Milestones

IN EDUCATION

•Jessica B. Fisher has been named to Wake Forest University's dean's list for spring semester of 2011. She is a 2010 graduate of Mount Tabor High School and the daughter of Robert and Tanya Fisher.

•Gerald L. Friday of King has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades in Media, Pa.

Friday, a 1960 carpentry graduate, worked briefly in the paper mills of Tyrone, Pa., his hometown, and then devoted the rest of his career to teaching carpentry at the Dauphin County Technical School in Pennsylvania. He also taught night school for the Carpenters Union Apprenticeship Program for nearly 20 years.

•Monica Susheela Hegde has been named to the 2011 dean's list for the spring semester at Wake Forest University. She is a graduate of Mount Tabor High School, and in 2009, she was selected to the Governor's School of North Carolina.

•Hilary Ragin Jessup has graduated summa cum laude from Fort Myers High School in Fort Myers, Fla. She had the honor of being recognized as a member of the top 1 percent of high school graduates in Lee County for the year of 2011. She will attend Princeton University this fall and plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Hilary is the daughter of Elder Manuel Owen and Debra Ragin Jessup, formerly of Westfield, and the granddaughter of Edith Smith Jessup of Westfield, and the late Elder James Oliver Jessup.

•Noah Justin Koubenec recently graduated from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, in Charleston, as the First Honor Graduate, Valedictorian, with a B.A. with majors in political science and Spanish, and a four-year cumulative GPA of a perfect 4.0.

Koubenec's numerous awards during his career at The Citadel including being named a 2010 Truman Scholar, one of only 60 college students nationwide to be so named; a 2010 Sigma Delta Pi national collegiate Hispanic honor society scholarship winner; a 2011 Boren Scholar; as First Honor Graduate, Koubenec was named the David Shingler Spell and William Porcher Dubose awards winner. He also was named the 2011 Joseph P. Riley Jr. award winner, and was presented the award by Joseph Riley, mayor of Charleston.

Koubenec was a four-year participant in The Citadel Honors Program, was named to the president's list for each semester and was awarded summer study program scholarships the last three years to study in Mexico and Ecuador. He also served as Sierra Company Commander in the Corps of Cadets

Koubenec is the son of Penny and Chuck Koubenec of Pilot Mountain.

•Jennifer Lyerly was recently awarded a doctor of optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. She graduated Beta Sigma Kappa, was selected for inclusion in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, received the National Board of Examiners in Optometry Part II Highest Score Award and was chosen for the Outstanding Clinician Award for overall exemplary clinical performance.

Lyerly graduated from West Forsyth High School and N.C. State University and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lyerly of Clemmons.

•Laura Mayerchak of Pinnacle, a rising senior at Wake Forest University, where she is majoring in elementary education, made the dean's list for the spring semester. She also has completed a study trip to New Zealand, traveling with faculty of the Department of Education and working in multiple schools there to learn about the educational system and the different learning styles of children.

•Marissa Janelle Pierre, a 2011 graduate of Reagan High School, has been awarded a Presidential Scholarship valued at $20,000 over a four-year period to attend High Point University in the fall. Though she has not declared a major, her interests lie in psychology, history and art.

Pierre was a scholar-athlete, having played on the varsity women's tennis team for her last three years of high school, and in the fall of 2010 contributed to Reagan's first 4A conference title in women's tennis. She also made Reagan's inaugural varsity women's lacrosse team during her junior year. While at Reagan, Pierre was also co-president of Crosby Scholars for the 2010-2011 school year; senior class historian; Student Government Association junior class council representative and a member of Reagan Girls' Service Club and the Latin Club.

Pierre is the daughter of Jennifer Casey and Clifford Pierre and the granddaughter of Annie Pierre, all of Winston-Salem.

•Jasmine Michelle Pitt, a rising senior at Wake Forest University majoring in psychology and Spanish, has been named to the dean's list for the spring semester. She is a 2008 graduate of West Forsyth High School. Currently, she is a 2011 summer intern for U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C.

Pitt is the daughter of Michael and Debra Pitt of Clemmons.

•Nathan Claiborne Ruffin has graduated from High Point University with a B.A. in Performance Theater. He is a 2007 graduate of Christ School in Arden. He is son of John and Fowler Ruffin of Winston-Salem.

•Stuart Clifton Ruffin has graduated cum laude from N.C. State University with a B.A. in political science, including minors in economics and Middle Eastern studies. He also was named a Fellow in Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Stuart is a 2007 graduate of The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and the son of John and Fowler Ruffin of Winston-Salem.

•The following area students are recipients of the 2011 Stratford Rotary Scholarships, each worth $2,500:

Meredith M. McCliment, a graduate of Glenn High School, will be attending UNC Chapel Hill in the fall and plans to major in biology and minor in art, with hopes of becoming a veterinarian. She is the daughter of Scott and Kathy McCliment.

Alexandra A. McClory, a graduate of Parkland High School, will be attending Wingate University in the fall and plans to major in biology and pursue the physician's assistant program. She is the daughter of Lynda McClory.

Carly B. Wolberg, a graduate of Reagan High School, will be attending UNC Chapel Hill in the fall, plans to major in business and international relations and is interested in a career in international business. She is the daughter of Mark and Fran Wolberg.

IN THE ARTS

• The UNC School of the Arts recently presented five Alumni Achievement Awards. The awards were presented during the spring Alumni Weekend to Kenneth Frazelle (music 1974); Jennifer "Jen" Haire (film 2002); Angela "Angie" Hays (design and production 2007); Trey McIntyre (dance 1987), and Ira David Wood (drama 1966 and 1970).

The awards recognize professional achievements, community involvement and support of UNCSA.

IN CIVIC AFFAIRS

•Meredith Shaw, a student at Wesleyan Christian Academy, recently served as a page for the N.C. House of Representatives. She is the daughter of Simon and Denise Shaw of Colfax and was sponsored by Rep. Larry Brown, R-Forsyth.

IN PUBLIC SERVICE

•R. Michael Wells, Jr. has been awarded the 2011 Younger Lawyer Pro Bono Service Award by the North Carolina Bar Association.

Wells was chosen in part because of his efforts with Project Grace, a Young Lawyers Division (YLD) initiative that provides health care powers of attorney and living wills free of charge to underprivileged North Carolinians, with an emphasis on fixed-income senior citizens. Wells has also undertaken a number of leadership roles within the bar and with community organizations in the Winston-Salem area, including United Way and the Parks and Recreation Department, for which he serves as a commissioner. He has also been actively involved in the American Bar Association, for which he serves as the ABA YLD District 9 representative for 2010-12.

IN THE MILITARY

• Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryan A. Littlejohn recently graduated from the F-22 aircraft Integrated Avionics Apprentice Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas. The course is designed to train students to operate, maintain, remove, check, repair and install aircraft avionics systems and to analyze equipment operating characteristics to isolate malfunctions in avionics systems, radar and other avionic-related systems.

Littlejohn is a 2009 graduate of West Stokes High School and the son of Les W. and Kim P. Littlejohn of King.

IN SCOUTING

•Zachary Britt, a member of Boy Scout Troop 934 at Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, has been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle project, Zachary redesigned two storage areas for recreation equipment and theater props and costumes at his church, Augsburg Lutheran Church, including building shelves and painting. His experiences with Troop 934 include leadership positions and membership in the Order of the Arrow.

Zachary is a senior at Mount Tabor High School, where his activities have included membership in the National Honor Society; concertmaster of the orchestra (first chair violin); and cross-country runner. He plays guitar and lead vocals with the band SalemSpeaks. He plans to attend the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University and major in music industry.

Zachary is the son of Joanna and Clifford Britt of Winston-Salem and a grandson of JoAnne and the late Rev. C. Ross Ritchie Jr. of Chapin, S.C.

•Davis Andrew Collins, of Boy Scout Troop 722, was recently awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at Highland Presbyterian Church, the troop's sponsor.

For his Eagle Project, Davis led a team of Scouts and friends in designing and building a compost bin at Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center for the natural treatment of animal waste that is recycled as fertilizer, protecting nearby watersheds from harmful runoff.

Davis' leadership with Troop 722 include serving as senior patrol leader; membership in Order of the Arrow; two trips to Sea Base, the Boy Scouts' High Adventure facilities in the Florida Keys; and six summers at Raven Knob Scout Camp in Low Gap.

Davis is the son of Linda and Ray Collins of Winston Salem. He will attend Appalachian State University this fall.

COMPILED BY MARCUS GREEN