PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Teen advisors
Chaney High School senior Andrea Burton and Austintown Fitch High School sophomore Hannah Linebaugh are among 47 high school students from across the state to be appointed to the "stand" campaign's Teen Advisory Panel. The panel conducts local anti-tobacco activism and will be addressing the issues of celebrity glamorization of tobacco, clean indoor air and the dangers of secondhand smoke. Last June, TAP members delivered a petition to MTV asking the network to refrain from glamorizing tobacco use. For information about stand, visit www.standonline.org.
Conservation awards
Teams from The Montessori School of Mahoning Valley in Youngstown and St. Joseph School in Austintown won awards in the Mahoning County Soil & amp; Water Conservation District's 10th annual Junior Varsity Envirothon competition last month. Fourteen teams representing seven area middle schools participated the competition on forestry, aquatics, wildlife and other environmental issues.
Gold team members are Montessori's Ben Cart, Abby Gerdes, Tom Goldthwait, Jon Proch and Danny Skrobut. Silver winners are Montessori's Ben Belgrad, Chelsea Beabout, Mike Goldthwait and Josh Sikich.
Bronze winners are St. Joseph's Beth Clowes, Emily Corsale, Katie Dunn, Trent Kerpsack and Tom Mosinski.
K-12 NEWS
What teens need to know
NORTH LIMA -- South Range High School will host "What Your Teen Needs You to Know" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the school, 11836 state Route 164. The event, sponsored by the Beaver Clergy Association, will feature national youth communicator Jeffrey Dean to address parents, youth workers, pastors and others. Topics include the Internet; love, sex and dating; and myths that Hollywood sells to kids. Cost is $5, at the door. Call (330) 549-2333, (330) 549-2892 or (330) 549-0406.
Benefit dinner
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Christian School hosts a benefit dinner and auction at 6 p.m. Friday at the Family Life Center of Highway Tabernacle, 3000 S. Raccoon Road, Austintown. Doors open at 5 p.m. A $15-per-person advance ticket purchase is required by Nov. 17. Call 788-8088.
Money for Mooney
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Cardinal Challenge, Cardinal Mooney High School's fund-raising effort, is asking friends of Cardinal Mooney, alumni and others to make a donation to the group. Money will fund various scholarships, school improvement projects and events. Send donations to Cardinal Mooney High School, 2545 Erie St., Youngstown 44507.
In 10 years, The Cardinal Challenge has raised more than $1.1 million for the private school.
Charter school hot line
The Coalition for Public Education recently launched a toll-free hot line to take and monitor complaints about charter-school violations. Teachers, parents and others can call (800) 835-7955 to register complaints.
CPE members will log calls to the hotline and conduct follow-ups. Callers may be referred to the state auditor, attorney general, federal agencies and other resources.
Educators honored
Seven area educators were among 35 recently awarded FirstEnergy Corp. Mathematics, Science and Technology program grants for various hands-on projects, workshops and teacher development.
They are: Eileen Bodenorfer, The Industrial Information Institute for Education; Terry Franklin, The Rayen School; Mary Ruthrauff, The Rayen School; Ruth Griffis, Zion Christian School; Zane Pappas, Hillman Middle School; Karen Ferguson, Stadium Drive Elementary School; and Jeanne Riser, Boardman Center Middle School.
DirecTV program
The DirecTV Inc. digital television service and Thomson, maker of RCA brand products, are sponsoring a DirecTV Goes To School program to donate 5,000 DirecTV systems with a package of educational channels to qualified U.S. schools. Visit www.DirecTV.com/school.
COLLEGE EVENTS & amp; NEWS
Tuition grantsThe Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency provided more than $9 million in state tuition grants in 2002-03 to college students living in the Mercer, Lawrence, Butler and Crawford areas of the 50th district, announced state Sen. Bob Robbins, R-50th. The agency provided an additional $1.8 million in Institutional Assistance Grants.
The funds helped 4,400 students in the district. Nearly 75 percent of students applying for aid and enrolled at least half-time received assistance. Figures also include assistance to 110 military veterans.
Malone evaluation
CANTON -- Malone College is seeking comments from its alumni and the general public in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. Comments, in writing, signed and addressing substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs may be sent to: Public Comment on Malone College, Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago, Ill. 60602-2504. Deadline is Feb. 18. Call (330) 471-8240 or write sthomas@malone.edu.
Program accredited
ROOTSTOWN -- The Northeastern Ohio Universities Master of Public Health program, established in 1999, recently received the maximum five-year accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health. The program is based at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and is in partnership of NEOUCOM Kent State, Cleveland State and Youngstown State universities and the University of Akron.
Visit ATI day
WOOSTER -- The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute hosts a Visit ATI Day on Nov. 22 at the 30-acre central campus with horticultural complex and the 1,700-acre farm laboratory. Reservations are required, Call (330) 264-3911 or (800) 647-8283, Ext. 1327, or visit www.ati.ohio-state.edu. Other visitation days will be Dec. 11, March 18 and April 24.
EDUCATOR NEWS
Professor honored
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance has named Slippery Rock University professor Dr. Betsy A. McKinley "University Teacher of the Year." She will receive her award at the association's state convention Friday in Lancaster, Pa. McKinley, nine-year SRU faculty member, is an associate professor of physical education and sport management in the university's College of Education, and in 2000 she was the recipient of SRU's President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. She earned her doctorate degree at Temple University.