Education

As the GED candidates walk across the stage of LaRue County High School’s auditorium June 25 to receive their certificates, each will have finished a journey that was marked by dogged determination overcoming all obstacles.

One of those people is Rhiannon Robbins Ward who dropped out of a Jefferson County high school when she was a sophomore. After quitting school, Ward soon realized that a high school diploma or GED would be a necessity if she were to achieve her career goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Eastern Kentucky University recognized 1,293 graduates at the conclusion of the spring 2009 semester.

The graduates were honored at commencement ceremonies May 9.

Local EKU graduates include Jeremy T. Blair of Hodgenville, master’s in education, instructional leadership; and Elizabeth Kimberly Burke of Mount Sherman, bachelor’s in teaching, P-12.

Thanks to the benevolence of the late Nancy Goodin, a former LaRue County school teacher and director of pupil personnel, a $2,000 annual scholarship is available for LaRue County High School graduates majoring in teaching or education at a college or university.

The reported $720,000 endowment is one of the largest ever received by the school system, according to Sam Sanders, the district’s superintendent.   

Goodin began her career at Hodgenville High School in 1943 and retired from LaRue County Schools in 1981.

For the second time since the recognition program began last school year, custodians at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School have won the district’s good housekeeping award.

“They have taken a lot of pride in their work and it shows in the school building,” said Phil Fulkerson, district director of transportation and maintenance.

Larry Nunn, Kent Ballough and Michael Franklin, custodial staff at ALES, received district-logo shirts for their first win and Texas Roadhouse gift cards the second time they claimed top honor.