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“The future belongs
to those who believe
. in the beauty of
their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Congratulations
graduates.
Start your financial future
with a solid plan.
' May your futures be full of
good health, happiness,
success and prosperity.
Doug Satterfield, AAMS
203 S. Battleground Ave.
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
704-739-0997
www.edwardjones.com
GRADUATION
The Kings Mountain Herald
May 19, 2005
Member SIPC
Edward Jones
Serving Individual Investors Since 1871
Students overcome obstacles to graduate
BY ANDIE L. BRYMER
Staff Writer
Omia Wilson has not let
motherhood keep her from
graduating. When her son
Tykel Smith was born she
told herself “I've got one
more year. I'm finishing.”
Wilson had watched peo-
ple around her leave high
school because of parent-
hood but realized that was-
n’t what she wanted.
Wilson will graduate with
both a high school diploma
and a certified nursing assis-
tant license. This summer
she plans to continue her job
at Taco Bell and work as a
CNA. By fall she'll start the
nursing program at Gaston
College, then it’s on to a uni-
versity for a bachelor of
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nursing degree. Wilson
hopes to continue her educa-
tion by studying to be a
nurse practitioner.
She’s eager to make
money for herself, her son
and to give back to her
mother Janice Wilson.
“I want to help her out.
She has sacrificed to give me
what I want,” Wilson said.
Her mother purchased
newborn clothes for Tykel
and provides childcare.
Owens advises others,
whether a teen parent or
not, to “keep your head up,
look toward your goals.”
Anika Patel has overcome
a learning disability and
now tutors another student.
For years she had to read
aloud in order to compre-
hend. Her parents and
_ teachers encouraged her to
continue reading and by
eleventh grade she was able
to read and understand
silently.
For her senior project,
Patel tutored a KMHS stu-
dent who is autistic. She has
enjoyed the satisfaction of
helping someone else.
Patel’s learning disability
does not affect her intelli-
_ gence. She organized a
Relay for Life team, compet-
ed in the Martin Luther
King oratorical contest and
earned a Future Teachers of
America scholarship.
Patel will attend Gaston
College then transfer to
UNC-Charlotte where she'll
major in elementary educa-
tion or business. Her parents
are Subas and Nilesh Patel.
When Rafaelle Smith was
a freshman at KMHS the
young man doubted he
would stay in school.
Problems at home kept him
distracted from schoolwork
and a quick temper landed
Smith in fights.
Smith’s grandmother,
Fanny Smith, and aunt
Priscilla McLeave, both pas-
tors, teamed up to help him
out. McLeave opened her
home to the struggling teen.
Sensing when he was tempt-
ed to misbehave, McLeave
would anoint Smith with oil
and pray over him as he
slept.
His grandmother instruct-
ed him to read from the
Bible to improve his literacy
skills. She allowed him to
conduct church services,
OMIA WILSON
building his confidence, and
purchased him drums to
play at church. The instru-
ments served as an outlet for
frustration.
Smith calls his grandfa-
ther, Leroy Smith, an inspi-
ration. The man takes his
grandson to the flea market
on Saturdays and asks him
about school. Sharing his
own successful battle to
overcome a temper, he has
given his grandson a good
example.
Now Smith has been
accepted at Johnson C.
Smith University.
“I believe I will make it,”
he said.
Today Smith and his
father, Leroy Smith Jr., have
improved their relationship.
Smith admires him for rais-
ing seven children.
“I don’t believe I could
do that,” he said.
Dustan Hudson hasn't let
a hearing impairment keep
him from succeeding in the
classroom and on the foot-
ball field.
Hudson played on the
KMHS team all four years as
a defensive lineman. He was
named most improved play-
er this year. He credits
Coach Dave Farquharson
and Coach Brian Thompson
for helping him improve.
Hudson also lifts weights,
which gave him a strength
advantage on the football
field. The first year he
played without an inter-
preter. For the past three
years he’s had one.
Hudson will study weld-
ing at Cleveland
ANIKA PATEL
DANIEL MULL
Community College. He's
~ gotten a head start at KMHS
by taking a college-level
Huskins class under Ed
Herndon.
After his sister Megan
Bledsoe was diagnosed with
leukemia, Hudson organ-
ized a fund raiser at school
for the Leukemia Society.
His parents are Tracy and
Gene Bledsoe.
Siblings Carla and Daniel
Mull lost their mother
Shirley Mull to cancer their
sophomore year. Despite
that, the two are coping and
succeeding.
“She taught us well. We
knew we couldn't give up,”
Daniel Mull said.
Several years ago they
watched as their mother
dealt with the death of her
mother, Granny Powell.
“We did the same thing,”
Daniel said. “I don’t think
DUSTAN HUDSON
CARLA MULL
any parent would want you
to give up.”
While their mother was at
Gaston Memorial, the two
would visit after school.
Mrs. Mull would not let her
children stay the night at the
hospital; instead, she made
them go home so they
would be rested for school
the next morning.
Their aunt, Geanie Moore,
came to North Carolina to
help out while Mrs. Mull
was dying: Because their
mother had moved to North
Carolina from New York to
raise her children the family
‘decided they should stay
here. Judith White, a mem-
ber of their Kingdom Hall
congregation, agreed to
open her home to them.
Daniel will attend North
Carolina State University to
study international business.
Carla will study culinary
arts at Johnson and Wales.
Kings Mountain High School Junior Marshals are Amber Malpass, left, front, Heather Wilson, Stephanie Smith, Christine
Sisk. Kristyn Funderburke, left, back row, James Gladden, Brandon McClain, Trey Robinson, Cody Barrett, David Hughes
and d Lacey Beam. Drew Martin and Travis Volz are not pictured.
Wishing the Class of 2005 a bright and successful future!
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