By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Students from four different Union City Elementary School classes were honored Monday – the next-to-last day of the school year — by receiving the Top Tornado Award in ceremonies in the school gymnasium.
The prestigious Top Tornado accolades are presented to students in each PreK-2nd grade class roughly every nine weeks. In all, 70 students were recognized by UCES guidance counselor Christina VanHooser, school principal David Byars and assistant principal Thel Taylor.
Students are selected for the award based on behavior, work ethic, and kindness to others.
A group of third- and fourth-grade students from UCES were rewarded for good deeds over the final nine weeks of the 2020-21 school year with a trip to Discovery Park of America last week.
Deemed “Discovery Kids” for their exemplary behavior, the students spent the day exploring DPA and both learning and enjoying its many features.
Students are selected for the honor based on their work ethic, kindness, and behavior.
Among those chosen to receive the honors were (see photos):
PRE-K
Front row, from left: Carter Harris, Lance Jones, Liandri Sanders, Kylie Kerney, My’Nyla McElrath
Second row, from left: Charlie Parks, Scarlett Roney, Andrea Martinez-Maldonado, Madison Price, Oliver Reyna
Not pictured: Sariyah Barford, Bailynn Smith
KINDERGARTEN
Front row, from left: Yaretzy Carranza, Austin Nipp, Adryian Coleman, Roman Gray, Knox Norsworthy, Kevin Ajanel-Pastor
Second row, from left: Adalynn Meadows, Iris Mendoza-Lopez, Jakavion Thomas, Alex Cardena, Emmah-Rose Jobe, Abrielle Smith
Third row, from left: Emma Kate Bolding, Aaron Lopez, Dekian Mailman, Olivia Hall, Mariella Hazelwood, Wesley Pigg
Not pictured: Abigail Beaver, Christon McClure, Dominique Dickerson, Donquerion Mackins
1ST GRADE
Front row, from left: Mia Thompson, Danica Bell, Alyssa Hall, Rylan Walker, Amalia Pigg, Jensen Stinnett
Second row, from left: Mitchell Bucholz, Dreyanna Harrell, Jazriell Scates, Aubrielluh Flores, Di’Erria McElrath, Elli Stout
Not pictured: Brian Turner, Heavenly Wade, Aaron Lopez, Parker Jackson, Alex Lopez, Rani Bui
2ND GRADE
Front row, from left: Carsen Gray, Brody McMinn, Owen Shannon, Chase Freeman, Caroline Sinclair, Stellyn Griffith
Second row, from left: McKenzie Henry, Chloe Lyon, Abby Carter, Kade Clanton, Israel Hervert, TiMario Albea
Third row, from left: Kinsley Hopkins, Abigail James, Carson Gallimore, Dontarius Robinson, Gael Vazquez
Not pictured: Blake Sweatt
DISCOVERY KIDS
3RD GRADE
Front row, from left: Hillary Campbell, Jamie O’Brien, Naomi McGee, Kailyn McBride, Pyper Prather, Linden Hayslett, Brody Fields, Hillaria Siquin-Soto, Kamryn Dodson, and Ava Wisniewski
4th GRADE
Back row, from left: Zaira Vazquez, Mason Morton, Ava DeVito, Madisen Lawrence, Annie Beth Cruce, Kenslie Taylor, Sha’Mylia Herrell, Ariana Bishop, Colton Lewis, and Jasmine Cruz-Franco