PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Receiving scholarship
SHARON, Pa. -- Nicholas M. Brink, a Sharon High School junior, has been selected to receive a $2,500 scholarship from the Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship program. Given in cooperation with the American Association of School Administrators, the awards are given to high school juniors who have demonstrated excellence in many areas. Students selected have a grade-point average of 2.75 or higher and demonstrate accomplishments in special talents, leadership, overcoming obstacles and/or community service.
Joining 'Project EXCITE'
YOUNGSTOWN -- Several Youngstown fourth-graders from West Elementary and East Middle schools participated in the "Project EXCITE -- Environmental health science eXplorations through Cross Disciplinary and Investigative Team Experiences" coordinated through Bowling Green State University.
The seven-year project is supported by a $1.72 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and has brought BGSU and Medical College of Ohio scientists into classrooms in several Ohio school districts.
Brittany Heckathorn and Kara Guyer worked on a "Rainy Days" project; Mallory Kimble and Jessica Gavin explored "What's in the Water?"; Dustin Guyer worked on "Do you Hear What I Hear?"; and Emily Dunn explored "Smoke and Plants."
Attending program in D.C.
COLUMBIANA -- David Rice, a Columbiana High School junior, will attend Presidential Classroom's Science, Technology and Public Policy Program in Washington, D.C., later this month. The nonprofit Presidential Classroom, based in Alexandria, Va., provides civic-education opportunities for high school juniors and seniors. Participants examine the role of government in science and technology by meeting with officials and visiting various government and historical sites.
K-12 NEWS
Grant for resource center
WARREN -- The John F. Kennedy Catholic High School Resource Center was recently awarded a $7,000 Library Services and Technology Act Grant for Innovative Technology. The grant program, part of the Museum and Library Services Act, promotes access to learning and library information resources for all ages. The school must contribute 25 percent to receive the grant.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Summer day camp set
VILLA MARIA, Pa. -- The Villa Maria Education Center sponsors a summer day camp for children who will be in grades four, five or six in the fall. LEAP Camp 2003 -- Leadership, Education, Arts, Play -- runs July 7-25. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. weekdays and the program includes sports, arts and crafts, nature activities, performing arts, conflict resolution, spiritual enrichment and values reflection.
The camp is directed by a core group of Sisters of the Humility of Mary and volunteers. Fee is $30 and includes snacks, lunch and bus transportation from locations in Youngstown, Warren, Campbell and Girard. Call (724) 964-8886.
EDUCATOR NEWS
Teacher of the Year award
STRUTHERS -- Struthers native Alicia (Minniti) Ethen has been named Teacher of the Year for the Bettendorf Community School District in Iowa, where she works as a level three special-education teacher in Paul Norton Elementary School.
She was presented with a $1,000 Wal-Mart gift certificate and will compete for a state award. Ethen is a graduate of Youngstown State University and Struthers High School. She is the daughter of Rick and Kathy Minniti of Lowellville.
First-year teacher award
BOARDMAN -- Boardman native Anthony Kilgore has been named the 2002-03 Outstanding First Year Teacher Award by the Manassas City (Va.) Public Schools.
Kilgore teaches ninth-grade earth science at Osbourn High School. He received his bachelor's degree from Youngstown State University and completed his student teaching assignment at Austintown Fitch High School.
Part of winning team
YOUNGSTOWN -- Fred Owens of Austintown, professor and director of telecommunication studies at Youngstown State University, was a member of a team that received the Stephen H. Coltrin Award for Excellence in Communications Education at the International Radio and Television Society Foundation's 32nd Annual Faculty/Industry Seminar in New York.
Coltrin & amp; Associates presented a $2,500 check to the team for having the best presentation in the annual case study competition. This year's case was "How Big is Too Big? The FCC Review of Broadcast Ownership." Professors are selected to attend the conference through a competitive application process.
Honoring Chaney retiree
YOUNGSTOWN --The Youngstown Board of Education recently honored Martin Murphy, a Chaney High School social studies teacher, who retires this month. During his 33-year career with the school district, he missed only two days of work, said Superintendent Benjamin L. McGee.
Westminster academies
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Westminster College is offering four summer academies for kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers June 23-26 through the Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Offerings are "The Prospects and Potential Pitfalls of Using Film, Literature and the Internet to Teach History;" "Picture, Page, and Screen;" "Teaching Science Through History, Literature, and Baseball" and "Working with Technology in Today's Classrooms: An Intro to Computers."
Act 48 credits are offered to Pennsylvania teachers. Call (724) 946-7185 or e-mail hoellej@westminster.edu.