May 23, 2025
By: Bill Conger
Kaylee Womack dominated the Academic Awards at the DeKalb West School 8th Grade Recognition. Womack was honored with the ELA, Math, History, and Science awards from Dwayne Blair’s homeroom. From Mrs. Bratten’s homeroom, Gabriel Blair picked up the Math and History awards while Halia McDaniel received the ELA award and Dakota Ferrell was handed the Science award.
Named to the Principal’s List (All A’s) for the year were Gabriel Blair, Grant Brown, Mia Hall, Kaden Mullinax, Caroline Neal, and Kaylee Womack. Named to the A & B Honor Roll for the entire year were Jaretzy Aguilar, Adam Brown, Cryslan Cecil, Dakota Ferrell, Katelynn Fry, Bella Gonzalez, Yesica Gonzales, Makenna Lomas, Halia McDaniel, and Kylie Pierce.
The Making Tracks (Most Improved) Award were awarded to Josh Floyd and Javan Hefflin. Four students were awarded with the Citizenship Awards: Gabriel Blair, Halia McDaniel, Levi Cripps, and Caroline Neal. The 4 PAWS Awards went to Kaden Mullinax and Cryslan Cripps. Mullinax and Adam Brown were highlighted for Perfect Attendance.
The following five students were acknowledged for earning the highest grade point averages in middle school (6th-8th grades): Gabriel Blair ranked one with a 3.732 GPA, Kaylee Womack ranked 2nd with a 3.682 GPA, Kaden Mullinax ranked third with a 3.645 GPA, Mia Hall ranked fourth with a 3.643 GPA, and Halia McDaniel was fifth with a 3.580 GPA.
These students were recognized by their activity teachers: Jonah Maynard and Caleb Dickerson for Guidance, Logan Winfree and Malachi Gaither for Library, Savana Muncey and Javan Hefflin for Music, Gabriel Blair for STREAM, Halia McDaniel and Logan Winfree for Computer.
P.E. Teacher Kelly Pyburn recognized several students for their sports activities with different teams. Jacob Johnson and Slade Bennett, who are members of the high school fishing team, will be in the state championship. Dayton Heflin, who fishes in the TBF Tournament series, has won with his teammate 1st at Norris Lake, Melton Hill Lake, 2nd at Dale Hollow Lake, and 3rd at Nickajack Lake. Kaylee Womack was the leading scorer for the Lady Bulldogs this past season, was also named to the All-tournament team at Forks River Tournament. Gabriel Blair achieved his black belt in Taekwondo and is now able to teach students. He also has won multiple medals at three different tournaments this year. Caroline Neal was on the DMS Saints softball team that finished 3rd in the district, and she was named to the All-Tournament team. Kaden Mullinax, a member of the Cross Country team, also placed 4th in his age group at his first-ever half marathon. Levi Cripps helped lead the football team to a regular season and conference championship. He was named All-Conference. In basketball, Levi was the leading scorer and was named to the All-Tournament team at the Forks River Tournament. Maddux Pyburn also made the All-Tournament team at Forks River. As a member of the DWS baseball team, Maddux helped lead them to regular season and district tournament championships. The Bulldogs continued to make their way into the finals of the sectionals.
Librarian Amanda Mullinax presented the following Accelerated Reader awards: Halia McDaniel and Jaretzy Aguilar-Castellanos with a $5 gift certificate for earning 400 points; Bella Gonzalez, Kate Pistole, Makenna Lomas with an AR pin for 500 points; Halia McDaniel, Caroline Neal, and Kate Pistole with a bowling trip for being the Top Readers in 8th grade. Awesome Accuracy for scoring a 95% or higher on AR tests went to Halia McDaniel, Kenzie South, and Dakota Ferrell. Kaden Mullinax was presented with the 1,000 + points certificate. He earned a total of 1,703.9 points.
Mullinax also earned the most Jr. Beta service points with 108 hours. Other 8th grade Junior Betas recognized for service include Gabriel Blair with 73 hours, Bella Gonzalez- 10.5 hours, Mia Hall- 21.25, Caroline Neal- 15.75 hours, Kate Pistole- 42.75 hours, and Kaylee Womack- 38 hours.
Here are the members of the 2025 DWS 8th Grade Class: Jaretzy Aguilar, Slade Bennett, Gabriel Blair, Adam Brown, Grant Brown, Cryslan Cecil, Kayla Checchi, Adonis Cooprider, Levi Cripps, Caleb Dickerson, Jacob Dies, Dakota Ferrell, Joshua Floyd, Katelyn Fry, Malachi Gaither, Bella Gonzalez, Yesica Gonzalez, Spencer Gregory, Jada Hale, Mia Hall, Marilda Hatfield, Dayton Heflin, Javan Hefflin, Jacob Johnson, Makenna Lomas, Jonah Maynard, Halia McDaniel, Ezzy Moore, Kaden Mullinax, Savana Muncey, Jaython Myers, Caroline Neal, Jake Nokes, Allie Pedigo, Kylie Pierce, Kate Pistole, Maddux Pyburn, Aydin Reed, Isaac Scott, Kenzie South, Miley Tays, Harley Willingham, Logan Winfree, and Kaylee Womack.