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School

Prom prep inspires dance lessons

June 24, 2026 by Tammy Cheek

Some Farragut High School students had an opportunity to learn some dance steps before the school year ended.

Tracy Kiumarsi, an instructor with Dance Center West in Farragut, recently taught the “proper way to hold a partner in a slow dance,” she said before the class began.

About 50 students were taught the slow dance, waltz, salsa and merengue and a little hip hop.

“This is kind of exciting that they’re into this,” Kiumarsi added. She was asked to come in by FHS Spanish teacher Allison Maldonado, who

also is the faculty advisor for National Spanish Honor Society and National Honor

Society. She observed how students attempted to dance at their proms and thought they could use some guidance.

“We need to teach our young people how to dance,” Maldonado said. So, she reached out to Kiumarsi.

Scholar earns national recognition

June 24, 2026 by Submitted

Rising Farragut High School senior Roshan Ramanan — already well-known as captain of the school’s East Tennessee Scholar’s Bowl team, which won first place earlier this year — has another honor.

He recently learned he is only one of two students state-wide to place among the top 150 students nationally in the United States National Chemistry Olympiad ((USNCO), sponsored by the America Chemical Society (ACS), making him an honors recipient.

The process began earlier this calendar year when Ramanan took an East Tennessee chapter level test conducted at his school. He decided to participate initially due to an already-present interest in chemistry “as a potential career path.”

After earning a high score on the ETN chapter exam, he was selected as one of only 12 students to advance to the national competition, with no more than two students eligible from any single school.

The national exam was held at Roane State Community College and more than 1,000 participants nationwide competed.

Ramanan described the national test as “a roughly five-hour exam covering college-level general and organic chemistry with multiple choice, free response and laboratory practical sections.”

Area collegians earn dean’s, president’s list recognition

June 24, 2026 by

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA — Of the 14,306 students enrolled during spring semester at The University of Alabama, nine local students were named to the Dean’s List with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president’s list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s).

Farragut students include: Mason Benedetti, Deans List; Jackson Magee, Presidents List; Selene Tan, Presidents List; and Caleb Wanca, Deans List.