DIOCESE RECOGNITION

Diocese recognition
YOUNGSTOWN -- Seven local educators awarded the Golden Apple Award by the Office of Catholic Schools received that honor from the Diocese of Youngstown, not the Diocese of Erie as reported last week. The recipients, Catherine Gierchak of Holy Family School in Poland, Karen Joseph of St. Christine School in Youngstown, Pamela Pasquale of St. Charles School in Youngstown, Eileen Sellers of St. Joseph School in Canton, Cheryl Turner of St. Joseph School in Mantua, Marcella Watry of SS Philip and James School in Canal Fulton and Karen Wright of Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, will be recognized at a May 11 dinner at the Youngstown Country Club, Liberty.
Honoring mentors
BOARDMAN -- The United Methodist Community Center will hold a banquet at 6 p.m. May 25 at The Georgetown, 5945 South Ave., to honor members of the Getting Ahead in Life and Building Individual Life Lessons mentoring programs in the Youngstown City Schools. The programs focus on third- through 12th-graders, offering activities to promote educational goals, self-esteem, character and positive social relationships. For information call Brenda Sharif, family readiness supervisor, at (330) 743-5149, Ext. 207.
Second for geography
BOARDMAN -- Mario A. Leone, son of Dr. Michael and Mary Leone of Boardman, finished second in the state competition of the National Geographic Bee recently at Ohio State University's Mansfield Campus. Mario is an eighth-grader at Boardman Glenwood Middle School. He was the school champion for four consecutive years and finished third in state competition last year.
Five awards for art
CANFIELD -- Nicholas Begnaud of Poland, a junior at the Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center, took an unprecedented five awards at the Mahoning County Schools 19th Annual Art Show. He is enrolled in the center's Interactive Multimedia Academy. His mixed media portrait of actor Robert De Niro won two awards, and his illustrations of "The Who" album cover and director George Lucas with "Star Wars" won two more honors. His fifth award, in computer graphics, was for his creation of a postage stamp design of "The Godfather." Winning entries from the show will be on display Tuesday through Thursday at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown.
Driving competition
CHAMPION -- The Northeast "A" Regional School Bus Road-E-O will start at 10 a.m. next Saturday at the Trumbull County Career and Technical Center off state Route 45. The competition is open to certified school bus drivers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. Drivers should contact their local school bus transportation supervisor. Entry deadline is Tuesday.
Struthers donation
STRUTHERS -- The Struthers School Foundation for Excellence in Education has received a $1,000 donation from the Struthers Rotary. The foundation also has four new board members: Tina Morell, auditor of Struthers; Tom Sweder, retired officer with National City Bank; Dr. Philip Ginnetti, dean of education at Youngstown State University; and Mike Krake of Generator Specialist Inc. The foundation has also elected new officers. Anthony Quahliero, manager of Kirila Funeral Home, was elected president; Andrew Hirt, president of Materials Research Laboratories, is vice president; Linda Krestel, manager of Struthers Federal Credit Union, is secretary; and Tom Baringer, a financial adviser for AIG VALIC, was elected treasurer.
Money for St.Jude's
BOARDMAN -- First- and second-graders at Stadium Drive Elementary School have raised approximately $2,500 to aid St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through a fund-raising program in which pupils obtain sponsors for the number of math problems they complete in workbooks. The children worked hard on the Math-A-Thon, and the community supported their effort, said Karen Ferguson, second-grade teacher and volunteer coordinator.
Heartland registration
COLUMBIANA -- Heartland Christian School, 28 Pittsburgh St., is accepting registrations for the 2006-07 school year. For more information, call the school at (330) 482-2331.