ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Last week we made it through the opening of school in mid-August to Homecoming in September. This week we’d like to review some of the high points of the months that followed at Robertsdale High.

Academics is a major part of the RHS experience and for Stasia May and Brandon Laird all of the hard work for the past 13 years is paying off as May was recently named as a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, while Laird earned Honorable Mention honors.

Theresa Bryant, the principal at Robertsdale High, announced that she was retiring Sept. 30. Steven Grant, a long-time assistant principal, was named as the interim principal until the position is filled permanently. He was replaced a week later by Craig Ross, who came to RHS from Spanish Fort Middle School.

Ross was honored with a reception the afternoon of Oct. 14 in the Robertsdale High Library. Ross said he saw his role as one of support for his teaching staff, as well as making any changes necessary to help RHS remain one of the top high schools in Baldwin County.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes held a “Fields of Faith” event at the football stadium the evening of Oct. 12. A sizeable crowd came out to hear the band, Magnetic, as well as the Christian testimonies of Taylor Ryals and Flynn Wood.

Dr. Cindy Erickson was named the Alfa Teacher of the Month for District I, which includes Baldwin and Mobile counties.

The Battle of the Bands took place in October in the RHS gymnasium. There were 13 singers and four bands. The winners were N.B.N., in first place, Nine Acres in second, and Poetic Soul was voted third.

In the Robertsdale Idol Talent Contest for Singers only Ashley Coberly placed first, Lowell Vaughn was voted second, and Michael Evans and Troy Johnson placed third.

The Robertsdale High Naval Jr. ROTC recently went on a two-day field trip to Naval Air Station, Pensacola, where the 44 cadets learned of Ft. Barrancas’ role during the Civil War, climbed the 177 steps of the Pensacola Lighthouse, and toured the Naval Aviation Museum. The group also visited “The Wall South,” which is a replica of the Vietnamese War Monument in Washington, D.C. Master Chief Bob Dairy, a Vietnam War veteran, told the cadets, “Hate war, but not the warrior.”

The group also did their morning physical training, in addition to marching with active duty marines and sailors. The cadets ate in the base’s chow halls, and bowled at the Correy Station bowling alley.

A Red Cross blood drive will be held in the RHS Library on Oct. 26 during most of the school day. Over the years the students at RHS have established a reputation for not only meeting, but exceeding the day’s goals. Students from the Health Occupations Students of America from the South Baldwin Center for Technology were on hand to make sure the day went smoothly.

This year’s Who’s Who, as voted on by the students, include; Best All-Around: Rachel Lomax/Pete Lewandowski, Most Creative: Paige Cooper/Garrett Allen, Best Dressed: Autumn Phillips/Gerson Tunek, Most Studios: Julia Pischek/Ryan Gordon, Best Leader: Danielle Swafford/Flynn Woods, Class Clown: Taylor Ryals/Casey Overby, Best Smile: Bobbi Caldwell/Brian Combita, Biggest Flirt: Hope Carnathan/Tres Givens, Most Athletic: Kayli Evans/Dionta Banks, Friendliest: Andrienne Sundie/Austin Vivar, Most Likely to Succeed: Stasia May/Brandon Laird, and Most School Spirit: Erica Alexander/Forrest Hammond.

The National Honor Society held its tapping for 2011 Tuesday, Nov. 15 in the RHS gymnasium. Those being inducted into this prestigious organization included; Lauren Burch, Brittany Hammock, Brandon Laird, Anastasia May, Lauren Mosley, Blake Sandoval, Gerson Tunek, and Taylor Volovecky. These students are all members of the senior class.

The juniors who were tapped, include; Emily Laken Britton, Jacob Bushaw, Victoria Clark, Victoria Creamer, Emily Hahn, Mary Kayla Harris, Sydney Hoover, Joshua Laird, Tayla Beth Lucas, Tyler Phelps, and Matthew Wilson.

Members of the sophomore class who were inducted, include; Katie Arrington, Timothy Bankester, Mallory Burch, Joseph Eric Butts, Tyler Byrd, Kaleb Coleman, Samuel Criswell, Erin Curtis, Tyler Everett, Brittany Fordham, Sarah Michaela Forland, Pierson Gilreath, Corey Hadley, Danielle Johnson, Ashlyn Justus, Marissa Kendall Langham, Jalen Law, Samuel Lewandowski, Logan Mitchell, Sydnee Pasquarello,Trista Phelps, Maria Sabogal, Christen Salac, Crystal Smith, Rachel Starling, Baylee Shackelford, Samantha Stott, Ryan Thomley, Carmen Vivar, and Kara Wells.

Following the induction ceremony the new members and their parents were given a reception in their honor.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association realigned the region in November to include three teams that are each over a 300-mile round trip. The new teams include Dothan High (176 miles one way according to Google Maps), Northview (183 miles), and Enterprise (151 miles), which means the Golden Bear Marching Band will probably be staying home when it comes to such away games.

Robertsdale High’s Model United Nations Delegation won for the 12th year in a row as they sent Dr. Cindy Erickson into retirement with a win.

The Golden Bear team of Jonathan Keating, Ryan Davidson, Tyler Byrd and Shariden Lord, who represented China, took Outstanding Delegation honors.

Keating, Lord and Byrd also took Premier Speaker honors in their respective committees.

The bragging rights and championship belong to the senior girls following Robertsdale High’s Powder Puff Bowl, played Dec. 12, at J.D. Sellers Stadium. The seniors defeated the sophomores 6-0 in the first round, and in the championship defeated the freshmen 12-0.

During the second week of December the Naval Jr. ROTC held a flag retirement where 17 U.S. flags were retired. The ceremony attracted a number of veterans, as well as members of the Central Baldwin community.

Paige Cooper was notified that she had won the Spring Fever Chase design contest. Cooper’s design will be used on all of the Chase’s T-shirts. A senior at RHS, Cooper said she plans to attend the University of Alabama where she will major in fashion design and merchandising and minor in art. Cooper was awarded a check for her college expenses by the Chase’s design committee.