Community Milestones

IN SCOUTING

Winston-Salem Cub Scout Pack 910 held its annual Pack on the Pounds canned-food drive recently and collected 1,515 pounds of food for the Green Street United Methodist Church food pantry.

This is the third year the pack has held the drive, collecting a total of two tons during that period.

This year, the pack's goal was 1,936 pounds. It was in 1936 when the pack was established, making it one of the oldest Cub Scout Packs in North Carolina.

The pack intends to meet its goal by year's end by collecting an additional 421 pounds of food pledged during the recent food drive.

Cub Scout Pack 910 is sponsored by St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

IN EDUCATION

□ Brenda A. Allen, a developmental psychologist, administrator, academic leader, and scholar with almost a quarter century of experience in higher education, has been named Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Winston-Salem State University.

She will also be a tenured member of the faculty, holding the title of Professor of Psychology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Work. Currently she holds the position of Associate Provost and Director of Institutional Diversity at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

"I am absolutely thrilled that Brenda Allen has agreed to join the leadership team at WSSU," said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.

"We are indeed fortunate to have been able to attract and recruit Dr. Allen to WSSU. I am sure that she will provide the critical leadership that this university needs as it continues its transition from an exclusively undergraduate university to a graduate level institution with a focus on quality teaching and research," said Reaves.

Allen's primary responsibility as provost and chief academic officer is to provide leadership for the institution as it pursues its academic mission. She will be responsible to the chancellor for the overall coordination and effective implementation of the university's academic programs, and will exercise leadership in promoting quality instruction, research, and university and public service. She will have lead responsibility for developing and administering the academic policies and regulations of the university, and in collaboration with other senior officers, she will have lead responsibility for the development of the university's annual budget and long-term financial plans.

Allen holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Lincoln University in Lincoln, Pa., a master's degree in experimental psychology and a doctorate in developmental psychology, both from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

She will begin her duties at WSSU in July 2009.

□ Isabel Manchego of Winston-Salem has graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. She was one of 1,795 students who received degrees during the school's December graduation ceremonies.

□ Sara Harper, Daniel Massoglia, and Elizabeth O'Brien have been inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society at the University of Virginia. These students qualified for membership by earning a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher by the end of their first year. They are all 2007 graduates of R.J. Reynolds High School and second-year students at UVA.

□ Three local nursing students at Forsyth Technical Community College were honored last month by the Forty & Eight Veterans Group, an elite unit of U.S. Armed Forces Veterans within the framework of the American Legion. Each recipient received $500 in academic scholarships.

Those receiving the awards were: Wendy M. Harless, Angela M. O'Connor, and Donna K. Willard.

The awards ceremony was conducted at the American Legion Post 55 in Winston-Salem. Forty & Eight Commander Wayne Reed commended the women for their professionalism and dedication to the nursing profession and encouraged them to remember wounded veterans and the price they have paid as they pursue their careers in the medical profession.

The following area students received degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Spring 2008:

Alleghany County: Jacqueline Denise Billings, B.S. in pharmaceutical sciences.

Ashe County: Benjamin Hunter Bark-ley, Doctor of Dental Surgery; Donavon Leon Boykin, B.A. in English; Mattie Rose Eckerman, B.A. in Exercise and Sport Science; Margaret Elizabeth Jackson, Doctor of Medicine; Cameron Houston Lewis, B.A. in Economics; Matthew Davis Parunak, Bachelor of Music (Performing); and Kimberly Brooke Taylor, B.A. in Psychology (AB).

Davidson County: Adam Robert Bair, AB in Journalism & Mass Communications; Kelley Alexis Bump, B.A. in Biology (AB); Patrick Scott Byerly, B.A. in History; Michael D Cain, B.A. in International Studies; Kara N. Conrad, Doctor of Audiology; Adam Graham Disher, B.A. in English; Robert Wayne Emerson, B.A. in Psychology (AB); Hannah Michelle Everhart, AB in Education (Elementary Education); Terry Lee Everhart, Doctor of Medicine; Sarah Foster Fish, AB in Education (Child Development & Family Studies); Justin Tyler Fleming, B.A. in Political Science; Charles Douglas Frye, B.S. in Biology; Emily Alice Gallimore, B.A. in English; Todd Forrest Gardner, B.A. in Economics; Karen Grace Garrison, B.S. in Business Administration; Matthew Scott Gibby, B.A. in Management and Society; Jessica Leigh Hill, B.S. in Radiologic Science; Christina Annette Hodges, B.S. IN Nursing; David Edward Hodges, AB in Journalism & Mass Communications; Kathleen Marie Howard, B.A. in History; Mia Cherie Jordan, B.A. in History; William Presnell Keesler, B.S. in Business Administration; Derin Rebecca Knowles, B.A. in International Studies; Kevin Koonts, Master of Accounting; Sarah Elizabeth Lovejoy, B.A. in Mathematics (AB); DeLee Anderson Mabe, Master Of Education (Education Program for Experienced Teachers); Jillian Evelyn Mack, B.A. in Sociology; Blake Leonard Michael, B.S. in Business Administration; William Henry Niver, AB in Journalism & Mass Communications; Brittnie Diane Oldenkamp, B.A. in Exercise and Sports Science; Brandon Michael Pendry, B.A. in Economics; Elizabeth Bradford Ragan, B.A. in Political Science; Gregory Thomas Ray, Certificate Program in Community Preparedness and Disaster Management; Tyler Lee Robertson, B.S. in Public Health (Health Policy & Administration); Kelly Renea Routh, B.A. in Political Science; Timothy Gerard Ruff, B.A. in Psychology (AB); Drew Robert Slabaugh, B.A. in Political Science; Kenneth Jordan Smith, B.A. in History; Katherine Alexander Snipes, B.S. in Business Administration; Joy Elizabeth Turner, Master of Social Work; Jennifer Beth Tuttle, B.S. in Psychology; and LaQuanda Nicole Tysinger, B.A. in Sociology.

Davie County: Jessica Louise Anderson, B.A. in Communication Studies;
Lauren Ashley Brogdon, Doctor of Pharmacy; Jeffrey Diamond Mighion, B.S. in Chemistry; Jason Bradley Overbey, B.S. in Computer Science; and Jessica Ryan Whitley, Juris Doctor.

(Students from additional area counties will be listed in next week's Community Milestones.)

IN CIVIC AFFAIRS

□ North Carolina House Representative Dale Folwell recently spoke at the 2nd Annual Conference on Managing Retiree Healthcare sponsored by the World Research Group. While there, he discussed the plight of the N.C. State Health Plan and the fact that North Carolina reported a $28.8 billion unfunded liability for retiree health care, more than four times what the state owes in ordinary debt.

"As a percentage of our operating budget, we have one of the worst problems of any state in the union." said Folwell, who serves as the Republican Joint Caucus Leader in the N.C. House of Representatives for District 74, Forsyth County.

As vice chairman of the House Pensions and Retirement Committee, Folwell has passed legislation to change vesting in the state health plan from five to 20 years, and has introduced several bills designed to address North Carolina's unfunded retirement health-care liability, which, he said, is one of the largest in the United States.

IN THE MILITARY

□ Eric Z. Conteh and Samuel D. Gaither have graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash.

The training provides the best possible professional training and evaluation for all cadets in the aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. Although continued military training and leadership development is included in the curriculum, the primary focus of the course is to develop and evaluate each cadet's officer potential as a leader by exercising the cadet's intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and physical stamina. The cadet command assesses each cadet's performance and progress in officer traits, qualities and professionalism while attending the course.

Cadets in their junior and senior year of college must complete the leadership development course. Upon successful completion of the ROTC program, and graduation from college, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, National Guard or Reserve.

Conteh is the son of Grace Brown of Winston-Salem, and a 2005 graduate of R.J. Reynolds Senior High School.

Gaither is the son of David K. Gaither of Greensboro and Anne L. Walker of Clemmons, and a 2005 graduate of West Forsyth High School.

□ Army Pfc. Joshua E. Parsons has graduated from Phase I of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) course at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala.

The course is designed to train the soldier to detect, identify and disarm non-nuclear explosive ordnance, and assist with disposal of munitions and explosive devices, fuels and oxidizers; assist in detecting, researching, and identifying chemical and biological agents; locate, gain access, and dispose of buried ordnance, land mines, and other explosive devices. The student receives the skills and knowledge required to understand fundamentals of basic electronics, maintenance and use of EOD tools and kits, and hazardous material transportation procedures.

Parsons is the son of Robert E. and Donna B. Parsons of Clemmons, and a 2006 graduate of Cornerstone Christian Academy in Statesville. His wife, Eva, is the daughter of Addison B. and Wanda R. Wicker of Statesville.

IN 4-H

□ The Central 4-H Club is making the holidays brighter for some residents of Davidson County.

The club has been caroling for many homebound people and presenting them with homemade gifts.

The club is led by Mary Ruth Sheets and Lori DeWald.

IN SPORTS

□ Ross Roark of Texas recently showed Gianni, an American Quarter Horse, to capture the world champion 2-year-old title at the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City. Gianni is a 2-year-old bay stallion owned by Gerri Leigh Pratt of Winston Salem. Roark and Gianni competed against 19 entries to win the title, a prize package and a cash prize.

The American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show is the pinnacle event for American Quarter Horse exhibitors around the world. More than 3,400 entries from the United States, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom competed at this year's show.

IN OTHER AREAS

□ Massage Envy's Massage for the Cure, a one-day public fundraiser this past September, promoted a free one-hour massage for a donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization's fight against breast cancer. The Komen for the Cure organization accepted more than $50,000 in donations, thanks to the volunteer efforts of Massage Envy's 18 participating clinics in North Carolina.

Massage Envy is a national franchise of massage clinics dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage. Its clinics in North Carolina include locations in Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem.

The Chick-fil-A restaurant in Stanleyville, located at 328 E. Hanes Mill Road, and WXII Channel 12 News collected $7,000 and more than 10,000 lbs. of canned food for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in November. Second Harvest workers said it was the biggest food drive ever conducted on behalf of the food bank.

Customers who brought in six canned goods received a free chicken sandwich or a three-count serving of chicken strips. The drive, which lasted from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., was a great success, and by day's end the restaurant had given away more than 550 sandwiches and Chick-n-Strips.

Though customers had to bring in only six cans to receive the free chicken sandwich, most people exceeded the amount and many brought in cash donations. An anonymous donor handed a food-drive worker a $2,000 check, and a veteran delivered a truck full of food.

□ Mitchell Kennedy of Winston-Salem was one of 10 finalists in the 3-A-Day™ of the Southeast Dairy Association, Harris Teeter and the Carolina Panthers Junior Broadcaster contest. He competed in November in front of Mick Mixon, the radio voice of the Panthers, and Jim Szoke, the Panthers' color commentator, for a chance to become an announcer at the Nov. 16 Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions game.

Kennedy, along with the other randomly selected contestants, read a script in front of the judges, and was then treated to a day of fun at the stadium, where he got a behind-the-scenes tour and a gift bag, including game tickets and signed Panthers souvenirs.

The Junior Broadcaster contest is a partnership initiative between the Southeast Dairy Association, Carolina Panthers, Harris Teeter and Radio Disney, and is part of a national program created to reach students in more than 40,000 schools nationwide with health, nutrition and fitness education.

□ Abigail McAlister of Winston Salem was recently named an honorable mention in Family Travel Forum's 2nd Annual Teen Travel Writing Scholarship Contest. Held on FTF's website www.travelBIGO.com, the competitive contest received more than 6,000 applicants.

□ For the 13th consecutive year, North State Communications has been an integral part of the Fox 8 Gifts for Kids campaign, which provides gifts for more than 20,000 local children who otherwise would not have a Christmas.

From its beginnings serving around 3,000 local children, Fox 8 Gifts for Kids has grown to serve children in a 12-county area of the Piedmont. Area residents were asked to bring gifts to any of several drop-off locations in the Triad. The gifts were then delivered to the Fox 8 studio, where the Salvation Army trucks picked them up and took them to their sorting facility for distribution to needy families.

"There is truly no better way to celebrate the season than by helping others," says Royster Tucker, president and chief operating officer of North State Communications. "We always look forward to being a part of this meaningful community project, and we were thrilled and honored to be a part of this toy drive once again."

■ News of accomplishments of Journal readers runs in the Community Milestones column on Mondays and the second Thursday of each month. To submit an item, e-mail it to Features@wsjournal.com, fax it to 336-727-4071, mail typed information and photos to Community Milestones, c/o Features Department, Winston-Salem Journal, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102, or drop it off at the front desk of the Journal, 418 N. Marshall St. Information should include a contact name and daytime phone number.