Learning briefs 5/27

Young writers recognized at achievement awards

Local students were among young writers in 35 Missouri schools to receive recognition at the 22nd Southeast Missouri Writing Achievement Awards ceremony.

First-place awards and two honorable mention awards were presented to writers of fiction, essays and poetry, ages 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12. Each first-place winner also was awarded a special certificate of achievement.

Area winners were:

Cape Girardeau -- Claire Bira, St. Vincent de Paul School, honorable mention, 7-9 essay; Kaitlin Cavey, Trinity Lutheran School, first place, 4-6 poetry; Ashley Colon, Cape Girardeau Central High School, first place, 10-12 essay; Nicholas Wallhausen, Trinity Lutheran School, honorable mention, 4-6 poetry.

Jackson -- Allison Baugh, Immaculate Conception School, honorable mention, 4-6 fiction; Erica Floyd, Jackson High School, first place, 10-12 poetry; Leslie Gordon, R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, first place, 7-9 essay; Sarah Hinkebein, R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, first place, 7-9 poetry; Katie Lakner, Immaculate Conception School, honorable mention, 7-9 poetry; Lauren Law, R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, honorable mentions, 7-9 poetry and essay; Sarah Luehrs, Jackson High School, honorable mention, 10-12 essay; Tim Miller, Jackson High School, first place, 10-12 fiction.

Specht wins achievement recognition award

Matt Specht, associate director of recreational sports at Southeast Missouri State University, received the school's Student Life Achievement Recognition Award.

The award recognizes individuals for helping the campus community.

Two students receive Provost Award

Donna Kridelbaugh and Jennifer Smith, both of Cape Girardeau, received Provost awards at Southeast Missouri State University which recognized their academic excellence.

Davis accepted to UMKC school of medicine

Brandon Davis of Maysville, Ill., has been accepted in the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.

He is the son of Kathy and Bill Davis of Maysville, and the grandson of Wanda Hill of Anna, Ill., and Norma and Kenny Blankenship of Benton, Mo.

St. Vincent students compete in math contest

St. Vincent de Paul students recently participated in the Missouri Mathematics League contest against schools from around the state.

The school's seventh-grade team, composed of David Westrich, Blake Palmer, Aaron Schmidt, Paige Schumer and Matt Kiblinger placed first in the region and ninth in the state.

Palmer and Westrich tied for first place in the region and were 11th at the state level.

The school's sixth-graders placed fourth in the region and 25th at the state. Team members were Ben Bira, Jackie Hendricks, Leah Hughey, Kate Roggow and Travis Harrington. Bira placed fourth in the region.

St. Vincent students also participated in a Continential Mathematics League contest recently.

The contest is composed of six creative thinking problems given five times during the year. Scoring the highest at their grade level were Brett Heischmidt, eighth grade; David Westrich, seventh grade; Ben Bira and Leah Hughey, sixth grade; John McLain, fifth grade.

Westrich received an award for his high score at the regional level of this contest. He also placed second among seventh-graders competing in the Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics state competition in April. McLain placed eighth in concepts and ninth in problem solving in that competition as well.

Elfrink receives achievement scholarship

Travis Elfrink of Marble Hill, Mo., has won a $25,000 college scholarship as a national winner in the AXA Achievement Scholarship program, conducted by the AXA Foundation in association with U.S. News & World Report.

A senior at Woodland High School, Elfrink is one of 52 winners of college scholarships totaling $670,000, which represents one of the largest corporate scholarship programs in the United States.

St. Vincent students win coloring contest

Second-grade students from St. Vincent de Paul school in Cape Girardeau were winners in the Cape County Soil and Water Conservation coloring contest.

As first-place winner, Nic Norman and Nicholas Bira received T-shirts. Second-place winners Chelsea Hastings and Katrina Trentham, and third-place winners Kennedy Woodruff and Ashley Thorton all received soda and candy.

Craft graduates magna cum laude from Rolla

Gregory Ray Craft recently graduated magna cum laude from University of Missouri-Rolla.

Craft, the son of Ray and Betty Craft of Cape Girardeau, received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

Two local schools receive accreditation

Cape Christian School and Alma Schrader Elementary recently received accreditation for the 2002-03 school year from the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.

The schools were recognised at the association's annual meeting in April. To achieve accreditation, schools must meet quality standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals outside the school and engage in continuous school improvement.

Area student receives agriculture scholarship

Amanda Birk of Burfordville, Mo., has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship as part of the fifth annual Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship program.

Birk is one of 100 high school seniors from across the United States who received this award due in part to their outstanding commitment to the field of agriculture. Birk is expected to attend the University of Missouri - Columbia in the fall.

Scott City student named All-American Scholar

Alana Newell, a student at Scott City High School, has been named an All-American Scholar and a U.S. National Award Winner in honor roll.

She was nominated by high school counselor LaDonna Pratt. She is the daughter of Mark and Dorothy Newell and the granddaughter of Paul and Alveda Nation of Scott City.

Central senior awarded pair of scholarships

Kelly Lynne Tummins has been awarded the Community Teacher's Association $500 scholarship and a $1,000 scholarship from the Central High School Class of 1960.

She is a senior at Central High School and has been a teacher's aide at Alma Schrader this year. She will attend Southeast Missouri State University this fall and plans to major in elementary education.

Tummins is the daughter of Joyce A. Tummins of Cape Girardeau and Michael W. Tummins of Dickson, Tenn. She is the granddaughter of Geraldine Stroup of Cape Girardeau.

Buehrle selected to national scholar society

Amy Buehrle, a 2002 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School, was recently selected for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Buehrle is the daughter of Anthony and Donna Buehrle of Cape Girardeau and attends Oklahoma State University, where she is a member of pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta and is involved in presidential leadership council.

NSCS is a national, nonprofit honor society that recognizes first- and second-year undergraduate students who excel academically.

Biri graduates cum laude from Maryville University

Theresa Biri, a 1998 graduate of Jackson High School, graduated cum laude May 3 from Maryville University in St. Louis with a master's degree in physical therapy, bachelor's degree in health science and a minor in psychology.

She is the daughter of Walt and Linda Biri of Jackson. While at Maryville, Biri was named to the dean's list five semesters and was active in the physical therapy club.

Brock earns business degree with honors

Robert Jonathan Brock, son of David and Mary Brock of Cape Girardeau, graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina Honor College, Moore School of Business, with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

He plans to pursue a master's degree in health administration at the university.

Local student completes program at career center

Joseph Wayne Brock, son of David and Mary Brock of Cape Girardeau, recently completed the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration program at Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.

He is a graduate of Eagle Ridge Christian School and is employed with Dairy Queen. He plans to continue school.

Central senior awarded scholarship to Mizzou

David Allen, a senior at Central High School, has been awarded the George C. Brooks Scholarship to University of Missouri-Columbia.

The scholarship is renewable for three years, and requires a GPA of 2.5, full-time enrollment and participation in the MAP program.

Allen is the son of Geneva and David Allen Sr.

Area students named to Missouri Valley dean's list

Jerry W. Balsman of Jackson and Talitha L. Hoffstetter of Gordonville have been named to the dean's list for spring semester at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo.

To attain the dean's list, students must have at least a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale and be enrolled full time.

Teachers, principal awarded recognition

Three Oak Ridge Elementary School teachers and principal have been awarded recognition fom Renaissance Learning, Inc.

Teachers Sara Hammock, Ginger Riehn and Jane Haines earned the highest national certification level from Renaissance Learning for oustanding classroom performance in reading, and will receive discount vouchers for books for their school.

Principal Dr. Gerald Landewee was awarded Reading Rennaisance Master School Candidate for his efforts to adopt the company's methods school-wide.

-- From staff reports