On Friday, February 7^th, Freeport’s own Gabe Moore received The Amateur Athlete of the Year award from the All Sports Association (ASA).  This is a very prestigious award, and we are very proud of him.  The All Sports Association has been recognizing athletes in the Northwest Florida area annually for 45 years and their organization raises money for many charitable causes in the area, including the Special Olympics, YMCA, and Boys & Girls Clubs.  Festivities last Friday included autograph signing, interviews with several newspapers, radio stations, and television channels, a reception with the ASA’s corporate sponsors, members, and many other influential individuals, and culminated with the annual awards banquet with over 1500 people in attendance.  ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit served as the keynote speaker.  Gabe was accompanied by his family as shown in the picture.  Congratulations to Gabe for this awesome honor!

Students from music programs in Walton County Schools were selected to perform at the 2014 Florida Music Educators Professional Development Conference and All-State Concert held at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL, on January 8-11, 2014.

Walton High School Senior band member Mathew Deal (E-flat Contrabass Clarinet/ Baritone saxophone), Paxton High School Junior band member Samantha Reeves (Bb Clarinet), and Paxton High School Freshman band member Maddisyn Jones (Bass Clarinet), were selected for All-State High School Honor Band.  The Walton High School Band Director is Dr. Harry Patzig; Paxton High School Director is Renee Riggs. 

Walton High School Senior Joseph Wilmoth, Director Diara Morris, earned a place in the All State Men's Chorus.

Paxton School Freshman 8^th grade band member Randi Madden (Tuba), Director Renee Riggs, was selected for All-State Middle School Honor Band.

West DeFuniak Elementary Student Haleigh Permenter (4^th grade), music teacher Gina Ealum, was chosen to sing in the Elementary All-State Chorus. 

Students were selected from applications covering the entire state of Florida.  Congratulations Walton County Music Students!

The FHS volleyball team, under the direction of Coach Tina Knight, and the FHS golf team, under the direction of Coach Kitty Neal, are both ranked first in the FHSAA Academic Team Championship.  The volleyball team has a combined GPA of 3.686, and the golf team holds a combined GPA of 3.862.

The FHSAA Academic Team Champion Awards Program honors teamwork not only in competition, but in the classroom as well.   Points for the Academic Championship are awarded based on the team’s cumulative grade point average.  The top ten schools in each FHSAA category receive points.    Ten points are awarded for a first place finish, nine points are awarded for a second place finish, etc.   Points awarded for teams in single-class sports count toward the overall standings.   Due to the contributions of the FHS golf and volleyball teams, Freeport High School is currently in the overall lead for the Class 1A Academic Championship with a total of 20 points.   Baker High School is in second place with nine (9) points.

Congratulation to Walton High School Senior Amos Williams for being selected as  4A All-State Football Team Honorable Mention.  Amos is a four year letterman of Walton Braves Football and Basketball teams.  He is also an active member of WHS Key and Anchor Clubs.