A look at what’s going on in the field of education.

Four county teachers receive tech grants

Four Warren County teachers earned Best Buy technology grants totaling $10,000 for 2006.

The four teachers were awarded $2,500 each to buy technology equipment. Last year, Warren County teachers were awarded three $2,500 grants.

This year’s four grant winners are: Donna Hopkins, Oakland Elementary; Mercedes Mills, Bristow Elementary; Marion Napier, Warren Central High School; and Tom Bromer, a technology resource teacher who works throughout the district.

Student technology group places second

A video produced by Warren Elementary School’s Student Technology Leadership Program students has won second place in the elementary division of the Reel School Kentucky PSA Video Contest.

The Warren Elementary STLP students were supervised by Renee Hale, the school’s librarian. As a second-place winner, Warren Elementary wins a new camcorder, computer software and instructional materials.

Awards in the Reel School video contest will be presented at the Kentucky Teaching and Learning Conference March 10 in Louisville.

Greenwood choir ranks distinguished

Greenwood High School choir students earned a distinguished rating in the Kentucky Music Educators Association solo and ensemble festival on Jan. 21.

Winners were: Holly Chamblee, Molly Nance, Brooke Schreiner, Michelle Pennington, Brittany Toepfer, Danielle Wilson and Cate Kilgore.

The following students received a proficient rating: Seanna Wilhelm, Alex O’Keefe, Megan Sanders, and Jamie Bucklew.

Five students selected for ’06 All-State band

Five students from Warren County high schools earned recognition as members of the Kentucky Music Educators Association 2005-06 All-State Band.

Warren Central High School student Melissa Gensler made the all-state symphonic band in flute. Three Greenwood High School students made the all-state concert band – Betsy Allen (flute), Caley Foster (Bb clarinet) and Susan Abell (bass clarinet). Greenwood’s Chris Ryan made the all-state orchestra in Bb clarinet.

15 from area schools named to state chorus

Fifteen students from Warren County elementary schools have been named to the Kentucky Music Educators Association All-State Children’s Chorus for 2006.

The students are: Adam Wathen, Allie Lindsey, Daeci Heaps, Jamila Whitfield, Lajustin Segers and Rachel Rahil, all of Lost River Elementary;

Benjamin Brown, Blake Schreiner and Chelsea Wallace, all of Alvaton Elementary; Emily Injeian, Jerrin Kinnaman and Taylor Faulkner, all of Briarwood Elementary;

Leah Edens and Mikala Montgomery of Richardsville Elementary; and Mikka Willis of Bristow Elementary.

Teachers for these students are Tiffany Cothran (Lost River), Andrea Brown (Briarwood), Kathy Austin (Alvaton), Pam Thurman (Richardsville), and Anna Moore (Bristow).

The All-State Children’s Choir Concert is scheduled to perform Feb. 9 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts – Whitney Hall.

’06 Buckets of Hope fundraiser is today

Buckets of Hope, an annual Family Enrichment Center fundraiser, is going on in the Warren County schools today through Feb. 10.

Just by tossing loose change into the buckets, participants can help the Family Enrichment Center empower families and prevent child abuse in the Barren River Region.

Participating schools include: Briarwood, Holy Trinity, Lost River, Natcher, North Warren, Richardsville, Rich Pond, Rockfield, Warren Central’s ROTC and Warren Elementary.

The top fundraising classroom and/or club in each school will be awarded a meal from Wendy’s, including a free Frosty.

The top fundraising school overall will be invited to join the Family Enrichment Center on WBKO’s Midday Live to announce their donation. In addition, school coordinators will be awarded prizes, including a three-day, two-night vacation package to their choice of over 75 locations.

– For more information call 781-6714 or e-mail fecbg@bell south.net.

BGCA cheerleaders go to national event

Bowling Green Christian Academy cheerleaders attended the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders Camp in August and received an invitation to the National Competition in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 6.

The team received third place in the Small Junior High Division.

Cheerleaders are third-graders Anne Clair McBrayer, Kendra Williams and Sara Cody; fifth-grader, Emily Schuette; and eighth-graders Krystal Young, Natasha Fraser, Hillary Guinn and Kristen Graham. Brandy Wilkerson, a WKU student, has served as their coach for the past two years.

As a service project, the BGCA cheerleaders will go twice a month to Girls Inc. to help tutor and spend time with the girls.

Vets Upward Bound under way at WKU

Veterans Upward Bound classes at Western Kentucky University resumed last week.

Veterans who wish to take refresher classes to prepare for college or vocational/technical school are welcome. In addition to academic classes, Veterans Upward Bound assists with admissions and financial aid applications, ACT preparation and more.

All services are free and classes meet on WKU’s campus. Registration to determine eligibility is required.

– For more information, contact Martha Kenney at 745-5024 or the main office at 745-5310, or go to www.wku.edu/vub.

WKU, National City highlight 47 seniors

Western Kentucky University and National City honored 47 seniors from four Bowling Green and Warren County high schools for their academic achievements.

The Jan. 10 High School Scholars Luncheon honored high school seniors who qualify for at least a renewable full-tuition scholarship to WKU. This year’s group has an average ACT composite score of 28.87, a grade-point average of 3.92 and includes 24 Governor’s Scholars and five National Merit semifinalists.

The students honored at the Downing University Center included:

From Bowling Green High School: Marie Atwood, Meredith Beckner, Elizabeth Covington, Richard Davidson, Lindsey Houchin, Daniel Johnson, Luke Johnson, William Milliken, Ervin Puskar, Bryan Russell, Jennifer Scott, Justin Simmons, Lilian Sturmann, Nelanie Tardy;

From Greenwood High School: Caitlyn Abell, Jonathan Bromer, Cali Jo Carter, Laura Clark, Megan Dillihay, Sean Hamlet, Jason Hope, Jeremiah Hussung, Rachel Keyser, Khotso Libe, Laura Newton, Hannah Pennington, Jennifer Pope, Kaitlyn Potzick, Joshua Raymer, Leslie Whitaker, Jessica Wilson;

From Warren Central High School: Kathryn Burchfield, Ben Edwards, Melissa Gensler, Tai Gibson, Jordan Gottke, Melody Hall, Damir Kusmic, Lily Lim, Ezra Roper, Vanessa Scott, Kyle Staude, Natasha Walker;

From Warren East High School: Melissa Durham, Lindsey Lightfoot, Kimberly Simpson, Valerie Wink.

On Thursday, Western honored 34 high school seniors from five area counties for their academic achievements.

The students honored at the Downing University Center included:

From Allen County-Scottsville High School: Chelsey Bottoms, Lauren Carter, Whitney Cliburn, Jamie Fox, John-Mark Francis, Seth Parker, Helen Pruitt, Elizabeth Ralph;

From Butler County High School: Beverly Childress, Khrystin Clark, Aaron Duncan, Shawna Flener, Jennifer Hunt, Joseph Jackson, Heather Johnson, Bradley Jones;

From Edmonson County High School: Brandon Kerr, Daniel Childress, Amanda Hoffman, Steven Ryan;

From Franklin-Simpson High School: Matthew Brown, Jessica Curtis, Kayla Fugate, Jessica Lunsford, Ben Metzger, Hannah Shaffer, Ryan Tyler;

From Logan County High School: Ashley Birdwell, Laura Galipeau, Philip Gibbs, Laura Hess, David Jenkins, Mary Jo Orange, Kelli Woodward;

Brown returns to Hill as assistant director

Gina M. Brown, a member of the 1985 Lady Topper Final Four basketball team, returns to the Hill as assistant director of development for university athletics.

&#8220I’m glad to be back at WKU,” Brown said. &#8220It’s amazing how things work out and life brings you full circle.”

Brown, a Louisville native, was a member of the Lady Toppers from 1982 to 1985 and received a bachelor’s degree in 1985.

She’s spent the past 20 years in sales, marketing and account management and will use those skills to raise funds and improve support for WKU’s Olympic sports as well as the Lady Toppers.

&#8220We are very excited to have Gina on board,” said Tom Hiles, WKU’s vice president for institutional advancement. &#8220She has been successful in the business world and on the basketball court and we feel Gina will do an outstanding job. As a former Lady Topper, she appreciates the support and the devotion of all of our alumni and friends who support our athletic tradition.”

Old Union releases 2005-06 honor roll

Old Union School released its honor roll for the second quarter of the 2005-06 school year.

All A’s: first grade, Shelby Tylicki; fourth grade, Shea Parrish; seventh grade, Sarah Crane; eighth grade, Brittany Talley.

All A’s and B’s: kindergarten, Christian Doyle and John Webb; first grade, Caroline Witty; second grade, Kaylynn Lyles; fourth grade, Seth Parrish, J.T. Poe, Caitlan Stinnett and Kaitlin Talley; seventh grade, Megan Lemily.