Augusta businessman T.R. Reddy was reading a magazine story about a study on long-term symptoms of COVID-19 at Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and noticed that its funding was nearly up.
He decided, Let me check in and piggyback (on the funding) and add a few dollars to this, Reddy said Wednesday. The T.R. Reddy Family Foundation did a little more than that. With contributions from businessman Ronnie Powell and his family and University System of Georgia Regent Jim Hull of Augusta, they presented the study leaders with a check for $300,000.
The study, called COVID-19 Neurological and Molecular Prospective Cohort Study in Georgia or CONGA, is following people in the Augusta area and in Georgia who were infected with COVID-19 and checking them for lingering symptoms and problems. It was initially funded with a converted $200,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health for its first year, said MCG Dean David Hess, a co-principal investigator on the study. They
DAVE MOSIER/
independent editor
A sense of normality returned somewhat to local high school graduations, as Van Wert and Lincolnview high schools held their first in-person graduation ceremonies since 2019. Last year’s graduations were cancelled as schools closed early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Graduates at Van Wert (top) and Lincolnview toss their mortarboards to “cap” graduation ceremonies held Sunday the first graduations held since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
photos by Scott Truxell and Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent
Van Wert graduated 135 seniors and Lincolnview 67 seniors during a year that included a veritable plethora of academic challenges, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
VWCS teacher appreciation banquet again live this year
VWHS senior Elizabeth Rutkowski shares a laugh with her favorite teacher, Jeff Kallas, after reading a humorous anecdote from her time in his classroom during Wednesday’s 26th annual Van Wert City Endowment Fund for Educators’ teacher appreciation banquet.
photos by Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent
DAVE MOSIER/
independent editor
For more than a quarter of a century, Van Wert High School seniors have been telling their favorite teachers how much they mean to them, thanks to VWHS grad and former school psychologist Randy Gardner’s wish to create a program dedicated to three teachers who were important to him.