Milestones for Jan. 23

IN EDUCATION

• John San Filippo of Advance, a student at Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pa., has been named an Advanced Placement Scholar.

Students qualify for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams with scores of 3 or higher on a 5-point scale.

IN THE ARTS

• Robert Moyer of Winston-Salem has received an honorable mention in the Poetry Council of North Carolina's annual contest. The award was given for his free verse poem "Things Fall Out of My Father."

Moyer's poem will be published in the council's annual awards anthology, "Bay Leaves." He will be invited to read his poem at Poetry Day at Catawba Valley Community College in April.

IN MEDICINE

• Tracy Cassagnol, a third-year medical student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, has been invited by the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship to serve as a 2012 Lambaréné Schweitzer Fellow.

Cassagnol will spend three months in Africa working at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon. During this rotation, she will work as a junior physician supervised by hospital medical staff.

The foundation's mission is to support dedicated and skilled students who want to meet the health needs of underserved communities.

IN THE MILITARY

• Marine Corps Pvt. Jonathan E. Sylvester, son of Jeanne Ferguson of Anderson, S.C., and Michael C. Sylvester of Pinnacle, has completed 12 weeks of basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C. The training included combat-water survival, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat and assorted weapons training.

IN SCOUTING

• Joseph Martin James , a member of Boy Scout Troop 444, was recently awarded the Eagle Scout Award.

For his Eagle project, James planned, organized and supervised the construction of an enclosed bulletin board at Hanging Rock State Park, where park rangers can place notifications for visitors to read. James' project was done in honor of his grandfather Marion James, a Civilian Conservation Corps member who participated in the park's construction. His Eagle ceremony was held on his grandparents' farm near Lawsonville in memory of his other grandfather, Kenneth Martin.

James is a graduate of South Stokes High School. He is attending Guilford Technical Community College, working toward a degree in machine technology.

James is the son of Jenny and Marty James of Pine Hall.

• Will Rierson, a member of Boy Scout Troop 922, has been awarded the Eagle Scout Award. For his Eagle project, Rierson, along with 20 of his fellow Scouts, refurbished the Strangers Graveyard at Bethabara Park. The graveyard's stacked wooden fence was repaired, the interior of the graveyard was cleaned, wooden rails were placed to outline walkways and mulch was placed.

Rierson's positions with Troop 922 have included patrol leader, scribe and librarian.

Rierson is a sophomore at East Forsyth High School and the son of Steve and Debra Rierson of Winston-Salem.

IN OTHER AREAS

• The Old Salem Sertoma Club of Winston-Salem has presented its 2011 Service to Mankind Award to the Chris Beeson family of Kernersville. It is in recognition of their support for Senior Services Inc. of Forsyth County.

During the summer of 2011, the Beeson family — Chris, Dana, Courtney and Emily — spearheaded collection drives for "Christmas in July," a project that provides seniors with basic items for daily living.

In addition to receiving the local award, the Beesons received the Sertoma district-level Service to Mankind Award. The family was chosen from among several nominees to receive the district recognition.

• Carlos Pereira has been recognized by the Clemons Rotary Club for his humanitarian work.

A water well in Leon, Nicaragua, has been built and named in Pereira's honor. The award recognizes the outstanding service and dedication that Pereira has shown as president and founder of Saving Little Hearts of Nicaragua, a nonprofit organization. The primary goal of the organization is to provide medical assistance and education to the children of Nicaragua who are living in poverty.

Pereira, who lives in Clemmons, was born in Nicaragua.

Compiled by Marcus Green