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Businesses, student organizations recognized

Huntland School has benefitted greatly from support that has allowed its programs to thrive, and tribute was paid at the Jan. 9 School Board meeting to key participants who have always stepped up to lend a most-welcome helping hand.

Huntland Principal Lisa Crabtree addressed the board, highlighting the contributions Citizens Community Bank of Huntland and Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods have made to the school. She also explained how Huntland School’s Future Farmers of America and the Interact Club have been instrumental in benefitting the school and the agricultural-based community.

Crabtree first extended her thanks to Citizens Community Bank and Branch Manager Jonathan Gregory.

“The bank and Mr. Gregory have a long history of being very helpful to our school in numerous ways that are too impossible to list,” she said.

Crabtree referred to new scoreboards for the football and softball fields, provided by the bank, and how the establishment has sponsored students in the Leadership Franklin County and HOBY programs. She added that Citizens has provided rewards for the school’s faculty and staff and has strongly supported student organizations when attending conventions.

Gregory was presented with a special certificate from the school as a thank-you for all that the bank has done to benefit the school.

Crabtree then reached out to Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods.

“Thompson is also eager to support our school whenever there is a need,” she said. “They provided the new basketball scoreboard for our gymnasium, sponsored a student to attend Leadership Franklin County, strongly supported our Read to be Ready summer school program and provided rewards for our faculty and staff.

“In addition, they contacted us and offered to provide middle- and high-school novels that will enable our large Hispanic student population to read important literary works in Spanish. Obviously, comprehension will be tremendously increased.”

Crabtree then extended her thanks to company representatives Claire Getty and Mary Lee McConnell for all that Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods has done to benefit the school.

She also paid tribute to the FFA chapter and all that it does on behalf of Huntland School. She recognized FFA sponsor Jason Walker and officers Charley Crawford, Sarah Robinson, Jaycob Ballard, Will Stewart and Landon Davis.

“FFA does many activities throughout the year to help our school family,” Crabtree said. “Club members go to our second-grade classrooms to educate about farm activities through their PLOW program.

“They have also helped our campus by trimming the landscaping to make it more attractive and safer for our students.”

Crabtree went on to say that at Christmas, FFA held a food drive and provided boxes for 14 families. She added that each year, the organization hosts an appreciation lunch for teachers during FFA Week and provides snacks for the faculty during spring testing.

Crabtree said FFA is presently working on developing drag equipment to prepare softball fields for game activity.

She paid tribute to the Huntland Interact Club which was represented by sponsors Crystal Burt and Leslie Jones and officers Hattie Johnson, Lizzie Johnson, Lucy Johnson and Ashton Humphries.

“The Interact Club has a long history of service to Huntland School and last year completed over 40 school projects,” Crabtree said.

She explained that all homecoming-week activities are organized by the club which provides monetary rewards to daily winners.

She added that club members organize an “Angel Tree” program each year for the elementary school where gifts are distributed to parents to provide Christmas joy for their children. This past Christmas, the club’s efforts benefitted 38 students.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, the club arranges for a different food truck to come to the school each day, and the faculty and staff are able to eat free for the entire week, Crabtree said.

She said that each October, the club organizes the “Pumpkin Parade’ which consists of displaying more than 200 highly decorated pumpkins. She added that students attend a special event dressed in their Halloween costumes to promote the festive spirit.

“These are just a very few of the many things the Interact Club does for Huntland School each year,” Crabtree said.