A look at whats going on in the field of education.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

BGHS students earn national honors

The United States Achievement Academy has rewarded the following Bowling Green High School students:

Shaterica Duncan, daughter of Yolanda Duncan and Ronnie Briggs of Bowling Green, has been named an All-American Scholar. She will appear in the All-American Scholar Yearbook, which is published nationally.

Karla Burnett, daughter of Kim WilloughByrant Russell Parker II, son of Iretta Parker of Bowling Green, has been named an All-American Scholar. He will appear in the All-American Scholar Yearbook, which is published nationally.

Leigh receives degree from Warren Wilson

Meredith Leigh, daughter of Tim and Linda Leigh of Bowling Green and Carol Leigh of Louisville, received a bachelor of arts degree May 14 from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C.

Leigh received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Upper French Broad River Defense Association for her development of a sustainable agriculture curriculum for secondary schools. This curriculum was first adopted by the Buncombe County School System and then by the North Carolina Board of Education for the entire state. She also was recipient of the Service Recognition Award for 388 hours of service to the community and was inducted into Whos Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Schools schedule

SBDM meetings

The following have upcoming site-based-decision-making-council meetings.

T.C. Cherry will have a special meeting at 3 p.m. today to revise the timeline for hiring a new principal and develop interview questions. The regular meeting will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in the principals office.

Greenwood will have a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the library.

Old Union School

now has openings

Old Union School, a private Christian-based school in southern Warren county, has openings in its 4-year-old preschool and kindergarten programs. Limited openings are available in first through 12th grades also.

For more information, visit the schools Web site at www.oldunionschool.com.

Belding to work at day treatment center

Dan Belding, a school psychologist for Barren County Schools, will become the director of the Barren County Day Treatment Center on July 1.

Superintendent Jerry Ralston said Beldings expertise and experience moved him to the top of the applicant pool.

That experience includes working with Rivendell Behavioral Health Services and serving on several professional boards.

Originally from St. Louis, Belding is a graduate of Warren Central High School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and health services management and administration from Western Kentucky University. He earned a specialist degree in education and school psychologist certificate from WKU as well.

Belding has been a school psychologist for Barren County since 2002. Previously, he worked for more than 10 years in various positions at Rivendell, including a supervisor of case management. He has extensive experience in mental health dealing with troubled youth.

As a school psychologist, Belding worked with teachers and principals in assessing the behavior and academic needs of students. His responsibilities included providing guidance on instructional strategies to help students achieve success in the classroom and improve behavior. He also is a safe crisis management instructor.

Belding replaces Barry Britt, who recently was named the new principal of Red Cross Elementary.

Three WKU students

are finalists in program

Three Western Kentucky University photojournalism students are national finalists in the 45th annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

Melanie Blanding, a junior from Roanoke, Va., and Bowling Green seniors Erik Jacobs and Jim Winn are among the six finalists competing this week in San Francisco. The others are from Florida, Kent State and North Carolina.

Finalists will begin their photo assignments today with winners announced Saturday.

At the awards ceremony, the WKU School of Journalism and Broadcasting will be recognized as the winner of the Hearst programs Overall Intercollegiate Competition for the third time since 2000 and the Intercollegiate Photojournalism Competition for the 15th time in 17 years. The Hearst competition, often called the Pulitzers of college journalism, includes print journalism, photojournalism and broadcast news.

Western students finished first in all three individual photojournalism contests this year and six qualified for the Hearsts semifinal round of judging. Last year, Westerns Jae S. Lee of Hendersonville, Tenn., won the Hearst photo competition.

The following Western students received awards in other individual Hearst competitions this year: Ashlee Clark, a Louisville junior, ninth in spot news writing; Brenna Gallegos, a Lexington junior, tie for 17th in radio news; Mark A. Brown, a Scottsville senior, 19th in radio news and tied for 12th in radio features; Laura Lynn Rogers, a Canmer senior, ninth in television news; and Tavia Green, a Hopkinsville sophomore, tied for 16th in personality/profile writing.

GHS Abell named to scholars organization

Greenwood High School student Caitlyn Abell of Bowling Green has been named to the National Society of High School Scholars, an honor reserved for students who have achieved superior academic excellence.

District featured in education publication

Barren County Schools is featured in the report Results with Reading Mastery released recently by McGraw-Hill Education. Students reading scores improved dramatically after the district implemented Reading Mastery at Austin Tracy, Hiseville, Park City, Red Cross and Temple Hill elementary schools during the 2000-2001 school year.

Western researcher given science grant

Nilesh Sharma from Western Kentucky Universitys Biology Department was awarded $22,000 for 2005-06 from the National Science Foundation/Experimental Program to Stimulate Research for his research proposal Genetic Transformation of Sesbania drummondii with Citrate Synthase Gene for Enhanced Accumulation of Heavy Metals.

Some plants can remove contaminants such as lead, mercury, other heavy metals and organic pollutants from soil or water through a process known as phytoremediation. Sharma plans to enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of the Sesbania species by effecting modification in its genome. In his research proposal, Sharma suggested the citrate synthase gene transfer in Sesbania that will enhance root secretion of citric acid, ultimately influencing uptake of lead and mercury.

As part of the research project, WKU undergraduate students will gain a hand-on experience of plant cell culture, gene transfer and phytoremediation techniques.

Warren Central team wins JA competition

A team of six Warren Central High School students captured first place in its division at the JA Titan national competition May 14 at the Western Kentucky University South Campus. Members of the winning team are Boris Lazic, Quinton Floyd, Fahreta Ahemtovic, Jose Garcia, Andrew Bryant and Robert Austin. The WCHS team is now among the eight finalists who will compete May 18 for the chance to go to Walt Disney World in July for the 2005 JA Titan Championship.

JA Titan is a computer-simulated game created by Junior Achievement that allows a group of students to manipulate five business decisions to compete against other teams. Students must make decisions about price, production, capital investment, marketing, and research and development in an effort to build their business.

Westerns Blanding honored for photos

A Western Kentucky University photojournalism student has received top honors in the 2005 Boston Press Photographers Associations student still photography contest. Melanie Blanding, a junior from Roanoke, Va., won best in show and took first and third place in the portrait/feature category in the first collegiate competition ever for the 79-year-old BPPA.

Blanding is one of six WKU photojournalism students who are national semifinalists in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program.

WE French students bring home honors

Warren East High School students won a number of awards in French at the State Foreign Language Competition held at the University of Kentucky on May 14.

The following students placed in the state competition: Joye Beth Spinks, sixth place, listening proficiency I; Brittany Smith, ninth place, listening proficiency III; Kristan Poteet, ninth place, grammar and vocabulary IV, and 11th place, listening proficiency IV; Rachel Lemster, 11th place, recitation of a literary passage I.

WKU newspapers advertising honored

Staff members of Western Kentucky Universitys student newspaper received several awards in the Kentucky Press Associations 2005 advertising competition. The College Heights Herald received first-place awards in five categories and finished third overall in the general excellence competition for KPA associate members. Among the individual award winners was Daniel Byrd of Glasgow, who won third place for general miscellaneous ads.

WEHS choir earns performance honors

Warren East High Schools Combined Choir, directed by Byron Lucas, has earned the Kentucky Music Educators Associations highest level of recognition for distinguished performance. The ensemble received an Exemplary Performance Status from the assessment team, meaning each adjudicator gave the ensemble the highest rating possible.

Greenwood ROTC students earn awards

At the Greenwood High School NJROTC awards banquet in May, the following cadets received awards from the organizations listed: American Legion Leadership Medal: Alex Logan; American Legion Academic Excellence medal: Kaila Millis; VFW Achievement and Leadership medal: Jessica Ingram; Military Order of the Purple Heart exemplary leadership: Jessica Ingram; Military Officers Association medal Leadership: Julie Murr; Daughters of the American Revolution medal: Michael Craft; Sons of the American Revolution medal: Julie Murr; Order of the Daedalian medal: Sashamarie Herrera; National Sojourners medal: Joseph Forcum; Scottish Rite medal: Anne Payne; Kentucky National Guard Leadership medal: Thomas Moss; Military Order of the World Wars: Tyler Bunch; and Navy League outstanding cadet: Matthew Spurlock.

Also, Greenwoods NJROTC unit also has been selected as a Distinguished Unit for the 2004-05 school year. Approximately 30 percent of units nationwide are selected for this honor, and GHS unit was one of only three selected in Kentucky. The criteria include yearly inspection, number and type of competitions competed in, number of students on the honor roll, number of Naval Academy recommendations, number of NROTC scholarship recommendations, trips, attendance at leadership academy, air rifle camps, Navy-sponsored events participated in, events hosted, community service, enrollment, percentage of unit who have earned the physical fitness ribbon, and number of students in student government positions.

Painter receives national honor

Rebecca Painter, a science teacher at Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center, has won a national Cables Leaders in Learning Award. Earlier named a regional winner, Painter received the national honor last week in Washington, D.C., where she attended a gala among members of Congress and education leaders.

Painter was rewarded in the Pushing the Envelope category for implementing Cable in the Classroom, a video learning service, at the juvenile detention center. Painter used the videos to teach students about hurricanes and careers in weather tracking.

BG residents earn nursing diplomas

Liz Parsons and Theresa Durham, both of Bowling Green, graduated May 7 from the practical nursing program at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. They are now eligible to take an exam to become licensed practical nurses.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700