribute to the festive atmosphere of New Smyrna Beach High School football.

Enjoy the video shot by Sera King of NSBNEWS.net at Friday's season finale at the New Smyrna Beach sports complex, won, of course by the 'Cudas over the visiting DeLand Bulldogs, 21-13.

You can read our previous story for game highlights.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera King / New Smyrna Beach High Homecoming Queen Courtney Sempsrott poses with King Travis Kendrick.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The mean snarl was replaced with a big smile when 'Cudas football nose tackle Travis Kendrick was named Homecoming King at halftime of Friday's game against Merritt Island.

Kendrick, the monstrous lineman who enjoys crushing opposing offensive linemen and running backs who try to run up the middle, drew loud cheers from the more than thousand spectators who filled the bleachers against Merritt Island.

Even though the home team lost, 31-3, the half-time show was rocking with Courtney Sempsrott joining Kendrick as Homecoming Queen.