Cram session

Mississippi State economist Paul Grimes led four Ackerman High School students in a discussion as they prepared for the Feb. 11-12 Mississippi Academic Decathlon in Clinton. The students, from left, are seniors Kiel Burns and Valarie Wood, junior Toby Sanford, and sophomore Autumn Brooks. They were among 18 from Ackerman and Weir high schools entered in the competition. For the second time in three years, teacher Frances Coleman, who works at both schools, requested the university's assistance in preparing the Choctaw County students for the academic decathlon. Also serving as special mentors were Brent Funderburk and Paul Grootkerk of the Art Department, Guy Hargrove of Music Education, and Janos Radvanyi of the Center for International Security and Strategic Studies.