NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A senior at Hoggard High School was recently named a 2012 United States Presidential Scholar, according to a news release from New Hanover County Schools.

Taufik Raharjo is part of the 48th class of Presidential Scholars, which “recognizes 141 high school seniors internationally for their accomplishments in academics or the arts.”

Presidential Scholars are reportedly comprised of one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

"NHCS students have achieved semi-finalist status for many years now, but having Taufik named an actual scholar is amazing. This is a highly coveted scholarship and the Hoggard family is thrilled that Taufik has been recognized as an exemplary student and leader. Taufik is one of the most phenomenal students I have ever had the pleasure to work with and I am so proud of him and his accomplishments,” stated Principal Dr. Pam Baldwin in a news release.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - With the help of SABLE, officers with the Wilmington Police Department were able to arrest a man who sent them on a high speed chase Friday night.

Police say the chase started just before 8 p.m. after reports that the driver of a burgundy Taurus was speeding on Carolina Beach Road and ended near Bump Along Road and Market Street when he crashed into a fence.  That's when police say Antonio Demar Starks, 26 of Wilmington, jumped out the car and ran.

The SABLE helicopter tracked him down and officers on the ground arrested him. The SABLE crew said Stark was driving about 80 mph, on sidewalks, in the center lane, and crossing the median.

You can hear the crew on the surveillance video from SABLE saying, "we have to do something about this."

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A Hoggard High School student was selected to become a SkillsUSA State Officer for the 2012-2013 school year, according to a New Hanover County Schools news release.

The Hoggard chapter of SkillsUSA participated in the three-day 2012 47th Annual Leadership and Skills State Conference in Greensboro last month. During the event, the delegation picked sophomore Henry Lasseter as a State Officer, the release stated.

The following list includes students who placed and received medals in their respective contests, according to NHCS:

• Computer Programming

Gabriel Bland - 2nd Place

• Creed A

Henry Lasseter - 1st Place

• Creed B

Devon Berry - 2nd Place

• Customer Service

Kendric McDuffie-Mitchell - 1st Place*

• Drafting 1

Don Ross - 1st Place

• Extemporaneous Speaking

Ian Brambell - 2nd Place

• Job Interview

Alexandria Jackson - 5th Place

• Job Skill Demo A

Douglas Crowell - 5th Place

• Job Skill Demo Open

Ben Butler - 2nd Place

• Prepared Speech

Carol Kohl - 1st Place *

• Television Production

Andrew Johnson and Jeremy Ring - 5th Place

• Video Product Development

Julia Kenny and William Yelton - 1st Place *

*-Qualified to represent North Carolina in their respective categories during the SkillsUSA National Competition to be held in Kansas City, MO in June.

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