Good-bye to middle school...

Hi everyone--

It's tough to imagine that little Emmy is already an eighth grade graduate. Just yesterday, she was a cute little pre-schooler, with adorable pigtails and a shy smile...

After such an incredible final year at Morrison Elementary School (Student Council President, Yearbook staff, Kids Next Door, Band), Emmy headed for Athens Middle School with lots of ideas and plans for what she hoped to accomplish there.

Emmy started off seventh grade as the only consistent seventh grade starter on the AMS soccer team, and she continued her athletic success as the point guard for the AMS seventh grade basketball team. She competed in track too, but, well, let's just say that it wasn't her favorite experience. She participated in Model UN, earned the President's Award for Physical Fitness as well as all A's, and won a Dawg award for getting the best score on a task in her gym class.

Eighth grade was challenging. A strong group of seventh graders joined the soccer team, and Emmy wasn't always a started. She still started on the 8th grade basketball team, leading the team of point guard, but the team had a rough year, only winning once (on Emmy's birthday). Her Model UN team (representing Turkey and consisting of Sari, Emmy, Hannai, YuShin, and Lily) won an Outstanding Nation Award. Emmy had a great time on academic award trips uptown as well on the class trip to Washington, DC.

One of the biggest highlights of the year was her bid for Freshman Class secretary... After sending in "Take Note and Vote" pencils, luggage tags for the DC trip, and individual packets of "Christie cookies," Emmy pulled out a victory in a tough fought election, and she is excited about participating on Student Council at Athens High School.

Perhaps the coolest accomplishment was Emmy's achievement of all A's for seventh AND eighth grades-- one of only nine students in her class to do so. We are so proud of all of Emmy's hard work!!

She had a fantastic time at the 8th grade party with her friends Teagan, Patricia, Kali, Haley, and Yu-Shin. Although we have no doubt that Emmy will be able to graduate from high school and beyond, this graduation party was a very nice capstone to two years of growth as an athlete, student, and young lady.

Congratulations, Emmy!!!