Everyone has been noticing we need more Bears in Gwinnett County and that is why I was thankful that Mountain View High School of Lawrenceville will open its doors as the black and gold Bears.  After comparing runner-ups Vikings and Cougars, it was decided that a bear is about “loyalty, determination and strength”.   I recently photographed the first “walk through” of the new facility which was attended by Dr. John Green, Gwinnett County School System Area Superintendent, Principal Keith Chaney, Assistant Principal Paul Waters and Administrative Assistant Diane Schatell.  The raw hardwood floors of the gym are a thing of beauty.  Now I understand why the Coaches are so fussy about the kinds of shoes their athletes wear.
When Brookwood beauty, Sadie Schureck, was crowned 2009 Miss Brookwood recently, she took a moment to pose with  brothers Amir and Ahmad Henry who performed at the event  with their crew “10 Squad”.  I couldn’t help but notice the boys’ poise both on stage and off.  Amir explained, “Our Dad showed us the basics and we took it to a whole ‘nother level from there,  Dancing is our passion and we do it for the art, love and passion.
I have photographed Brookwood soccer for many years and as a horsewoman myself, I am glad when the Soccer Seniors search for their inner Broncos.  This year the Senior players posed for their traditional cover at a barn owned by Matt and Peggy Thomes of Snellville who own several horses of the very rare breed Gypsy Vanners.  Senior MelanieThompson is one of those people who do many things gracefully so we chose her to be the “Athlete on the Horse”.

Another group of Seniors I look forward to photographing each year are the Central Gwinnett Black Knight baseball athletes-- preparing to have a stellar season under the Coaching of Chris Hays.  Seniors pictured are Nick DeJarnette, Andrew Cittadino, Matt Ricciardi, Josh Peterson, Ariel Nunez, David Darnowsky, Will Henson and Zach Thompson.
Family ties were celebrated at Mill Creek High School where the sophomore twins Taylor and Torrie Scalera are each featured on the Varsity Soccer team.  The twins seemed ambivalent about posing for this Mom-authorized photo—but are otherwise supportive of one another, both playing on traveling year round soccer teams and staying to cheer one another on during games.
The Wilkerson and Johnson families are staples of Gwinnett County life.  Coach Steve Wilkerson is a soft hearted football coach at South Gwinnett HS, and formerly at Grayson HS, while wife Jan is a clerk at Grayson HS. Their daughter Audrey Wilkerson is engaged to Drew Johnson who she met in 2004 when they ended up taking the same computer class at Grayson High School.  Audrey works at E.R. Snell Contractors as an accounts payable clerk and is also completing college at Georgia Gwinnett College.  Drew and father Steve are employed by Coca-Cola Enterprises respectively as an Account Manager and as a district sales manager. Mom Ginger is an assistant manager at the Chick-Fil-A on Hwy 124 in Snellville .  These people’s avocations cover a lot of the most basic industries in our area. Plus, Audrey and Drew make a really cute couple.
For all the events, when we’re begging people to look a little happier for our camera, this is NOT needed at the Father-Daughter Dances.  Erin Marney’s decision to give her father Scott a peck on the cheek was her own spontaneous call.  Scott and Dee Marney  have two children Colin, age 13, and Erin, age 9 who both are playing in the newly former Grayson Athletic Association Lacrosse league which Scott heads up. Mom Dee describes Erin as a child who “looks like a girl but acts like a boy.” She explains that Erin is the kind of girls “who digs up worms with painted nails.”  Erin’s interests range from Lacrosse to Violin to Odyssey of the Mind -- a Girl for All Seasons.