PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Joined leaders conference
WARREN -- Zachariah Germaniuk, a John F. Kennedy High School student, took part in the National Young Leaders Conference last month. He was one of about 400 scholars from all over the country at the six-day event. Students at "The Leaders of Tomorrow Meeting the Leaders of Today & quot; conference interacted with a variety of people serving in all three branches of government, as well as members of the press and the international community. They also participated in leadership building activities and a & quot;Testing the Constitution & quot; event and examined actual Supreme Court cases.
Reader's Digest challenge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Seventh-grader Steve Smolinsky and eighth-grader Jeremy Frazer, both of St. Matthias School, recently traveled to Dayton, where they competed in the state final of the Reader's Digest Word Power Challenge. This was the school's first entry into the event.
Competed at state level
Several local pupils participated in state-level National Geographic Bee competitions this month after winning school-level competitions and passing a qualifying test. They are among the up to 100 pupils from each state to participate in state-level contests. Competitors included Robert Fabrey of Jamestown (Pa.) Middle School; Kelsey Grode of Walnut Creek Middle School in Fairview, Pa.; Mario Leone of Boardman Glenwood Middle School; Ian Penix of Salem Middle School; Steven M. Wagner of Springfield Intermediate School in New Middletown; and Caleb Wright of TEACH in West Farmington.
2 win scholarships
Two local students are among the roughly 800 winners in the National Achievement Scholarship Program, a privately financed academic competition for outstanding black American high school students. The program is conducted by the nonprofit National Merit Scholarship Corp., which supports scholarship awards along with corporate sponsors.
Allena Rouse of Austintown Fitch High School and Todd Leverette of Warren G. Harding High School in Warren, both received $2,500 National Achievement Scholarships, supported by NMSC. Todd plans to pursue a career in business or engineering and Allena plans to pursue a medical career. The students were named semifinalists based on scores on the 2002 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. To compete for awards, the students were required to perform well in school, be recommended by their principal, earn high SAT scores and write an essay.
Team's first-place finish
CANFIELD -- Three Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center students led their team to a first-place finish in the Future Farmers of America District Small Engine Contest, held earlier this month in Lisbon. Winners in the power equipment mechanics program team were juniors Howard Bieber of South Range High School and Ryan Kirkpatrick of Warren Western Reserve High School and senior Tom Tofilski of Poland. The team advanced to the state FFA contest at the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster.
K-12 NEWS
Summer Music Camp
ADA -- Ohio Northern University is accepting applications for its 34th annual Ohio Northern Summer Music Camp, running June 13-18, open to school band instrumentalists and vocalists who are in grades seven to 12.The camp includes classes, activities and performance opportunities in various categories. Scholarships are available. For applications and brochures, contact Dr. Edwin Williams at the Music Department of Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio 45810 or (419) 772-2151.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Imagination 2 workshop
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland State University will host the Imagination 2 workshop series May 1, 8, 15 and 22 at various greater Cleveland locations. The workshops are designed for beginning writers and cover fiction, poetry and essay/memoir. Experienced writers will be on hand to discuss genre, craft and workshop techniques. CSU will hold other workshops for playwrights and high school students. For registration and information, call (216) 687-2532 or (216) 687-4522, write imagination2@csuohio.edu or visit www.csuohio.edu/poetrycenter.
SCHOLARSHIPS/CONTESTS
Looking for nominations
YOUNGSTOWN -- Humility of Mary Health Partners Heart and Vascular Services seeks teachers to nominate youngsters in grades six to eight for its Heart and Vascular Student of the Month Program. Winners receive $500 savings bond, an in-school educational program, a day at St. Elizabeth Health Center with a cardiologist and participation in a Heartsaver CPR class. Required is a 200- to 300-word pupil essay on heart health and a plan for a heart-healthy activity they will implement in their classroom or school. Each teacher may nominate up to five pupils. For more information, contact MaryAnn Szelest at (330) 480-2876.
COLLEGE HAPPENINGS
Spring Visit Day planned
PEPPER PIKE -- Ursuline College's Office of Admission hosts a Spring Visit Day beginning at 11 a.m. May 2. Topics include academic programs, athletics, internships and career preparation. Faculty will be on hand and tours will be given. Call (888) URSULINE to make a reservation. Visit the college Web site at www.ursuline.edu.
EDUCATOR NEWS
Akron program showcased
AKRON -- A University of Akron program designed to help grade-school teachers improve the scientific literacy of their pupils was showcased this month at the 52nd national convention of the National Science Teachers Association in Atlanta. The Akron Global Polymer Academy has assembled lesson plans, videos of sample lectures and links to resource materials. The teaching aids are available at www.agpa.uakron.edu.
Counselor honored
CAMPBELL -- Margaret Stephens, a Campbell Memorial High School guidance counselor, recently received an award from Youngstown State University President David C. Sweet and Dr. Cynthia Anderson, YSU's vice president for student affairs. Stephens was recognized for her community outreach with the university.
Received leadership award
NORTH LIMA -- James Hall, South Range local schools superintendent, recently received the Buckeye Association of School Administrators Technology Leadership award. Hall was selected based on the district's successful technology implementation program, as well as his leadership as chairman of ACCESS, a data acquisition center for more than 28 school districts.
Paid a visit to Brazil
YOUNGSTOWN -- Anthony Kos, associate professor of management at Youngstown State University, recently attended a one-week trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil, as part of a college exchange program between YSU and the University of Sao Paulo. Kos, who also is the director of the master's of business administration program at YSU, is the fifth professor to participate in the series of educational exchanges with Brazil that started less than six years ago. The YSU business college has hosted a group of Brazilian managers and executives for one-week visits to the YSU campus for the past four years. The Brazilians are scheduled to visit the Youngstown area again this fall to tour local retailers and attend lectures by YSU faculty.
Christianity and teaching
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. -- Geneva College's education department will host "Christian Teachers in Public Schools: May I teach through the eyes of faith?" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Old Main Auditorium on campus. Keynote speakers are Drs. Gloria and Julia Stonks from Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash. For information, contact Denise Godwin at (724) 847-6535 or dcgodwin@geneva.edu.