Community Milestones

IN EDUCATION

□ Three MBA students from Winston-Salem State University took third place in the 2009 National Student Case Competition held as part of the National Black MBA Association's annual convention in New Orleans. Team members were: Nathan Thompson, the assistant controller at WSSU; Willie Hunt, the portfolio review manager at BB&T; and Miranda Dalton, the manager of enrollment and family services for Rockingham County Head Start.

The competition, sponsored by Chrysler Group LLC and The Chrysler Foundation, brought in teams from 22 of the nation's leading business schools to compete for $35,000 in scholarships. The WSSU team won $8,000.

□ David Joel Tayloe of Winston-Salem graduated from the College of Music and Dramatic Arts at Louisiana State University.

□ Jovan Montre Harris of Winston Salem participated in the Governor's Page Program in Raleigh. Jovan spent a week gaining valuable life experience and providing administrative support as a page for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the week of Sep. 14-Sept. 18.

Jovan is the son of Rosemarie and Tobias Gentry and is a senior at Glenn High School.

□ South Fork Elementary School has received $500 from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation. School officials will use the gift to purchase technology equipment.

The proposal, Transforming Education Using Technology, is an effort of the faculty and staff of South Fork to improve technology skills of the teachers through staff development.

□ Desirae (Dez) Clodfelter of Walkertown has been named a Furman University fellow. She is a senior majoring in political science and is the founder of Global Justice, a campus group devoted to raising awareness of indigence and HIV/AIDS. Clodfelter is the online mobilization coordinator for World Vision's Acting on AIDS program. She has done internships with AIDS Care Service and the Council on Foreign Relations, has worked with the Red Cross in Honduras and traveled to Romania to develop an orphanage's educational program. Clodfelter received a $7,500 fellowship. The students were nominated by Furman faculty and staff, and a committee met over the summer to pick the fellows.

□ Grady C. "Neal" Stockton, the retired Kernersville police chief, was inducted into the Gardner-Webb University Gallery of Distinguished Alumni. Stockton is a 1984 graduate of the university with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice. He retired in August after more than 30 years with the department. He was chief for 25 years.

Stockton has also received the Medal of Valor from the Police Department and the Medal of Commendation. He is a past Employee of the Year of the Town of Kernersville and in 2008 was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Gov. Mike Easley.

□ Wake Forest University honored two alumni and three faculty members during Opening Convocation. President Nathan O. Hatch presented the Marcellus E. Waddill Excellence in Teaching Award to alumni Brian Rudel of Winston-Salem and Katherine Baird of Bethesda, Md. Each received $20,000 with the award.

Rudel graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in education and is a fourth-grade teacher at Caleb's Creek Elementary School in Kernersville. Rudel previously taught at Gibson Elementary in Winston-Salem. From 1993 to 2001, he taught at Southwest Elementary where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1997.

Baird graduated in 2005 with a Master of Arts in education from Wake Forest. For four years, she has taught French at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Md. Baird was selected as a model teacher for new French teachers to observe and has been involved in developing content for county-wide exams.

The Waddill Award was established in 1994 in honor of Marcellus E. Waddill, professor of mathematics from 1962 to 1997. The award is given annually to one elementary school teacher and one secondary school teacher in recognition of exemplary classroom teaching in public or private schools. The award is one of the largest monetary awards of any teacher-recognition honor in the country.

Provost Jill Tiefenthaler presented the Donald O. Schoonmaker Faculty Award for Community Service to Professor of Music Susan Borwick in recognition of her contributions to the university and to the community. She joined the Wake Forest faculty in 1982 and was chairwoman of the music department from 1982 to 1994. She served as president and vice president of the University Senate from 1989 to 1991 and directed the women's studies program from 1997 to 2000. She has composed music for local churches and community arts groups to perform and has served on the board of the Winston-Salem Children's Chorus.

The Schoonmaker Faculty Award for Community Service was established in 1988 by the Wake Forest Alumni Council to recognize extraordinary community service by a respected teacher-scholar from the College or the Calloway School of Business and Accountancy. The award was posthumously named for Donald Schoonmaker, a professor of political science at Wake Forest.

Tiefenthaler presented the first Divinity School Service Award to Bill Leonard, dean of the Divinity School and professor of church history. The award recognized Leonard's contributions as teacher, scholar, historian and founding dean of the Divinity School.

Leonard joined the Wake Forest faculty in 1996 with joint appointments in the Divinity School and the religion department. He has authored or co-authored 15 books and more than 400 articles.

The award is given to a graduate, faculty member or friend of the Divinity School who embodies the university's motto "Pro Humanitate" and reflects the Divinity School's mission to serve as agents of justice and reconciliation. In future years, the award will be called the Bill J. Leonard Distinguished Divinity School Service Award.

Perry Patterson, associate dean of the College, presented the Jon Reinhardt Award for Distinguished Teaching to Barry Maine, professor of English. Maine has taught at Wake Forest for 28 years and served for several years as chairman of the English department. His former students, who nominated him, said they admired his dedication, insight, wit and generosity.

The Reinhardt Award was established in 1986 in memory of Jon Reinhardt, a professor of political science at Wake Forest from 1964 until his death in 1984. The award recognizes an experienced member of the faculty for his or her performance in the classroom, for exemplifying the ideals of a liberal arts education and for an enduring influence on his or her students.

IN SCOUTING

□ Maria Adonay and Mary Beth Geyer of Girl Scout Troop 1035 have earned their Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. Each girl spent more than 65 hours planning and completing their project. Maria and Mary Beth each earned four interest project badges. Each badge required seven activities that center on skill building, technology, service projects and career exploration.

Maria's project was to create care packages of handmade stuffed bunnies and lap quilts along with an informational brochure to give to cardiac patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Brenner Children's Hospital. The project provides comfort to the children with a colorful quilt and bunny.

Mary Beth's project was to focus on increasing awareness in the community of the needs of such equine rescue organizations as Horse Education and Rescue Organization Inc. (H.E.R.O). She led her troop in creating flyers for distribution to businesses and individuals about a donation day in Clemmons. She promoted the donation day through community calendars and radio stations to increase participation for individuals to donate gently used supplies, horse feed, and medical supplies. Mary Beth also led members of her troop and service unit in organizing a Horse Fun Day for children.

Maria is the daughter of Lisa and David Lineback. Mary Beth is the daughter of Diana and Brian Geyer.

The leaders for Ambassador Troop 1035 are Diana Geyer and Lisa Lineback. The troop is sponsored by Midway United Methodist Church.

IN PUBLIC SERVICE

□ The following people have been named officers for the board of directors of the American Red Cross – Northwest North Carolina:

Michael Clements, chairman of the board of directors. He is the vice president of community investment at the Winston-Salem Foundation. Clements' term ends in 2011.

Cathy Peden, vice chairwoman. She is the vice president of human resources strategy & transformation at Reynolds Tobacco Company. Peden's term ends in 2011.

Donald Bolar, vice chairman. He is the vice President and treasurer at GMAC Insurance. Bolar's term ends in 2011.

Anne White, secretary of the board. She is the vice chancellor for student life at the UNC School of the Arts. White's term ends in 2010.

IN THE MILITARY

□ Army Reserve Spec. Matthew A. Davis 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 exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics. Davis earned distinction as an honor graduate.

He is the son of Sharon Goulding of Lexington and grandson of Billie Garges of Pilot Mountain and is a 2009 graduate of Central Davidson High School.

□ Navy Seaman Joshua L. Wise, the nephew of Thelma L. Wise of Mount Airy, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Wise completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations". This , sexercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. It distinctly Navy flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor.

Wise is a 2008 graduate of Patrick County High School of Stuart, Va.

□ Coast Guard Seaman Nathan Kitts recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N. J.

During the eight-week training program, Kitts completed a training curriculum consisting of academics and practical instruction on water safety and survival, military customs and courtesies, seamanship skills, first aid, fire fighting and marksmanship. A major emphasis is also placed on physical fitness, health and wellness.

Kitts and other recruits also received instruction on the Coast Guard's core values -- honor, respect and devotion to duty -- and how to apply them in their military performance and personal conduct. Kitts will join 36, 000 other men and women who comprise the Coast Guard's force.

Men and women train together from the first day in the Coast Guard just as they do aboard ships and shore units throughout the world. To reinforce the team concept, Kitts, and other recruits were trained in preventing sexual harassment, drug and alcohol awareness, civil rights training, and the basics of the work-life balance, as well as total quality management.

Kitts is the son of Pam and Jay Kitts of Walnut Cove, and a 2007 graduate of South Stokes High School.

IN SPORTS

□ Elizabeth Cagle James won her third consecutive world championship at the World Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky. on Aug. 25.

In 2007 she won the 10 and under Walk Trot World Championship on L.A. Blues and in 2008 she won the 13 and under three-gaited Show Pleasure World Championship on My Grande.

This year Cagle, 13, rode, Little Lord Huntly, her five-gaited pony in the 13 and under five gaited pony category.

IN OTHER AREAS

□ Mayor Allen Joines of Winston-Salem recognized 12 residents of Southfork, a senior living facility, who served in various branches of the United States military. The ceremony was held on Veterans Day.

The veterans who were honored, the military branch they served in and their decorations are:

Sam Black: Navy (was stationed at Pearl Harbor)

James Jarrell: Navy (served in WWII)

Roy Church: Navy

Dorothy Cole: Women's Air Corp

James Grant: Army

Bill Agee: Army; received a Purple Heart medal

Clyde Barker: Army; Foreign Country medal, Medal of Conduct and Sig Marie medal

James Harper: Army

George Alspaugh: Army; American Theatre Campaign medal, Victory Medal, Four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart medal. Alspaugh died recently and his sister, Hill Hunter, accepted his award.

Charles Dupell: Army (was stationed in Normandy); Victory Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, European-African Middle Eastern Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal

Arlon Jarrell: Air Force; President's Citation, Medal for Bravery

News of accomplishments of Journal readers runs in the Community Milestones column on Mondays. To submit an item for publication, e-mail information and photos to Features@wsjournal.com. Information should include a contact name and daytime phone number. Submissions are generally published in the order in which they are received. Delays can be expected during those times of the year when submissions are high, e.g. during school graduations.