Milestones for Oct. 17

IN EDUCATION

• Connie Chia has been accepted to Cottey College in Missouri for the 2011 fall semester. Cottey College is the only nonsectarian college in the nation owned and supported by women for women.

Chia's high school activities included Chinese folk dancing, hand bells, choir, piano and writing for her church newsletter. She was an Advance Training Institute Children's Institute leader and attended a youth mission trip to Mexico. Her awards and honors include the Dora Gravett Award, a green belt in tae kwon do, first-place in a poem competition and apple pie "Judges' Choice" at the Dixie Classic Fair.

Chia graduated form Harmony Advanced Training Institute and plans to major in creative writing and human development and family studies. She is the daughter of Nancy and Kum-Lok Chia of Kernersville.

• Garrett Hedrick has been chosen as the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet of the Month for September. The commanding officers choose the top cadet from the 4,000 students attending the academy.

Recipients of this award must demonstrate leadership beyond the responsibilities and expectations of every cadet. Hedrick was recognized for his work as a volunteer fireman, dedication to the Falcon football team and as a founder of the academy scuba diving club.

Hedrick is 2009 graduate of Reynolds High School and is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Richard E. Hedrick Jr.

• Ed Mazyck of Raleigh has been awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology from N.C. State University. He plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Mazyck is a 2008 graduate of West Forsyth High School and is the son of Ted and Diane Mazyck of Clemmons.

IN THE ARTS

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation has appointed three local residents to its board of directors. They are Lee LaVallee, Dawn Opel and Michael Ryden. Each will serve a three-year term on the board.

Lee LaVallee is president of LaVallee Properties. She is a former director of Triad Regional Multi Listing Service (MLS) and Winston-Salem Regional MLS, and she has served on several committees for the local organization. She is an avid arts fan is active in promoting the arts in Winston-Salem.

LaVallee is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill. She and her husband, Michael J. LaVallee, have four children. Their son, Aaron LaVallee, is a violinist and a graduate of the high school and college programs at UNCSA.

Dawn Opel is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the UNC School of Law. An attorney, violinist and arts advocate, she has served as a board member of several nonprofit arts organizations in Winston-Salem. She serves as chairman-elect of the Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras Council and has served on the board of directors of Piedmont Opera and its volunteer organization, the Piedmont OPERAtors, and the Reynolda House Museum Docent-Volunteer Council.

Opel is married to Ryan Opel, who is also a violinist, arts advocate and attorney. They have one son, Ian, who plays the violin through the UNCSA Community Music School.

Michael Ryden is a partner in Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate, where he specializes in the marketing and promotion of architecturally significant houses.

Ryden received a Bachelor of Arts from Roanoke College. He has been supportive and committed to historic preservation and the revitalization of Winston-Salem's downtown and urban neighborhoods. He is a member of Preservation North Carolina and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Ryden is an active supporter of the local arts scene and has served on the boards of the Little Theatre, Carolina Chamber Symphony and Magnolia Baroque Festival.

The new members replace Pat Shore Clark and Jean Adams, who are retiring from the board after serving two terms each, and John McGuire Jr., who relocated after serving one term.

IN THE MILITARY

• Army Pvt. Chanell J. Mason has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. Her nine weeks of training included instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, military justice, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.

Mason graduated in 2009 from Atkins High School. She is a cousin of Candice Johnson of Winston-Salem.

• Marine Corps Pfc. Christopher E. Geer recently completed the Marine Corps Enlisted Warehouse Basic Course. During the course with Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools Training Command at Camp Lejeune, Geer learned the administration duties of a warehouse clerk, including storage and issue procedures, record keeping and inventory control.

Geer is a 2010 graduate of West Forsyth High School. He joined the Marine Corps in March 2011.

IN SCOUTING

• Caity Venable of Girl Scout Troop 41038 has earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. To qualify, each girl must dedicate at least 65 hours to planning and implementing her project, which must benefit the community and have lasting impact. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest-earned award for Girl Scouts in grades 9-12.

For her project, Caity created activity kits for the children of Genesis House, an extension of Crisis Ministry in Lexington. The Genesis House is a family shelter that opened in 2001 and provides services for families. The kits, handmade from fabric, included many craft items and activities. She also made birthday party boxes that contained everything necessary to host or throw a proper birthday celebration.

Caity Venable is the daughter of Charles and Cindy Venable of Winston-Salem.

IN OTHER AREAS

• Members of the Arcadia Junior and Youth Granges put in a good showing recently at the North Carolina State Grange Art Contest in Charlotte.

Morgan Warrick, with her "Watchful," won the Grand Prize. Morgan, an eighth-grader at North Davidson Middle School, has been a Grange member for six months. She is the daughter of Carla and Will Warrick.

Clayton Rapp was chosen as National Junior Grange Ambassador. He will travel to the Grange National Convention in Tulsa, Okla., in November as a representative of Junior Grangers across America. Clayton is a seventh-grader at North Davidson Middle School and is the son of Craig and Kelli Rapp.

The Grangers also received the honors of North Carolina Grange of the Year and Outstanding Grange of the Year. Justin Leonard received state Youth Granger, and Granger leader Patty Swing was awarded a Junior Leader certificate.

Virginia Goodman Ring has been awarded the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award, presented by the Old North State Chapter. The award recognizes her exemplary involvement and dedication to health-care-oriented volunteer service.

Each week, Ring and her two therapy-trained dogs,visit the facilities of Oak Forest Health and Rehabilitation and Salemtowne. The patients and residents embrace the dogs as they talk with Ring and her husband, Jack.

Ring was accorded her honor at Highland Presbyterian Church last month.

• The Winston-Salem Kiwanis Club recently installed new officers and a board of directors, recognized perfect attendance and welcomed a new member.

The following were installed as officers for 2011-2012: David Crook, president; Gordon Skeeters, president-elect; John Jennette, immediate past president; and Andy Brown, secretary/treasurer.

The following were installed as members of the board of directors for 2011-2012: Doug Gerringer, Bill Snow, Gary Elkins, Ken Carlson, Roby Walls, Martin Levy and Jack Geis.

The following club members were recognized for having perfect attendance Andy Brown, five years of perfect attendance; John Jennette, three years; Jeannine Leggett, nine years; Martin Levy, two years; Norwood Lide, 10 years; Tom Munden, six years; Lou Prongay, 11 years; Dick St. Clair, four years; and Roby Walls, nine years.

Also, Joe Crews, manager of Tyco Electronics parts warehouse, has joined the Winston-Salem Kiwanis Club.

Compiled by Marcus Green