Community Milestones

IN EDUCATION

□ Salem College students recently participated in Make A Difference Day of Volunteerism by volunteering for Women Build House with Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County. Inclement weather did not dampen the volunteers' high spirits as they worked to finish the home of Julie Walker.

The volunteers were Maria Salcedo, Mary Donovan, Courtney Surratt, Joelle Whited and Danielle Vernon.

The annual event provides an opportunity for volunteers to raise awareness about community resources and needs, and provides an opportunity for volunteers to engage with Habitat to impact the lives of individuals and communities.

□ Kevin Jones, a graduate of West Forsyth High School, has been awarded a Denison Alumni Award scholarship at Denison University.

The Denison Alumni Award scholarship is given in recognition of a student's academic achievement, leadership and personal merit.

Denison is an independent, residential liberal arts school in Granville, Ohio.

□ Lenoir-Rhyne University recently inducted new members into Alpha Lambda Delta, National Honor Society for First Year Students.

Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society for students who have maintained a 3.5 or higher grade point average and are in the top 20 percent of their class during their first year of higher education.

The inductees are: Meredith Lisabeth Parks of East Bend; Abigail McCall Munn of Lewisville; Jessica Brittany Keaton of Tobaccoville; Erin Nicole Hanner and Erin Jane Harrison of Thomasville; and Devin Chase Tuttle, of Winston-Salem.

□ North Stokes High School's varsity cheerleading team, the Vikings, has been awarded the Body By Milk MVP (Milk's Valued Players) title by the National Milk Mustache "got milk?" campaign.

The team was nominated to be part of the first nationwide Refuel Your School contest, which rewards high-school athletic teams that choose chocolate milk to refuel and rehydrate after a game, practice or workout.

The cheerleaders received a $1,000 grant and $1,000 in Adidas sports equipment.

□ Three area students graduated from Central Michigan University in summer 2008. They are: Lindsey Skory of Winston Salem, B.S; Venkatareddy Pulagam of Greensboro, M.A.; and Jeffrey Bateson of High Point, M.A.

□ Salem College has announced the appointment of three new members of its board of trustees. They are:

Julia Cardwell Archer of Winston-Salem, a graduate of Salem Academy and a partner in the law firm of Enns and Archer. She is the president of the Salem Academy Alumnae Association for 2008-2010;

Elizabeth "Betty" Copeland Becher of Winston-Salem, a graduate of Salem Academy, and owner and president of the Gazebo clothing store in Reynolda Village. She was named Salem Academy's Outstanding Alumna in 2008;

Susan M. Ivey of Winston-Salem, the president and CEO of Reynolds American and chairman of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. She was recently named one of the 50 most powerful women in America by Fortune magazine.

□ Triad Academy has appointed Misty Brown as its new assistant director. Brown has been teaching at Triad Academy since August 2005.

Two new teachers were also added to the staff. They are: Richard "Paul" Dresel, who teaches literature, written expression, language tutorial, math, and computer skills, and Kathryn Key Linville, who teaches math, language tutorial, written expression and reading comprehension.

□ The Winston-Salem Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has presented a laptop computer to Brian McCorkle in recognition of his academic achievements. He scored over 1,500 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and maintained a 3.8 GPA while at Parkland High School.

McCorkle is now a freshman at Livingstone College in Salisbury, where he is majoring in political science. He plans to attend law school after finishing his undergraduate work.

IN THE ARTS

□ Deborah Schwab Rice of Winston-Salem has been named executive director of the International Handbell Committee. The IHC seeks to promote international relationships through the art of musical handbell ringing. Its membership includes representatives from the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Rice is director of Handbell Ministries at Beck's Baptist Church in Winston Salem.

IN THE MILITARY

□ Ben K. Staley, currently serving as a security force officer in the U.S. Navy, has been promoted to petty officer 3rd class. He is stationed at the naval submarine base in Kings Bay, Ga., and lives in Yulee, Fla. He has received orders for a new assignment to Naples, Italy, starting in May.

Staley, the son of Danny and Libby Staley of Winston-Salem, is a 2004 graduate of Calvary Baptist High School. He is married to the former Ashlyn Meads of Lexington.

□ Airman Corey D. Hunt has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, he studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Hunt is the son of Regina and Jeff Winning of Pfafftown and a 2008 graduate of North Forsyth High School.

□ Air Force 2nd Lt. Anthony Lehtio has graduated from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. He has earned his silver wings with an aeronautical rating of pilot in the Air Force.

Student pilots start the 52-week program by attending a three-week preflight phase followed by primary training to learn flight characteristics, emergency procedures, takeoff and landing procedures, aerobatics, and formation flying. Students also practice night, instrument and cross-country navigation. After primary training, students move on to advance training flying selected aircraft.

Lehtio is the son of Tarja Lehtio of Lewisville. He received a bachelor's degree in 2006 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University through the military extension program at Albuquerque, N.M.

□ Airman 1st Class Cathy M. Davidson has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, she studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs, performed drill and ceremony marches, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Davidson is the daughter of David Brokaw of Kernersville and a 2008 graduate of Glenn High School.

□ Airman Matthew S. Heide has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training he studied the Air Force organization and military customs, performed drill and ceremony marches, and received rifle marksmanship, and field training exercises. In completing the basic training he earned credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Heide is the son of Emily Hutchens of Clemmons and Scott Heide of Summerfield. He is a 2008 graduate of West Forsyth High School.

□ Army National Guard Pfc. Robert T. Olive has graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. During the nine weeks of training, he studied the Army mission and received instruction and training including exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army core values and traditions, military justice, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

Olive is the son of Micheal and Sandra Olive of Mocksville.

□ Army National Guard Pvt. Michael A. Lucas has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, he studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, field tactics, and field training exercises.

Lucas is the son of Amber and stepson of Gary Hicks of Mocksville.

IN OTHER AREAS

□ Hospice of Davidson County's chief executive officer, Gary Drake, is retiring. He will serve as chief executive officer through the end of 2008 and until the end of April, he will remain on staff as a transition consultant, reporting directly to the board.

Drake has served as the agency's CEO since September of 1994. During his tenure, the agency has had significant growth in its home-care program and is scheduled to open Davidson County's first hospice inpatient facility early next year.

Dr. Lee Jessup, the president of the United Way of Davidson County and the hospice's co-founder, commenting on Drake's announcement, said, "Gary Drake has provided outstanding leadership during a time when hospice has grown and developed into one of the premier agencies of its kind in North Carolina. Hospice of Davidson County has been a distinguished partner agency with our United Way for many years. I will miss Gary both professionally and personally."

Executive Committee board members conducted a search for the vacated position and have selected Lisa Hathaway, current agency CEO, to succeed Drake. Hathaway served as agency director of marketing from 2002 to 2004 and has worked in the health-care field for more than 10 years. She will assume the position of CEO on January 5.

□ Matthew Sherrill has won first place at the 23rd Annual Carpentry Apprentice Contest at the 2008 N.C. State Fair.

Sherrill, who works for Innovative Cabinet Co. in Mooresville, won a $325 premium from the fair, a plaque and an assortment of sponsor prizes.

Matthew Whitehart placed second, and David Mathis took home third-place honors. Whitehart and Mathis both work for Zack Rothrock Builders of Winston-Salem

To be eligible to compete, apprentices must be registered in the occupation and training with an employer that has a program registered with the N.C. Department of Labor. Contests are held in masonry, HV/AC-R, electrical, carpentry and plumbing.

□ The Central Carolina Children's Chorus recently performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. The group, whose mission is to provide musical instruction in choral music to children and young people, is celebrating its 10th-anniversary season.

□ Dana H. Hart, a Davidson County Inspections Department plans examiner, has become one of the few building-code officials within the state to qualify for the highest certificates available in each of five inspection fields. The five fields covered are building inspection, plumbing inspection, mechanical inspection (heating and air), electrical inspection and fire-prevention inspection. Of the approximately 4,000 inspectors in the state, Hart is one of only 184 code officials to earn all five top-level certificates.

□ David Crook, a retired pastor in the United Church of Christ, has been inducted into the Winston-Salem Kiwanis Club.

□ Betty Allgood of Winston-Salem placed first and set new records in two events in the N.C. Senior Games State Finals in Raleigh this fall. The events were the 1,500-meter race walk and the 5K race walk.

She is now eligible to compete in the 2009 Summer National Senior Games in San Francisco.

□ Angeline Clinton has been appointed an associate director on the Truliant Federal Credit Union's board of directors for the 2008-2009 term. She is currently vice president of enterprise operations services with Duke Energy.

Clinton serves on a variety of boards, and has received numerous awards for her professional and personal achievements. Most recently, she was named by The Girl Scout Hornets Nest Chapter as one of the 2006 Women of Distinction. The Charlotte Post honored her with a People of Prominence Award, and she was named one of the 100 Most Important Blacks in Technology in 2006 for Business and Industry by the US Black Engineer and Information Technology Magazine.

□ The Mental Health Association in Forsyth County Inc. has announced awards to individuals and organizations in recognition of their outstanding service, advocacy and leadership on behalf of persons affected with mental illness. The awards were made during the association's annual meeting and awards dinner in October.

The Elizabeth Rominger Cuningham Fundraising Award went to the Winston-Salem
Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk Committee for its three walks at Tanglewood Park to raise awareness and to generate funds to provide education and training in the prevention of suicide in Forsyth County.

The Lena C. Godwin Memorial Award went to Sue Bennett, an educator and an advocate on behalf of children with mental illness. She is involved with the local National Alliance on Mental Illness Chapter, and from 2001 to 2008 facilitated a support group for families of school-age children with mental illness.

The Wade M. Gallant Jr. Volunteer of the Year award went to Norma Jean Wilkes, who each week volunteers her time by speaking and listening to people with mental illness in local hospital inpatient units and in other mental-health settings. She also volunteers for local Crisis Intervention Team training to help law-enforcement officers better enhance their understanding of mental illness.

The Professional Service Award went to Deborea Winfrey, who facilitates a support group, My Sisters and Me, to help women with HIV overcome their depression, anxiety and self-esteem issues and work toward living a healthier life; and Jennifer Gleed, a receptionist in the Department of Psychiatry at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine for her professionalism and warmth toward people with mental illness.

The Mental Health Media Award went to News14 Carolina for its insightful news stories to educate the public about mental illness and mental-health issues in efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

The Bell Award went to Martha Martinat, a longtime champion for people with substance abuse and mental illness through grass-roots advocacy work on the local level and through her longstanding advocacy and service to people with disabilities within the N. C. Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.

The Bell Award is the most prestigious award that the Mental Health Association in Forsyth County gives to those who demonstrate consistent and exemplary service by consistently working on behalf of those with mental illness.

□ The Winston-Salem Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has recognized William "Bill" McClain for his years of service and dedication to Housing Authority of Winston-Salem youth.

McClain is the HAWS Youth Services Coordinator and Forsyth County Weed & Seed Program director, and was one of the founders of the Public Housing Authority State Athletic Conference organization, which focuses on the prevention of statewide dropout and/or gang affiliation.

■ 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.