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

Lyons a finalist in state geography bee

Austin Lyons, son of Greg and Paula Lyons, is a finalist in the 2006 Kentucky Geographic Bee.

The competition is Friday at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center. The state winner receives $100 and a trip to Washington in May for the national competition.

Austin is a sixth-grader at Bowling Green Junior High School.

Merritt Goff, a seventh-grade homeschooler from Alvaton, is also in the bee – his second year in the event. He is the son of Brian and Julia Goff.

Western’s Herald gets crowning award

Western Kentucky University College Heights Herald won two Silver Crown Awards in New York City last week for the fall 2004 and spring 2005 semesters.

The Herald also received five Gold Circle awards, while the Talisman, WKU’s yearbook, won nine Gold Circle Awards.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association presented the awards at the annual spring National College Media convention.

Danny Schoenbaechler, a senior news editorial journalism major from Louisville, was editor for the 2004 fall semester. Shawntaye Hopkins, a senior news editorial journalism major from Louisville, was editor for the spring 2005 semester.

The Herald and The Michigan Daily were the only papers to receive two Silver Crowns. Five daily papers and one weekly received two Gold Crowns.

In the Gold Circle newspaper competition, Natasha Allen, a May graduate from Perry Park and a copy editor at the Daily News, placed third in general features. Brett Flashnick, a May graduate from Columbia, S.C., was second in spot news photography and Josh Armstrong, a senior from Monument, Colo., was third. Jim Winn, a December graduate from Bowling Green, placed first in sports photography. The Herald staff received a certificate of merit for overall design.

In the yearbook competition, Crestwood senior Rachel Droste placed first in feature writing in student life and J. Michael Moore, a May graduate from Franklin, Tenn., received a certificate of merit in personality profiles. The 2005 and 2006 Talisman editor, Katie Clark, a Bowling Green senior, placed second in people spread design and first in organization or Greeks spread (extended) design. She and Dinara Sagatova, a December graduate who is a page designer at the Evansville Courier & Press, received a certificate of merit in color spread design.

Other award winners were David Degner, a senior from Augusta, Ga., third, sports action photo; Yoko Furukawa, a May graduate from Bowling Green, third, academic photo; Ryan Long, a senior from Cashmere, Wash., certificate of merit, academic photo; and Big Clifty senior Carla DePoyster, certificate of merit, feature photo.

WCHS student in achievement academy

Joshua Sanford of Rockfield was named to the United States Achievement Academy. Joshua, a student at Warren Central High School, was named in the mathematics category.

He is the son of Dewayne and Lou Ann Sanford and grandson of the late Charlotte Randall and Lou Randall of North Vernon, Ind., and Claude and Mary Sanford of Russellville.

SBDM council at Natcher to meet

Natcher Elementary School’s site-based decision-making council meeting is at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.

The school’s PTO is accepting parent nominations for those interested in serving on the 2006-07 SBDM council and PTO Executive Board.

Submit nominations to the school, attention PTO President Kennith Moore, by April 19. Elections are April 26 in the school’s foyer.

Briarwood’s SBDM council sets meeting

The Briarwood site-based decision-making council meets at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the SBDM conference room at the school.

School’s leadership ability recognized

Richardsville Elementary School’s leadership team won first prize and $1,000 in this year’s Insight Communications Project USA Leadership Project competition.

The awards were presented at the March 14 meeting of Warren County Fiscal Court. Project USA is an Insight-sponsored program designed to provide a vehicle for elementary schools to use in helping students practice leadership skills by motivating the student body to participate in patriotic or volunteer activities.

To earn the top prize, Richardsville’s leadership team created and implemented activities to raise funds for a Christmas dinner for 40 elderly citizens living in the neighborhood of the school. The entire student body responded by providing enough funds to pay for decorations, games and prizes for the attendees. Classes also created and performed skits, and the school chorus treated the guests with a musical program.

Bristow Elementary School’s leadership students earned the second prize of $500 and also won the Best Civic-Minded Activity award for their Salvation Army food drive. The Most Public-Spirited Activity award went to Warren East Middle School’s leadership students for their &#8220Teddy Bears on Patrol” activity to benefit Kosair Children’s Hospital.

Members of Richardsville’s winning leadership team are Shanna Craft, Savannah Stone, Jessica Boots, Mikala Montgomery, Allie Young, Elisha Meredith, Autumn Barker, Noel Maxwell, Hunter Green, Skyler Ricker, Mikel Bledsoe, Leah Eadens, Austin Elmore and Austin Cole. Teacher Tom Stewart sponsored the Richardsville leadership team. He and principal Kory Twyman accompanied the students to the fiscal court meeting. Members of Bristow’s award-winning leadership team are Janos Briscoe, Wyatt Callison, Tyler Cardwell, Alyssa Casas, Kristie Chhouk, Allison Cline, Rachel Elder, Chelsea Embry, Nick Henderson, Hillary Herrington, Zack Minton, Tori Nimmo, Gradie Oliphant, Andy Payne, Johnathan Potter, Alex Puleo, Matt Stephens, Jessica Stockton, Timothy Stockton, Travis Turk, Dalton Whitney, John Kittinger, Bradley Pearson and Ashley Wurst.

Karen Coulter is sponsor of the Bristow leadership team.

Members of Warren East Middle School’s award-winning leadership team are Ciara Hill, Lauren Estes, Emily Minton, Brooke Grimes, Rachel Daniell, Stephanie Bass, Sabrina Van Meter, Travis Pate, Katie Turk, Morgan Vanderpool, Mallory Treece, Katelyn White, Savannah Sawyers, Ashley Stillwell and Nicole Hopkins. Teacher Stephanie Dennehy and Principal Beverly Dillard accompanied the students to the fiscal court meeting.

Christian Academy releases honor roll

The following students at Bowling Green Christian Academy were named to the principal’s list at the end of third quarter, receiving all A’s:

• Third grade – Aaron Bilbrey, Kaycie Bowen, Rachel Furbush, Emily Gore, Colleen Henson, Hannah Higgins, McKenzie Morris, Jacob Poloway, Ryan Rough. Ryan Sealey, Kendra Williams
• Fourth grade – Aaron Carter, Travis Henson, Sidney Pruitt, Miller Ramsey, Chaney Rose, Hunter Sewell, Alexis Shindhelm, Natalie Wentworth, Nathan Cherry, Rebekah Furbush, Millie Hizer, Christian Howard, Hayden Steward, Allison Woodard
• Fifth grade – Katie Blackmore, Abby Harnack, Thomas Hill, Amanda Kieffer, Andrew McGuffey, Josh Propst, Vaughan Richards, Emily Schuette
• Sixth grade – Taylor Boswell, Kelly Chartier, Casey Fortney, Jessica Gifford, Julia Reed, Julia Turner
• Seventh grade – Anna Blackmore, Sameer Fraser, Mary Catherine Kirkwood, Michael Newton
• Eighth grade – Natasha Fraser, Mia Lenoir, Amber Shindhelm, Catherine Wentworth, Erika Wilson, Krystal Young
• Ninth grade – Ameliah Given, Kortnea Pharris, Heather Yule
• 10th grade – Molly Daugherty
• 11th grade – Tessa Yule

The following students were named to the honor roll at the end of third quarter, receiving all A’s and B’s:

• Third grade – Destini Anderson, Carolotta Duhon, Randy Geis, Regan Hammer, Anne Claire McBrayer, Anya Parmley, Ivan Parmley, Ben Reeves, Caroline Richards, Casey Wilkins
• Fourth grade – Peyton Duhon, Rachel Osborne, Jacob Alford, Seaton Sheldon, Christy Wilkins, Jessica Rounce
• Fifth grade – Laura Forsythe, Victoria McClary, Tyler Owens, Lauren Sledge, Justin Turner
• Sixth grade – Taylor Allen, Lauren Oller, Kirstin Tucker, Cesarina Rounce
• Seventh grade – Haley Carter, Tim Furbush, David Hall, Spence Sheldon, Ryan Tucker
• Eighth grade – Hillary Guinn, Meaghan Ritchie, Nick Shelton
• Ninth grade – Brian Chaffin
• 12th grade – Joy Harris

Greenwood cheerers win national tourney

The Greenwood High School cheerleading squad won first place in the large varsity division at the National Cheerleading Jamfest in Birmingham Ala., March 18-19. The GHS cheerleaders performed a two-minute routine consisting of tumbling, pyramids, stunts, jumps, and dance.

Members of the winning squad are senior Katie Fane; juniors Aubrey Pendino, Kathy Witthuhn, Christina Grimes and Chelsi Deweese; sophomores Katie Beth Harmon, Emilee Hagan, Ashley Trabue, Delancy Sheldon, Shino Sleeper, Nikki Nicholas and Martha Caudill; and freshmen Richelle Woodrome, Whitney Jones, Katie Reeves, Laura Altfillisch, Amelia Spinks and Katherine Kirby.