Learning briefs 03/12/02

Southeast awards Regents' Scholarships

Southeast Missouri State University recently awarded Regents' Scholarships to students for the 2002-2003 academic year.

The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who achieve composite ACT scores of 27 and SAT scores of 1220. Students must have a high school grade-point average of 3.5 or graduate in the top 10 percent of their class. High school valedictorians with ACT scores 25 or SAT scores of 1140 also are eligible, as are National Merit Semifinalists and National Achievement Semifinalists.

The award covers incidental fees up to 32 hours per academic year for up to four consecutive years.

Scholarship recipients include:

Elishia J. Heiden, daughter of Chris and Linda Heiden of Jackson, Mo., Jackson High School class of 2002.

Isaac G. Nash, son of Philip and Linda Nash of Jackson, Jackson High School class of 2002.

Derek K. Ruth, son of Ken and Brenda Ruth of Cape Girardeau, Central High School class of 2002. He plans to major in computer science.

Jenna M. Lane, daughter of Allen and Diane Lane of Cape Girardeau, Notre Dame Regional High School class of 2002.

Christopher D. Hinkle, son of David and Sandy Hinkle of Cape Girardeau, Notre Dame Regional High School class of 2002. He plans to major in education.

Southeast awards scholarships

Southeast Missouri State University recently awarded President's Scholarships for the 2002-2003 academic year.

The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who rank at least in the top 20 percent of their high school classes and achieve ACT composite scores of at least 24 and SAT scores of at least 1110. The scholarships also are awarded to students who are their class valedictorians and achieve ACT composite scores of 21 or SAT scores of 990 or to National Merit Commended Scholars. The scholarship is worth $1,500 per academic year.

Recipients include:

Kimberly R. Davis, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Rodney Davis of Oran, Mo., Scott County Central High School class of 2002. She also is receiving the Girls' State Leadership Award of $300, given to those who have attended Girls' State and have a 3.0 grade-point average after six high school semesters. She plans to major in elementary education.

Samantha D. Thurman, daughter of Chuck and Debbie Thurman of Jackson, Mo., Jackson High School class of 2002. She plans to major in elementary education.

Elizabeth M. Myers, daughter of Gene and Frances Myers of Jackson, Jackson High School class of 2002. She plans to major in nursing.

Amelia K. Morgan, daughter of Ellen Robinson and Tim Morgan, Jackson High School class of 2002.

Geoff E. Kinder, son of Gene and Rosie Kinder of LeMoore, Calif., and Michael and Kimberley Pohlman of Jackson, Jackson High School class of 2002. He plans to major in computer science.

Bradley R. Schafer, son of Robert and Shirlene Schafer of Cape Girardeau, Jackson High School class of 2002. He plans to major in engineering physics.

Kirstin A. Huey, daughter of Tim and Cindy Huey of Cape Girardeau, Central High School class of 2002.

Weatherspoon receives Southeast scholarship

Ryan C. Weatherspoon of Scott City, Mo., has been awarded a Community College Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

It is a renewable award of $1,000 for two semesters, given to students transferring from a community college to the university and who meet other criteria. The monetary award is applied toward the student's incidental fees for up to two consecutive years.

Weatherspoon is a 2000 graduate of Scott City High School and will be a 2002 graduate of Mineral Area Junior College. He is the son of Michael and Joyce Weatherspoon of Scott City and plans to major in accounting.

Martin takes part in Presidential Classroom

Greg Martin, a student at Shawnee High School in Wolf Lake, Ill., recently took part in the 2002 Presidential Classroom Scholar's Program in Washington.

Martin and about 450 other high school juniors and seniors nationwide experienced the inside world of federal government. They spent a week discussing key political issues with Washington policy-makers and observing the American political process on Capitol Hill. Martin also met with U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello of Illinois.

The Presidential Classroom is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization.

Local teacher attends workshop in St. Louis

Nancy Bone, physical science teacher at Central Junior High School in Cape Girardeau, recently attended the 18th annual Teacher, Industry Environment workshop in St. Louis, sponsored by Solutia Inc.

The workshop was attended by 70 science teachers from across Missouri. The goals are to enrich science teachers' knowledge of the chemical industry and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, to promote environmental awareness in the educational system, to demonstrate the relevance of science, to promote hands-on classroom activities and to enhance personal communication.

Three teachers receive national recognition

Three Oak Ridge Elementary School teachers have received Reading Renaissance Model Classroom Level 1 certification by the Madison, Wis.-based company.

The certification indicates that efforts to adopt Reading Renaissance techniques have resulted in measurable student performance.

The teachers are Sara Swift, Kristina Jones and Jane Haines. Their students received a minimum of 60 minutes of reading practice time daily, and the teachers actively worked with individual students to achieve student achievement standards.

In addition to national recognition, the teachers will receive a merchandise certificate of $50.

Fraternity recognizes Thoma's achievements

Kara Thoma, a student at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, has been recognized by the Kappa Epsilon Fraternity for being on the school's dean's list for five consecutive semesters.

She is a member of Kappa Epsilon and is serving as the college's student body president. She is the daughter of Carlton and Jean Thoma and a 1999 graduate of Jackson High School in Jackson, Mo.

Brown makes dean's list at Notre Dame

Sarah Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Rick and Kathy Brown of Cape Girardeau, has been named to the dean's list at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., for outstanding scholarship during the fall semester.

The dean's list includes the top 30 percent of students who have succeeded in maintaining a scholastic average of 3.549 and above during the past semester. Brown is a 2001 graduate of Central High School and is in the university's First Year of Studies program.

Library invites children to explore weather

The Cape Girardeau Public Library invites children in kindergarten through third grade to explore the mysteries of meteorology at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Through experiments in weather prediction, participants will create tools that will entertain and amaze. Registration is preferred. For more information, call the library's Youth Services Department at 334-5279 or stop by 711 N. Clark.

Kinney receives Naval Academy appointment

Sean M. Kinney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robin Kinney of Cape Girardeau, received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.

The nomination of Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., put Kinney's name into a pool of potential candidates. Kinney, a senior at Central High School, is active in band, thespians and Scholar Bowl. He has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He attended summer invitational programs at the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy.

St. Mary student wins Geography Bee

Adam Parker, a sixth-grade student at St. Mary Cathedral School in Cape Girardeau, won the school-level competition of the National Geography Bee, the first round in the 14th annual national event.

First-round winners now take a written test. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state and territory will be eligible to compete in the state bee April 5.

The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expense-paid trip to Washington for state winners.

The first place national winner will receive $25,000 in college scholarships and a lifetime membership to the society.

Shannon James of St. Mary Cathedral School was runner-up in the school-level competition.

Sinclair receives doctorate from OSU

Amanda Sinclair of Cape Girardeau graduated with a doctorate in education from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., in December. She was among 1,222 students who graduated in fall commencement.

-- From staff reports