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INSIDE ▼ House budget would increase teacher pay
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Friday, May 23, 2025 • Vol. 25 • No. 21
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Houlihan named Regional Superintendent of the Year •
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MONROE – The Southwest Education Alliance has selected Andrew Houlihan, of Union County Public Schools, as Regional Superintendent of the Year for the third time.
Chosen by his peers, which includes superintendents from 11 school districts, Houlihan will represent the southwest region as a finalist for the A. Craig Phillips State Superintendent of the Year award. Houlihan also won Regional Superintendent of the Year for 2025
and 2022. “When superintendents in the southwest region are faced with difficult situa- Andrew Houlihan tions, they call Drew Houlihan for guidance,” said Reeves McGlohon, executive director of the Southwest Education Alliance. This is a well-deserved honor and it’s no surprise that his colleagues selected him as their
2026 Regional Superintendent of the Year.” In his nine years with UCPS, Houlihan has led efforts to increase academic achievement, expand educational opportunities for students, strengthen business and community partnerships, and enhance student support services. “Dr. Houlihan is an outstanding superintendent and is very deserving of this recognition,” school board chairman Jimmy Bention Sr. said. “His vision for our school
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district has helped us to become social workers, therapists and stronger academically. Dr. Hou- school resource officers across the lihan is an innovative and bold district. are dedicated to maximizing the value of your items while m of my colleagues are excepleader, and I am happy thatOur hePromise: is We“All process as stress-free as possible. Since 2013, we have built a reputation for pro exceptional results. and I want to thank leaders being commended for hisintegrity, hard and tional Contact Us: Christine (661) 305-5226 them Boskovich for trusting me toChristine@QualityEstateSaleNC represent work, leadership and commitment our region as superintendent of the to education.” Under Houlihan’s leadership, year,” Houlihan said. “It is an hon“We Sell Everything, But the House! UCPS has launched three K-12 in- or to work with the best teachers, structional academies; established administrators and support staff in a school turnaround initiative for the state. I also want to thank our low-performing schools; expanded board of education for their ongodual language programming; and ing support of our students and increased the number of school employees.” •
STUDENTS DRAW WHAT THEY Care Ring CEO tells Wingate LIKE ABOUT WESLEY CHAPEL grads how to ‘find the light’
New Town Elementary art students are pictured with their winning artwork during a celebration at the Wesley Chapel Village hall. Also pictured are art teacher Danell Kearns (at left) and Wesley Chapel Mayor Amanda Fuller. Photo courtesy of Deb Coates Bledsoe
WESLEY CHAPEL – Wesley Chapel Village Council honored a dozen young New Town Elementary School art students May 12 for their interpretations of the question: “What’s your favorite part of the Village of Wesley Chapel?”
Village staff and elected officials judged the third annual art contest. Students in kindergarten through fifth grades could use pencils, markers, crayons or paint to demonstrate their visions. “This recognition means a lot to the students,” New Town art teacher Danell Kearns said. “They have been talking about it all week. We really appreciate the village honoring our students like this.” The winners were recognized during a celebration/art show at the Wesley Chapel’s Village Hall. Kearns and New Town Principal Elizabeth Allen joined approximately 40 parents and students at the show. Council Member Deb Coates Bledsoe announced the winners while Mayor Amanda Fuller awarded them
ribbons. “You have very talented students here tonight,” Fuller told parents. “Our judges had a difficult time choosing only one winner per category.” The names of all winners and their categories are: • Kindergarten and first grades: Carson Kruger (kindergarten) first place; Finbar Hayden (kindergarten) second place; Maya Brown (first grade) third place; and Reagan Lavezzo (first grade) honorable mention. • Second and third grades: Christian Papageorgiou (second grade) first place; Madelyn Lorenzo (third grade) second place; Delaney Hall (second grade) third place; and Elliana Kruger (third grade) honorable mention. • Fourth and fifth grades: Hari Manikandan (fifth grade) first place; Liam Stopczynski (fifth grade) second place; Elijah Magee (fifth grade) third place; and Madison Muncaster (fourth grade) honorable mention.
WINGATE – In a week of off-and-on rain and thunderstorms, the skies cleared in time May 16 for the Academic Quad to dry out and play host to Wingate University’s graduate commencement ceremony.
be able to pull this off?’” recalled Council Member Gary Anderson. “It took a lot of work over the years to get this accomplished and it’s truly been a team effort.” The pedestrian plaza ties Windsor, Morgan and Hayne streets together with
Tchernavia Montgomery, CEO of healthcare nonprofit Care Ring and the event’s guest speaker, felt the effects of the week’s patchy weather. She was frustrated to receive restoration estimates of “7 a.m.” one evening after storms knocked out power to her house. “I thought, I don’t want to be in the dark that long,” she told the soon-to-be graduates. “But, we’ve been there before, haven’t we? It’s not new – the dark. The unknown. The uncertainty.” In her keynote address, Montgomery shed light on some universal truths for the graduates, who, all told, were receiving 150 degrees in the health sciences, business, education and sport management. Over a third of degrees earned (59) were from the School of Pharmacy, including those by seven students – Cesilia Baltazar (MBA), Hannah Lane Derby (MPH), Brenda Rodriguez (MBA, MPH), Maggie Nobles (MPH), Kaitlin Roberts (MPH), Cole Ryan Rothrock (MBA) and Rama Shamieh (MBA) – who took advantage of Wingate’s dual-degree offering to tack on a master’s in either public health or business administration (or both). The degree earners represent 18 states and five countries. The university expected to award 595 degrees to students from 25 states and 21 countries during the two ceremonies. In addition to leading an organization that provides healthcare, free of charge, to nearly 8,000 people each year, Montgomery serves on the boards of directors of the billion-dollar Medicaid managed-care organization Alliance Health and of the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation. But despite her success, Montgomery said that, as a child of trauma who became a mother at 15, she knows “all too well about the power of being lost in the dark.” She told graduates that knowledge helped her find her way into the light. “Knowledge and optimism are closely intertwined, especially during times of adversity,” Montgomery said. “Be it feeling empowered with solutions, having clarity or understanding or simply feeling a little hope, knowledge can help you find the light. “From this day forward, I challenge you to treat darkness like an opportunity for self-reflection and discovery,” she continued. “Don’t let it consume you. Instead, control your life’s narrative, because in you is greatness. And the education you now possess and the opportunity it creates have given you the power to transform societies, to drive social and economic progress, to heal and to restore.” Maggie Nobles is taking her pharmacy degree and newly established healing abilities to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where she has secured a slot in a one-year residency program. She is leaning toward
Story continues, see MONROE page 3A
Story continues, see WINGATE page 3A
Hari Manikandan, a fifth-grader at New Town Elementary School, took first place in his category (fourth and fifth grades) at the third annual Wesley Chapel student art contest. He is pictured with Wesley Chapel Mayor Amanda Fuller.
Photo courtesy of Deb Coates Bledsoe
Monroe cuts ribbon on downtown mural, public seating area MONROE – The City of Monroe celebrated the addition of a new mural and new public furniture with a ribbon cutting ceremony May 9 in downtown’s Morgan-Windsor Alley.
“This is a celebration of what’s happening in Monroe,” Mayor Robert Burns said. “It’s all about bringing more opportunities and spaces like this to bring people together. When you come downtown, these streets are packed with people and you can see the energy.” The city council and dozens of supporters filled the alley to see the additions and learn more about the alley’s history. “This project started with a vision many years ago and has transcended several iterations of city council and several iterations of city administration,” City Manager Mark Watson said. “The contributions and ideas of each of those groups coming together makes this what it is today.” City council approved the
City staff and elected leaders cut the ceremonial ribbon to showcase the enhancements to Morgan-Windsor Alley. Photo courtesy of City of Monroe
Morgan-Windsor Alley project in 2020; but like many projects across the country, it experienced setbacks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation. “I remember [Former Mayor] Marion Holloway and I standing out here four years ago in the very early stages of this project thinking, ‘Are we really going to
Tchernavia Montgomery, CEO of Care Ring, shared with Wingate University graduates some insight into overcoming adversity. Photo courtesy of Wingate University