Homeschooler Comes In Third In County Bee

Emily Parker, daughter of Rob and Wendy Parker of Clayton, won third place in the Johnton County Spelling Bee held Tuesday, February 10. Besides a trophy, the 7th grader won subscriptions to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, The Clayton News-Star, and her choice of two other local newspapers, and an Amazon.com gift certificate. Emily advanced to the county tournament after winning the Johnston County Home Educators spelling bee.

The winner of the county event, Shayne Jacobs of Clayton Middle School, will compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

(HT: Cathy Jones, JCHE)

Retired Homeschool Parents Open Bookstore

Ed and Joy Roy recently opened Corner Books & More on Main Street in China Grove. The Salisbury Post carried a feature story mentioning their homeschooling background and growing supply of books and materials for home educators.

Best wishes to the Roys and their clientele!

Weaverville Pastor Returns to Alabama Home

Bart Culpepper, former minister of music of North Point Baptist Church in Weaverville, has accepted the position of music minister for First Baptist Church of Troy, Alabama. Culpepper, a native of nearby Abbeville, Alabama, has two children in college and a 15-year-old daughter, Nichole, who is homeschooled.

(Troy (AL) Messenger, 1/21/09)

S.C. Homeschool Family in Fatal N.C. Accident

A homeschooling family on a day trip from South Carolina ended the day in a tragic accident that left the mother and both children dead.

Patricia Bigger, 29, of Liberty, S.C., and her two children, Caroline, 7, and Anthony, 4, died Friday after their minivan crashed into a pond near Rosman, N.C. News reports said the cause of the crash is under investigation. The father, Brent Bigger, who was driving at the time, survived the 8:30 p.m. accident and helped pull his family from the water, but they could not be revived in time.

(Asheville Citizen-Times, 1/10/09)

Homeschooling N.C. pastor moves to Virginia

Rev. Baker Rigg, formerly of Roanoke Rapids, is now the pastor of the Free Methodist Church in Culpeper, Virginia. The Riggs have seven children; the five at home are homeschooled. The Culpeper Star-Exponent interviewed Rev. Rigg for their church news section this week.

Chaplain's wife "the real hero"

WRAL-TV in Raleigh spoke with Army chaplain Kirby Vidrine, who says that his wife Wendy, the homeschooling mother of eight (with another on the way), is "the backbone of our family".

The Ft. Bragg captain is leaving for an extended deployment to Iraq.

Lexington homeschool grad returns with "Seussical"

Mychal Phillips, the daughter of Mike and Debbie Phillips of Lexington, is a 2005 homeschool graduate. She is taking time off from her studies at New York University to tour with a production of the musical "Seussical", which will be presented in her hometown next Tuesday. The full story appears in the Lexington Dispatch.

N.C. Homeschool News 10/19/08

Parents Tried Public School, Found It Wanting, Chose Home Education

The New Bern Sun-Journal spoke with several parents whose children had been in the public school system, sometimes at several different schools, and finally concluded homeschooling was the better alternative.

Victoria Baldwin of New Bern made a 98 several months ago on a test about the Boston Tea Party. But when Victoria, a Craven County middle school student, took the paper home, she couldn't tell her father Gerald anything about the tea party.

"She said she thought it was about the president's wife having a party," Gerald Baldwin said. "I found out all their tests were open book. They weren't learning anything."

When Baldwin went to talk to school administrators about the tests, he said they didn't see a problem because his daughter was making A's.

"She has A's, but I'm not hearing A's," he said.

"They're preparing children for an end-of-grade test, not life. I feel like my tax dollars have been paying for an education for the world, and they didn't get it."

Gerald and Chenona Baldwin have decided to home school their daughters
this year.

...

Homeschooled competitor interviewed at the Coastal Carolina Agricultural Fair

The Havelock News featured an interview with 14-year-old Hannah Davis, a long time 4-H member and returning champion in the livestock arena:

A short distance from the Ferris wheel, 14-year-old Hannah Davis and others were preparing for the livestock exhibits, which begin receiving animals Wednesday.

Davis, who lives in the Straits community of eastern Carteret County, was joined by Jasper, a 2-week-old Angus-mix calf, who rested in a stall.

Davis is a member of the Otway Livestock Club and Newport Roadrunners 4-H. She was tending to Jasper for Kim and Russ Nead. A home-schooled ninth-grader, Davis has been a fair livestock competitor for three years, winning best in show for her chickens last fall. She also shows goats.

She has been in 4-H for nine years, but after she got involved in raising livestock three years ago, she developed a serious interest and now plans to attend N.C. State University and become a livestock veterinarian.

Graham homeschoolers interviewed at Sarah Palin appearance

"What a good field trip," their mother told the Salisbury Post:

"I try to instill in my girls that women can do anything," said Dawn Williams, a Graham mother who home-schools her three children, Caitlin, Emily and Gabe. In the hours before Palin arrived, they waited in the shade along the outfield's warning track in left field. ...

The family members said they were definitely McCain-Palin supporters and would not be attending had it been a rally for the Democratic ticket of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Caitlin, 13, said Palin would stop illegal immigration, and Emily, 11, said Palin would try to lower taxes.

N.C. Homeschool News 9/21/08

Perdue ties McCrory to homeschool vouchers; McCrory denies

At a debate on education Friday, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue attempted to define Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's support for vouchers as a program intended for homeschoolers (among others).

In a question about private school vouchers, McCrory said he supports their selected use, especially for children with disabilities or special needs where private education may be more suitable. Perdue has said his plan would cost $900 million, which he denies.

"I believe in changing the status quo of our educational system," McCrory said. "But I've never recommended an across-the-board voucher system because the state's broke and couldn't afford it anyway."

Perdue responded by reading quotes and responses to voter questionnaires saying he supports vouchers for private and home school children and suggested he's more ardent about talking with them to conservative groups.

"I'd like to know what he's talking about," Perdue said.

(Associated Press in Education Week)

The Raleigh News & Observer points out that Perdue's ad claiming a voucher program would cost $900 million annually assumes every non-public student in the state would receive one. However, they also noted that McCrory did, in fact, indicate support on the survey by the N.C. Family Policy Council, answering "Yes" to the question, "Should parents who choose to educate their children in private, religious, or home schools receive a voucher or tax credit from the state?"

Libertarians reaffirm support for homeschool tax credit, vouchers, lighter regulation


Duke Professor and gubernatorial candidate Mike Munger, not included in the recent education debate, again stated his support for tax credits for homeschool families.

Phillip Rhodes, the Libertarian candidate for N.C. lieutenant governor, used his time in a debate on Tuesday to call for lifting "burdensome" regulations on homeschooling. He also expressed support for vouchers to increase competition in the school system and even suggested ending government-operated schools "altogether".

Homeschooling family chosen for next "Habitat" home

The Dunn Daily Record reports that Donna Smith and her daughter Kaitlyn will be the owners of the next home built by Harnett County's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Construction on the home, just started, will be completed in early 2009.

Asheville homeschooler helps organize peace march

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports a group of "about 50 people ... marched through downtown Asheville Saturday to promote the cause of peace.":

"This would make peace and peacemaking a national priority,” said Daniel Pinelli, 16, a home-schooled student from Asheville who helped organize Saturday’s walk.

“The current situation in our world is one where violence is a cure-all, and I think until we see peace as a valid means of conflict resolution, we’re not going to get anything done.

“I am doing this for all of the kids my age throughout the world who need peace in their mind, peace in their heart and peace in their world, but do not receive it.”

The push to create the Department of Peace is championed by The Peace Alliance, a national organization with chapters across the country. A Cabinet-level secretary of peace appointed by the president would head the department.

The House bill, H.R. 808, has 70 cosponsors, although none are from North Carolina. All but one of the cosponsors are Democrats. The legislation was
first introduced in 2001.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler [D-NC] said he couldn’t support the legislation.

Shuler represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes Asheville.


Fayetteville mom homeschools in protest over school bus

Tammie Neiss-Mote told the Fayetteville Observer that she had been homeschooling her 4-year-old son because Ft. Bragg schools "have to be out of their mind if they think my son will be getting on that bus." Neiss-Mote had questioned the practice of mixing younger and older students on the same bus without monitors, seat belts, or car seats. She said her son weighs 36 pounds, which is well under the 8 year old, 80 pound requirement to ride without a booster in a private vehicle. School officials responded that safety is "an important factor" to them but N.C. public schools operate their buses the same way.


CDC says U.S. measles resurgence due in part to homeschoolers

Dr. Jane Seward of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention told National Public Radio that the return of significant measles outbreaks in the U.S. is "mainly children whose parents have chosen not to vaccinate."


"A high proportion of those children are home-schooled. In Illinois, pretty much all of the new cases of measles were among home-schooled children — and none of them were vaccinated," she says.


SPORTS: Euroclydon defeasts Westover Christian

From the Madison Messenger, Danville, VA:

ROXBORO, N.C. — Westover Christian fell to Euroclydon Home School in four games 26-24, 25-22, 17-25 and 25-22 on Tuesday. Peyton Parrish led the way for the Bulldogs (6-3) with 16 points and 10 digs. Donna Motley had eight points and six kills and Brook Grant had nine points and three aces.

In junior high action, Westover defeated Euroclydon in three games 20-25, 25-13 and 25-21. The Bulldogs (7-0) were led by Natalie Petrovich with 17 points and three kills. Sydney Bowles added nine points and four assists.

N.C. Homeschool News 9/07/08

McCain voices support for home education: Presidential candidate John McCain, speaking at the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency hosted by pastor Rick Warren, interjected his support for school choice and home education into Warren's scripted question and answer session:

"Can I just say choice and competition, -- choice and competition, home schooling, charter school vouchers, all the choice competition, I want -- look, I want every American family to have the same choice that Cindy and I made and Senator Obama and Mrs. Obama made as well and that was we wanted to send our children to the school of our choice. And charter schools work, my friends, home schooling works, vouchers in our nation's capital works. We've got thousands of people in Washington D.C. that are applying for a voucher system. New York City is reforming. I go back to New Orleans. They were -- as we know, the tragedy devastated them. They now have over 30 charter schools in the city of New Orleans and guess what? It's all coming up. It's all coming up. It's a simple principle, but it's going to take dedicated men and women, particularly in the teaching profession, to make it happen. And by the way, here in -- I won't go any further, but the point is it's all based and it's being proven that choice in competition for every American family and it is the civil rights issue of the 21st century because every citizens' child now has an opportunity to go to school. But what kind of opportunity is it if you send them to a failing school? That's why we got to give everybody the same opportunity and choice."

(Forum transcript, part 5)

Although he continued the theme of education as the civil rights issue of the 21st century, his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention this week did not mention homeschooling specifically.

Injured motorcyclist credits homeschoolers' prayers for his survival: In a follow up to last week's story, the Morganton News-Herald interviewed Jamie Freeman, the 21-year-old motorcyclist who was injured while showing off in front of a crowd of homeschooled and other teenagers at a Pioneer Football League event at the School for the Deaf. While coaches checked on his injuries, 160 teenaged boys knelt on the field and prayed for his recovery. "I just wanted to come out publicly and thank them for their support," he told the News-Herald.

Person Co. homeschoolers discuss their reasons and philosophy: The Roxboro Courier-Times spoke with several families, mentioning homeschool graduates from the area that attended Cornell University and Washington University of St. Louis and those who now serve as deputy sheriff or special ed teachers. Homeschooling parents interviewed include the head of the Business Development Center at Piedmont Community College and a former teacher at Roxboro Christian Academy, the latter now leading the Home Educators Association of Roxboro (HEAR). She points out, accurately, that "homeschooling is your life" when you take on the responsibility.

The sweet smell of success: Brian, Melissa, and Owen Gold are homeschoolers in the Triad town of Whitsett, N.C. They are also entrepreneurs who have saved $2000 -- after charitable giving -- from the profits of a candy vending business they started three years ago as a school project. WFMY-TV in Greensboro reported they current service some forty vending locations from Burlington to Asheboro.

Pursuing a dream: Joey Logano of Huntersville attended traditional schools when he lived in Connecticut, but since he became a stock car driver, his mother homeschools him. When he turns 18, he'll move up to the Busch Series races. The New York Times reported the story.

Homeschooler honored for 12 years of 4-H achievement: Rebecca Craven of Asheboro was inducted into the state 4-H Honor Club, in recognition of accomplishment and service in 4-H, leadership, and high moral standards. (Courtesy Randolph County Extension Service website)

N.C. Homeschool News 8/31/08

Homeschooled twins run "Best Lemonade Stand In America": Gunnar and Hunter Greer of Ocean Isle Beach won $1000 and a Nintendo DS in the contest sponsored by Inc.com magazine. The project started with a business plan and several investors, and earned nearly $1000 in sales besides the contest prize:

The Inc.com editors, who picked the winner from at least a hundred entries from across the country, were impressed that the twins took the lemonade stand seriously, "not just something to do on a lazy summer afternoon," said Ron Kurtz, the senior editor at Inc.com who was part of the panel that selected the winner.

"They sort of captured the essence of why we started this contest in the first place," Kurtz said.

(Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News, 8/30/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 7/20/08

Asheville public schools shrink while nonpublic schools grow


Public school officials in Asheville are wondering why a significant number of parents are taking their children out of the system rather than send them to Asheville Middle School. Homeschooling is mentioned as one alternative, but just as an observation rather than a problem. (Asheville Citizen-Times, 7/20/08)



New Christian school is a hybrid but doesn't fit homeschool definition

A new "university model" Christian school opening this year in Boone will offer services to homeschoolers and incorporate a certain amount of home instruction in their full program. However, parents should be aware of the state's legal definition of homeschooling and be sure their family's educational program clearly fits one definition or the other to avoid becoming inadvertently truant. (Boone Mountain Times, 7/17/08)


Reminder: Homeschooled sixth graders need new vaccines, too

The New Bern Sun-Journal continues the statewide series of articles about new school vaccination requirements, which includes homeschoolers as well as those in traditional schools.
(New Bern Sun-Journal, 7/14/08)


Wilmington family interviewed for TV report on homeschooling


The family of Brett and Ashley Teeter are featured in this story from WWAY-TV in Wilmington.
(WWAY-TV, Wilmington, 7/13/08)



Homeschooled Motocross rider wins big in Tennessee event


Taylor Futrell, 17, of Clinton, N.C., was the winner in four races at the Kawasaki Team Green Motocross Championships, held at Muddy Creek Raceway in Bountville, Tenn. Futrell won the Schoolboy Classic after winning the MX Lite, MX A Pro, and College Boy races in the same event. This was his first professional outing in six years of motorcycle competition. (Tri-Cities Sports.com, Kingsport, TN, 7/15/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 7/13/08

NEWS



N.C. newspaper sponsors homeschooling blog


In what may be a first in North Carolina, the Hendersonville Times-News is hosting a homeschooling blog on their newspaper's website. Homeschooling in Henderson County is edited by Kerry Jones, a western N.C. native and mother of two homeschooled sons, and features a weekly listing of "opportunities and events" as well as news and announcements of interest to homeschoolers.




N.C.'s vaccination rules held up as standard for U.S. homeschoolers


An article in the Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics worries that unvaccinated homeschoolers are a public health problem, and holds up North Carolina's requirements as a good example for other states. Homeschooling researcher Dr. Milton Gaither (Messiah College, PA) reviews the article here and notes that a desire for privacy should not keep homeschoolers from joining the debate:

[H]omeschoolers do themselves and others a disservice when they remove their voices from this important public discussion in an quixotic effort to go off the grid. But given the lack of evidence in this article, it is by no means clear that homeschoolers are in fact off the grid on this issue.

(Milton Gaither, Homeschooling Research Notes, 7/11/08)




Homeschool family business is one of Charlotte's "top food experiences"


The Charlotte Observer recently highlighted Waxhaw's New Town Farms as one of Charlotte's "culinary 50":

A lot of hands keep Charlotte's local-food movement growing. But Sammy and Melinda Koenigsberg are the roots. He was co-founder of the Matthews Community Farmers Market. Their farm was one of the first in the area to add Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions. They're both active in Charlotte's Slow Foods chapter. Oh, and they home-school eight kids. Their enthusiasm for local food is infectious.

(Charlotte Observer, 6/17/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 7/06/08

NEWS


Apologia publisher purchased by N.C. homeschool leaders


Apologia Educational Ministries, publisher of the Apologia Science textbook series, has been purchased by Davis and Rachael Carman of Waxhaw. The Carmans, long term board members of North Carolinians for Home Education, plan to expand the publisher's business into non-science curriculum and practical and inspirational books, and have already signed on Zan Tyler and Deborah Bell while retaining Apologia founder Dr. Jay Wile. (Read the full story on NCHSN)


Editorial: Homeschoolers "should be willing" to submit to Social Service inspections

The Rocky Mount Telegram's July 2 editorial says homeschoolers "should be applauded" for their efforts to "give their kids a leg up and to protect them from unwanted outside influences." However, their recommendation doesn't mesh with the positive comments:

Quite often, public and private school employees intervene and report suspicious behavior to social service officials. Sometimes schools are able to save good kids from bad parents.

But there is no one to protect home-schooled children from abusive parents.

Because of that, home-school families should be willing to submit to more oversight, perhaps in the form of occasional visits from social workers.

(Article: Rocky Mount Telegram, 7/2/08 - Letters to the Editor can be submitted here.)

On again? Raleigh newspaper includes homeschoolers in tax credit

Amid mounting opposition from public school organizations, the special needs education tax credit again includes homeschoolers, according the Raleigh News & Observer -- but is unlikely to come for a vote this session. (News & Observer, Raleigh, 7/3/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 6/29/08

NEWS


Education Committee excludes homeschoolers from special needs tax credit bill


The House Education Committee this week approved changes to a tax credit bill that would prevent special needs homeschoolers from qualifying for a benefit worth as much as $6000 per year.


Though neither the House nor the Senate versions of the bill specifically mentioned homeschooling, the wording of the proposal would have allowed home educators to apply because N.C. law considers them a form of nonpublic school. The committee's changes will disqualify homeschoolers from participating in the program if it passes.


The bill has enjoyed bipartisan support in the legislature, but the state teachers' lobby, the N.C. Association of Educators, has voiced strong opposition. (Rocky Mount Telegram, 6/25/08)


References: House Bill 388 (version 1) = Senate Bill 2059 (version 1)


NCHE officer says violent acts not related and not about homeschooling

Kay Bindrim, regional director for North Carolinians for Home Education, told the Rocky Mount Telegram that the recent trial and conviction of Lynn Paddock in Johnston County was "clearly a child abuse case and not a home school case."

A second death, a 13-year-old who was being homeschooled out of compliance with the law, occurred in Edgecombe County this month. "I don't see how the two go together," Bindrim said. Bindrim is president of the Christian Homeschool Association of Rocky Mount. (See related article below). (Rocky Mount Telegram, 6/29/08)

SCHOLARSHIPS

Morgan Gray Scholarship awarded to China Grove homeschooler


Bryson Nesbitt of China Grove has been selected to receive the Morgan R. Gray Scholarship, worth $825. The scholarship for Rowan County homeschoolers was founded in memory of Morgan Gray, an 11-year-old homeschooler who was killed in an auto accident in 2001. Bryson will be attending Catawba College this fall. (Salisbury Post, 6/25/08)


PEOPLE

Homeschooling growing for a variety of reasons in Rocky Mount

A positive story in the Rocky Mount Telegraph, including NCHE's Kay and Tommy Bindrim and several other homeschooling families in the area. (Rocky Mount Telegraph, 6/29/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 6/22/08

NEWS

Homeschoolers may need booster shots under new vaccination rules

Following up on the earlier announcements, homeschoolers who are older than 12 on August 1 and have not had a tetanus/diptheria/pertussis vaccination in the past five years will be required to have a booster shot to keep their vaccinations up to date. The new rule applies to students in all forms of school, not just homeschoolers. (Rockingham, Richmond County Daily Journal, 6/19/08)

Social Services report finds fault with themselves, but suggests watching homeschoolers too

A Social Services commission investigating the death of Sean Paddock in Johnston County released its report this week, finding that procedures at three social services agencies were unable to predict or prevent the 4-year-old's death. Recommendations included the suggestion that the Division of Non-Public Education seek more funding to allow more inspections of home schools, but no changes were suggested to the state's homeschooling statute.

Remarkably, local media reports focused on the homeschooling recommendation, bypassing several pages of findings on the process which allowed Sean's foster family to adopt him and his siblings in spite of questions raised during the adoption process.

On Friday, North Carolinians for Home Education released a brief statement to its membership, pointing out that there was "no causal relationship" between homeschooling and child abuse.

Sean's mother Lynn Paddock, who was homeschooling Sean's older siblings, is serving a life sentence for murder and child abuse. (NCHSN Exclusive)

ACADEMICS
NCHE announces 2008 scholarship winners


Seven homeschool graduates were named in NCHE's 2008 Scholarship Program at their annual conference, May 24, in Winston-Salem.


John Calvin Young of Smithfield received the Don and Linda Lassiter Scholarship, NCHE's first renewable, four-year award, sponsored by Johnston County couple of that name.


Kelsey Rushing Farson of Davidson and Jared Michael Hostetler of Hendersonville received the HINTS Support Group Scholarships, sponsored by the Charlotte organization.


Timothy Carl Kroboth of Charlotte, Andrew Stephen Woods of Winston-Salem, Shana Marie Hakanson of Wilson, and Christina Elizabeth Banner of Conover received the NCHE Scholarship (North Carolinians for Home Education press release)


Apex homeschooler wins $10,000 scholarship from drug manufacturer

Jordan R. Hill of Apex has been awarded the $10,000 Steven C. Chellevold Memorial Scholarship by the Schering-Plough Corporation. Jordan plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill. (Raleigh News & Observer, 6/xx/08)


PEOPLE


Aberdeen homeschooler is finalist in Miss N.C. Outstanding Teen


Charity Haskins of Aberdeen, Miss Fayetteville Outstanding Teen, was named one of the top three scholars in the Miss N.C. Outstanding Teen pageant on Saturday. Charity, a 17-year-old, was one of ten finalists in the state competition in Raleigh. (WRAL, 6/21/08; Fayetteville Observer, 6/19/08)

N. C. Homeschool News 5/25/08

ACADEMICS

JACKSON - Sylva homeschooler Martha Hall received a bronze medal in the 1st International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environmental Project Olympiad, held in Houston, Texas, May 1-5. The competition included students from 52 countries and 38
states. (Carolina Newswire, 05-22-08)

PEOPLE

CATAWBA - Rod Helder, director of the N.C. Division of Non-Public Education, is on the agenda as a presenter at the 2008 Love to Learn Conference, to be held at Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory, NC, on August 16. (website)

N.C. Homeschool News 5/18/08

NEWS

STATE -- The 24th annual NCHE Conference and Bookfair will draw thousands to Winston-Salem this week. Keynote speakers are Debra Bell, author of The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling; Dr. Jeff Myers, head of the Myers Institute for Communication and Leadership; Shelley Noonan of Pumpkin Seed Press; and author and counselor Paul Tripp. Events will include 90 workshops and sessions; a book fair covering over 50,000 square feet of exhibition space; a college and camp fair; a music festival hosted by Piedmont Bible College; an all-star basketball game; and two full high school graduation ceremonies. (North Carolinians for Home Education)

STATE -- Teenage victim of N.C. plane crash was a homeschooler from Florida
(St. Petersburg Times, 5/18/08)

McDOWELL -- Mom who homeschooled her son after he was spanked by his charter school talks about it on Dr. Phil (WSPA-TV, Spartanburg, SC, 5/16/08)


SPORTS

GUILFORD -- The first annual State Homeschool East-West All-Star Basketball games will take place on Friday, May 30th at Greensboro College at the Hanes Gym on West McGee Street. The girls will play at 5:00 p.m. and the boys at 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the NCHE Athletic Conference and is being held in conjunction with the NCHE Conference in Winston-Salem.


PEOPLE

CATAWBA -- Lisa Baxter, the daughter of Jerry and Tammy Thomas of Sherrills Ford, has received a four-year scholarship worth $100,000 from Berea College (Charlotte Observer, 5/18/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 5/11/08

SPORTS

Salisbury -- Jessie Whitesides, a homeschool graduate from Yadkinville, plays outfield for Catawba College's Lady Indians softball team. Here, she scores in the season finish playoff game against Mars Hill. (Catawba College, 4/7/08)


PEOPLE

Durham -- Homeschoolers Heather Lane and Brianna Holbert are "veteran volunteers" at the Duke Homestead historic site. Here, they are part of the small group planting tobacco seedlings while a larger group of visitors looks on. (Durham News, 5/10/08)

Kannapolis -- Homeschooler Amanda Burris has published her first novel at age 17. Remember the Dance: The Story of Nora Shanahan is a romance set in Ireland during the 1840s. (Concord & Kannapolis Independent Tribune, 2/11/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 4/27/08

NEWS

STATE -- Republicans from the 2nd Congressional District have elected a homeschooled high schooler as part of their delegation to the Republican National Convention this summer. John Calvin Young, son of Hal and Melanie Young of Smithfield, was selected as an alternate delegate to the Convention, to be held in Minneapolis in September. John Calvin, 18, has been active with Republican campaigns and Teen Age Republicans for several years, and will be majoring in political science and economics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia this fall. (NCGOP 2nd District website, 4/26/08)

WARREN -- Letter writer says that state senate candidate Chuck Stires supports school choice, including homeschooling (Virginia/North Carolina News, 4/23/08)

BERTIE -- South Mills homeschoolers visit alpaca shearing in Windsor
(Hampton Roads Virginian-Pilot, 4/27/08)


SPORTS

PENDER -- Homeschooled member Joshua Butrim shares the team's recognition for "Safest Handling of Firearms on the Line" in 4-H District shooting competition at Camp Tuscarora (Wilmington Star-News, 04/22/08)


PEOPLE

BUNCOMBE -- Homeschooler finds interest and diversity in discussions of "Blue Moon Group" (Asheville Citizen-Times, 4/27/08)