Community leaders and school officials are working together torecognize local students’ recent athletic and academic successesduring a Champions Parade in January.

The event, which is expected to include representatives from allschools in Lincoln County, is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 6 at 6p.m. in downtown, said Rita Rich, who is organizing the parade forthe chamber of commerce.

“I’m very pleased the students’ accomplishments will berecognized,” Rich said. “I think it’s a great idea.”

The parade follows, most recently, the Brookhaven High SchoolPanthers’ winning the Class 4A state football championship. Otherstate championships won by local teams include BHS baseball, tennisand cheerleading titles as well as top honors for the BrookhavenAcademy girls basketball team.

Rich said she has spoken to district superintendents and schoolleaders about determining who will participate in the parade. Shesaid the parade will emphasize academic achievements as well asathletic accomplishments.

“That’s where there sometime doesn’t seem to be a lot ofrecognition,” Rich said about academics. “We try to do as much aspossible, but they don’t get as much as they deserve.”

Superintendents applauded the parade idea.

“I’m proud of it. I think it’s great,” said Terry Brister,Lincoln County School District superintendent. “It’s good PR forall of our schools and it shows what Brookhaven and Lincoln Countyare doing together.”

Brister was also appreciative of the planned academicrecognition of student progress.

“We’re always proud of our athletes, but the emphasis onacademics is what I’m proud of,” Brister said.

Brookhaven School District Superintendent Lea Barrett waslooking forward to a fantastic parade.

“It’s great to see the community pull together at one time tocelebrate our students’ and schools’ successes,” Barrett said. “Wehave a lot to be proud of and celebrate.”

Rich said she hopes to have a list of parade participants and aline up shortly after the first of the year. Schools will be linedup in alphabetical order, starting with Brookhaven Academy, theBrookhaven School District, the Lincoln County School District andthe Mississippi School of the Arts.

“We couldn’t do it before Christmas because there are testsnow,” Rich said about parade timing. “We decided to do it as soonas possible after the holidays.”

Like the Christmas parade, the Champions Parade will start atthe post office on West Cherokee Street. From there, it will go toWhitworth Avenue and then to Monticello Street, with the paradeturning onto South Jackson and ending back at the post office.

Rich said the BHS and Loyd Star bands have been invited toperform and the BHS ROTC will also participate.

Mayor Bob Massengill will serve as the parade’s grand marshal.Massengill said he was glad to have a role in helping to recognizestudent accomplishments.

“I’m excited we’re having the parade and I’m pleased to be grandmarshal,” Massengill said.

Rich said the schools will be responsible for decorating theirown floats and she will is available to help however possible. Sheis encouraging the floats to be interesting and varied.

“We’ve asked them to be as creative as possible,” Rich said.

Rich was looking forward to a great event to celebrate the pastyear’s successes.

“We’re very fortunate to have as many as we do in LincolnCounty,” Rich said. “2004 was a great year.”