News Archives

2026

  • March

    At the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, Charles J. Thurmond Youth Art Awards, Keegan Kontur received a $20,000 Brenau scholarship ($5,000 each year for four years) towards tuition for her painting 'Trapped.'

    Lakeview Academy Earns Multiple Awards and Honors at Quinlan's Youth Art Month Competition

    Lakeview Academy students made an impression at the recent Youth Art Month Competition hosted by the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, earning top honors across multiple divisions and showcasing the depth of artistic talent within the school community.

    At the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, Charles J. Thurmond Youth Art Awards, Keegan Kontur received a $20,000 Brenau scholarship ($5,000 each year for four years) towards tuition for her painting 'Trapped.'

    Anna Lauzon    ’s painting, ’Television,’ earned the Vision 2030 Public Art Award - along with a $150 cash prize. The painting will be enlarged and reproduced as an 8’x8’ panel, then installed in the royal space, the parking lot outside Hunt Tower. Installation by April 2026.

    Aiden Penland (8th grade) was also recognized with a Certificate of Recognition from the Georgia Art League, along with a $50 cash prize.

    Other awards included:
    HIGH SCHOOL
    • 2nd Place and a $1,000 Kiwanis college scholarship - Keegan Kontur for her ceramic 'Betty the Bunny' sculpture
    • 3rd Place – Anna Lauzon for her acrylic painting ‘Typewriter’
    • Honorable Mention – Keegan Kontur for ‘Fergus the Fox’ sculpture
    • Honorable Mention – Connor Smith for his sculpture ‘Wisp’
    MIDDLE SCHOOL
    • 1st Place – Charlie Vinton for 'The Bright Within' oil pastel on paper
    • 2nd Place – Gia Evans for 'Feel the Spirit' graphite
    • 3rd Place – Kate Chittaro for 'When I Ruled the World'
    ELEMENTARY LEVEL
    • 1st Place – Dominic Martinez for 'Silent Night' (tempera)
    Read More

  • Lakeview Academy Wins State Literary AGAIN!

    Lakeview Academy’s Literary Team earned the overall State Championship at the GISA 4-AAA State Literary Competition, with students placing in every event entered. The title marks Lakeview’s second state championship since joining GISA. The school previously won 14 state championships while competing in GHSA.

    Individual Results/State Champions
    • Extemporaneous Speaking – Zoe Castillo
    • Impromptu Speaking – Hayden Silcox
    • Argumentative Essay – Ethan Cook
    • Humorous Oral Interpretation – Lola Evans
    • Duo Oral Interpretation – Anabelle Baxter and Lorenzo Rojas-Alban
    • Quartet – Chloe Austin, Hannah Baker, Bella Caplan, Zoe Castillo
    • Trio – Bella Caplan, Zoe Castillo, Amelia Corbin
    • Treble Solo – Hannah Baker
    State Runners-Up
    • Lower Solo – Case Beverly
    • Dramatic Oral Interpretation – Sylvia Hanley
    • Personal Essay – Miriam Haddad
    Top Finishers
    • Rhetorical Essay – 3rd Place – Parker White
    • Spelling – 4th Place – Hudson Harper
    All participating students contributed points toward the team’s overall finish. The results highlight the strength of Lakeview Academy’s academic and fine arts programs.
    Read More

  • Lakeview EDGE Program Connects Students with Real-World Career Experiences and Networking

    Lakeview Academy students took meaningful steps toward their futures this week through Lakeview EDGE, the school’s signature program designed to help students explore career pathways, build leadership and communication skills, and connect with community professionals. Through experiences such as guest speakers, job shadowing, and targeted skill development, Lakeview EDGE bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience—helping students make more informed decisions about their academic and career goals.

    On Wednesday, March 11, students in 8th through 12th grade participated in hands-on career exploration opportunities across the Gainesville community. Throughout the day, students rotated through small group sessions with professionals, gaining firsthand insight into a variety of industries and the skills required to succeed in them.

    Several local business leaders hosted students and shared their professional experiences. At Dress Up, CEO Derrick Case discussed the rewards and challenges of launching a startup business and the path that led him to entrepreneurship. At United Community Bank, Dawn Justus, Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager, explained the many roles within the banking industry and the safeguards used to protect customers’ assets. Jonathan Collins of Capstone Property Group welcomed students to The National, where he introduced them to the world of commercial real estate, market demand, and how companies determine where to invest and build.

     
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  • Lakeview Golf Makes History with County Championship Win

    The Lakeview Academy Varsity Lions made school history earlier this week by capturing their first-ever team title at the Hall County Golf Championship at Chattahoochee Golf Club. The Lions posted a program-record two-day total of 281 (-7), including a 144 (E) nine-hole score in the second round, to defeat North Hall by 18 shots.
     
    Freshman Bryton Brooks led the way, earning individual Low Medalist honors with a two-day total of 68 (-4). Brooks secured the championship in dramatic fashion with a three-hole playoff victory over North Hall’s Tanner Seabolt.
     
    Several Lions delivered standout performances, with Brooks (1st), JT Bunch (3rd), Hudson Justus (4th), and Nate St. Pierre (6th) all finishing in the top six to earn All-Tournament Team honors. Brody Galyean and Jacob Norton also contributed solid rounds to help secure the historic team victory.
     
    With the win, Brooks becomes just the third individual county champion in Lakeview Academy history, joining Tanner Stephens ’24 and Grey Bell ’99.
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  • Lakeview's STAR Student is Named System Student

    Lakeview’s Parker White and Kaitlin Jameson have been named the Gainesville City System STAR Student and Teacher! This prestigious honor means they won the system-level competition and will now advance to the regional level.
     
    The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) Program, sponsored statewide by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, recognizes Georgia’s highest-achieving high school seniors and the teachers who have been most instrumental in their academic success.
     
    To earn a STAR nomination, seniors must achieve the highest score on a single test date of the two-part SAT through November of their senior year and rank in the top 10 percent (or top 10 students) of their class based on GPA.
     
    Parker selected Kaitlin Jameson as his STAR Teacher "because of the unwavering compassion she holds for all her students, the consistent support she has given me over the past 5 years, and, of course, the impact she has had on my education."
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  • February

    Lakeview Students Selected for Honor Orchestra

    The District Honor Orchestra Concert was held Saturday at Clarke Central High School, bringing together some of the most accomplished young musicians from across the district. Five of our talented middle school students were selected to perform in this prestigious ensemble, representing our school with excellence and dedication. Chosen for the Honor Orchestra were:
    • Ellie Day
    • Amelia Bostwick
    • Ashton Connor
    • Lucy Walton
    • Brie Johnson
    Read More

  • Basketball Teams Make Another Historic State Run

    The Lady Lions advanced to the GIAA Class 3A Girls Basketball State Championship for the third consecutive year, finishing as state runner-up after a hard-fought 51-48 game against Terrell Academy.
     
    The varsity boys also enjoyed another impressive postseason run, making their third straight trip to the GIAA Class 3A Boys Basketball State Semifinals. Their season concluded with a 58-50 matchup against St. Andrew's School.
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  • Lakeview Academy Wins Region Literary Competition

    Lakeview Academy successfully defended its GISA Region 1-AAA Literary Championship on Friday, earning top honors across music, writing, and speaking to secure the region title once again. The victory marks the school’s fourth GISA Region Literary Championship and its 22nd combined GISA/GHSA Literary Championship overall.

    First Place Winners/Region Champions

    • Case Beverly – Solo Lower
    • Hannah Baker – Solo Treble
    • Chloe Austin, Bella Caplan, Zoe Castillo, and Hannah Baker – Quartet
    • Hayden Silcox – Impromptu Speaking
    • Anabelle Baxter and Lorenzo Rojas-Alban – Duo Oral Interpretation
    • Lola Evans – Humorous Oral Interpretation
    • Ethan Cook – Argumentative Essay
    • Miriam Haddad – Personal Essay
    • Hudson Harper – Spelling
    Second Place Winners
    • Zoe Castillo – Extemporaneous Domestic Speaking
    • Sylvia Hanley – Dramatic Oral Interpretation
    • Zoe Castillo, Bella Caplan, and Amelia Corbin – Trio
    Additional Honors
    • Parker White – 3rd Place, Rhetorical Essay
    • Brie Johnson – 4th Place, Piano
    Our Region Champions will now advance to the State Literary Competition at Gordon State College on March 17. We wish them the very best as they prepare to compete at the state level
    Read More
  • Head of School, John Simpson, with incoming Lower School Director, Pam Doig

    Lakeview Names New Lower School Director

    Lakeview Academy is pleased to announce that Pam Doig will serve as Lower School Director beginning with the 2026–27 school year.

    Doig is a veteran educator and school leader with extensive experience in instructional leadership, faculty development, and building strong school communities. Most recently, she served as a Leadership Coach and Professional Learning Specialist with the Hall County School District. Prior to that role, she was principal at Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy and McEver Arts Academy in Hall County. She also served as principal of Hillcrest Elementary School and Cannon Street Elementary School in Troup County. Doig began her career in education as a third- and fifth-grade teacher in Troup County, grounding her leadership in firsthand classroom experience.

    She earned her Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Troy State University, her Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from the University of West Georgia, and her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Georgia.

    “We are excited to welcome Pam Doig to Lakeview Academy as our Lower School Director,” said Head of School John Simpson. “She brings a wealth of experience and strong qualifications to this role, along with thoughtful, innovative ideas that will enhance our Lower School program. We look forward to the leadership and vision she will bring to our community.”

    Lakeview Academy also extends its sincere appreciation to Mary Steensma for her five years of service to the Lower School. She provided strong leadership as Lower School Director, and the school is grateful for her contributions to the Lakeview community and wishes her well in her retirement.
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  • Lakeview Spelling Bee Champion Makes State Finals

    Lakeview’s Spelling Bee Champion, Henry Westmoreland, recently competed in Round One of the GISA Spelling Bee, earning a spot in the state finals held last week in Macon. At the finals, Henry advanced through three impressive rounds of competition.
    Read More
  • Girls varsity basketball coach, Ken Huffman, is named Region Coach of the Year

    Huffman is Region Coach of the Year | Lions Earn All-Region Honors

    The Lady Lions' Coach Ken Huffman was named Region 4 Coach of the Year, and five Lakeview Lions were selected to the Region 4 All-Region Team: seniors Emyrie Combs and Kyari Burch, junior Will Rogers, and freshman Catherine Rowland Williams.
     
    Both teams will compete in the State Playoffs next week.
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  • Lakeview Boys and Girls Crowned Hall County Champions

    Lakeview’s 4th and 5th-grade boys and girls basketball teams won the Hall County Park & Rec Championship on February 7th. The boys secured the title with a last-second layup, winning 20–19. The girls won their championship game 18–4. Both teams defeated the same opponents they had lost to during the regular season.
     
    The boys finished the season with an 11–1 record. The girls finished 10–1. Both teams were led by Coach Geoff Cook.
     
    Congratulations to the players and coaches on a successful season.
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  • Teams Earn Top Honors at Regional Robotics Tournament, Varsity Advances to State

    Lakeview's three upper school teams, JV, Varsity, and C Team, competed at a regional tournament this past Saturday, representing the school with skill, determination, and teamwork.

    The JV team was recognized with the Reach Award, which recognizes teams that actively bring new students into FIRST and help spark interest in the program’s values and culture. The Varsity team delivered a strong performance throughout the day, advancing to the final match and finishing as Runner-Up and Finalist Alliance Partner. In addition, Varsity earned Runner-Up for the Inspire Award, one of the competition’s highest distinctions, recognizing excellence in performance, teamwork, and overall program strength.

    As a result of these accomplishments, the Varsity team has qualified for the State Championship, which will be held on Saturday, February 21, at Riverside Prep.
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  • January

    Swimmer Takes 1st at Championship; 15 Headed to State

    Lakeview Academy swimmers delivered an outstanding performance at the Hall County Swim Championships, with 15 middle school and varsity athletes qualifying for the state competition. Leading the way was Reece Chambers, who captured first place in the 100 breaststroke and earned a third-place finish in the varsity girls 200 individual medley.
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  • Lakeview Earns AP Honor Roll Gold Status

    Lakeview Academy’s Advanced Placement (AP) program has earned national recognition from the College Board for student participation and success in earning college credit through AP courses. Lakeview earned Gold status on the AP School Honor Roll for the second year in a row, reflecting the highest level of recognition achieved by schools in the Hall County area.
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  • Lakeview's Jacob Norton is the Times Player of the Week

    Jacob Norton earned The Times Boys Player of the Week honors, and Kyari Burch received Honorable Mention. Jacob averaged 17 points across three games, including a 21-point performance in a key district win over Athens Christian. The 6-foot junior guard is shooting 45% from beyond the arc this season, helping lead the Lions to a 14–3 overall record. Read more from The Times. 
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  • Choral Students Shine at State and District Events

    Several Lakeview Academy students represented Lakeview Academy this year by participating in prestigious district and statewide choral events across Georgia. These honors bring together talented young musicians from schools throughout the state to rehearse and perform under the direction of expert clinicians, giving students the opportunity to experience high-level choral settings while collaborating with and learning from other accomplished singers.
     
    At the UGA Choral Day held at the Classic Center in Athens, Amelia Corbin and Hannah Baker were selected to participate, showcasing their musical skills alongside peers from across the region.
     
    In addition, students participated in the District Honor Chorus at Piedmont College, including Piper Kimsey, Maggie Stewart, Hadley Gilbert, Kate Spooner, Lily Ann Hester, and Brie Johnson. Their selection reflects dedication, talent, and a strong commitment to choral excellence.
     
    Our youngest singers also made their mark at the 6th Grade Statewide Honor Chorus, held at the Classic Center in Athens. Rees Miller, Emmy Molway, and Maddie Halligan were chosen to represent Lakeview Academy in this statewide ensemble.
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  • Lakeview Crowns a Spelling Bee Champion

    Lakeview crowned its new spelling bee champion, Henry Westmoreland (8th, seated on right). The alternate (runner-up) was Eliza Chandler (7th, seated on left). In addition, the classroom spelling champions who also competed in the spelling bee were Amelia Plantin (4th), Riley Grunch (5th), Amelia Bostwick (5th), Taylor Quinones (5th), Rhodes Williams (7th), and Molly Abell (8th).
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  • Emyrie Combs Scores 1,000th Point

    Emyrie Combs reached a major milestone, scoring her 1,000th career point during the January 5th game against Athens Christian. A two-time state champion, Emyrie helped lead the 2024 and 2025 Girls Basketball State Championship teams and was named to the GIAA Class 3-A All-State Girls Basketball Team in both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons.
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< 2026
Lakeview Academy is a private, coeducational day school for students in preschool through 12th grade, located in Gainesville, GA minutes off I-985/Hwy 365.
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