PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PUPILS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Boardman's best soloists
BOARDMAN -- The Boardman High School Orchestra Department held its annual underclassmen solo competition earlier this month. All students won certificates and U.S. Savings Bonds. In the Class B Strings division, freshman violinist Leah Muntean won first place. In the Class A String division, sophomore violinist Katie Yazvac won third place, junior violinist Ryan Silvestri won second place, and junior violinist Sarah Albani won first place. In the Class A Wind division, sophomore flutist Melanie Diorio won third place, junior oboist Scott Eddy won second place, and junior Jenna Agnew on French horn won first place.
Leonard Kirtz graduates
YOUNGSTOWN -- Leroy Baker II, Justin L. Campbell, Antoinette Crockett and Barnett Thurston Jr. graduated from Leonard Kirtz School last month. The graduation ceremony featured vocal selections by the school choir, "Pomp and Circumstance" played by the Leonard Kirtz School Ensemble and presentation of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 3. Commencement speaker, Youngstown Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Kobly, praised the graduates' perseverance, trust, hard work and achievement. The school is operated by the Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and graduates will be employed in MASCO Inc. workshops, also a division of the board.
District speech winners
YOUNGSTOWN -- Max A. Altman, a Chaney High School junior, was the first-place winner in the District 8 Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy contest, themed & quot;My Commitment to America's Future. & quot; He was sponsored by VFW Post 9947. He recently received a U.S. Savings Bond at an awards dinner, held at VFW Post 3307. Other local students winning awards were Megan H. Castle, a Brookfield High School sophomore, third place, sponsored by Post 8860 and its auxiliary; Tillian R. Smith, a Mathews High School senior, fourth place, sponsored by Post 3521; David J. Scarpitti, a Sebring McKinley High School senior, fifth place, sponsored by Post 6730 and its auxiliary; and Krystal S. Love, a Warren John F. Kennedy High School freshman, sixth place, sponsored by Post 1090 and its auxiliary.
J-M pupil at seminar
ASHLAND -- Andrew Whitmer, a Jackson-Milton High School pupil, was one of 65 juniors to attended Ashland University's one-day 2004 Teacher Education Scholars seminar. Andrew, son of Eric and Lyn Whitmer of Mineral Ridge, attended events that included presentations by university and field specialists and group discussions related to careers in education. He also toured the campus.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Free summer program
YOUNGSTOWN -- Operation Learning Community Program Inc. is offering a free summer program for children age 7 to 13 starting June 23 at Victory Lutheran Church, 2110 Glenwood Ave. The program includes reading and math as well as recreation, arts and crafts, computer activities and free breakfast and lunch. Registration is 2 to 4 p.m. Monday and 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Call (330) 788-0353.
Day camps at museum
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Arms Family Museum, 648 Wick Ave., will sponsor three interactive day camps focusing on local history. "Dress Up in History" for children age 4 to 6, runs July 13 to 15, with participants trying on styles of clothing worn by American Indians and pioneers; photos will be taken for souvenirs. "Survive the Western Reserve," for first- through fourth-graders, runs July 20 to 22, with games, food, schooling and chores of children who lived a century ago. "Crimes and Spies," for fifth- through eighth-graders, runs July 27 to 29, with participants using historic newspapers to learn about unsolved crimes in the Mahoning Valley and "solving" a crime on the museum grounds. Camps run from 10 a.m. to noon each day; cost is $20 for society members and $25 for nonmembers. Deadline for registration is two weeks before each camp's start date. For information, call (330) 743-2589 or visit www.mahoninghistory.org.
Planning for college bills
BOARDMAN -- College Funding Assistance and Planning presents a "College Financial Planning Night," focused on high school juniors and seniors, at 7 p.m. June 22 in the Georgianna Parker Pavilion at Boardman Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Road. Topics include federal financial aid, tax deductions and college cost planing. Reservations are required; call (330) 702-3557.
SCHOLARSHIPS/LOANS
Two $1,000 scholarships
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Festival Committee is accepting applications from Youngstown State University students for two $1,000 scholarships to be awarded at the festival's opening day kick-off breakfast at the parish social hall at the church, 343 Via Mount Carmel. Eligibility requirements include Italian descent, full-time enrollment at YSU for at least one year by July 1, good academic standing and unmet financial need. Forms are available at ww.ourladyofmtcarmel.net or by calling (330) 755-2306. Deadline is July 1.
Medical society loans
YOUNGSTOWN -- Application forms for low-interest student loans, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, are available from the Mahoning County Medical Society Foundation. Students who apply must be residents of Mahoning or Trumbull counties and must have completed at least one year of medical school or school of osteopathic medicine. Interest on the loans is one percent below the best rate available from local banks at the time the loan is granted. Interest is forgiven if the recipient returns to Mahoning County to practice medicine. Deadline is July 15. Call (330) 758-1624 for information.
EDUCATOR NEWS
Literacy award
CANFIELD -- Theresa Billock, an English teacher at the Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center English teacher, was the recent recipient of the Ohio Council of the International Reading Association's 2004 Commitment to Literacy Award. Billock received the award for promoting literacy through the use of The Vindicator in her classroom, coordinating the MCCTC Ohio Right to Read celebration in May, working with MCCTC early childhood education students making storybooks, taking part in the High Schools that Work summer literacy meetings, promoting staff professional development and participating with her students in summer writing camps.