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The Damascus High School Environmental Club is participating in service projects designed to educate the community on simple efforts that can be done to help reduce pollution, save energy and keep harmful items from filling up the landfills.

Among the items the club is collecting are used batteries for small electronic appliances and used energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs. Both of the items contain chemicals that can be harmful if they leak into the water supply, said club sponsor Robert Dickie.

Also, students will collect plastic grocery bags to recycle.

These items may be dropped off at Room 134 of the school.

26 seniors recognized

for academic achievement

Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity recognized 26 African-American public high school students, including one from Clarksburg High School, for their academic accomplishments at its recent Achievement Week observance at the East County Community Center in Silver Spring.

The students, all males, were nominated for consideration by their high schools based on a minimum grade-point average of 3.0. The majority of this year's honorees held GPAs greater than 3.5 and more than half earned a GPA or weighted GPA of 4.0 or better with honors and Advanced Placement classes.

The keynote speaker for the program was Judge Robert R. Rigsby, associate judge for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

The 2008 Achievement Week honorees and their high schools included: Erik Agard and Elfalem Alemu, Montgomery Blair; Alexander Blocker, James Hubert Blake; Thiemo Diallo. Michael Mekonnen and Malcolm Wyche, Paint Branch; Curtis T. Driver, Col. Zadok Magruder; Ricardo A. Dunmoodie, Karim A. Nakuchima, Rachid D. Louis and Winzell Steele Jr., Gaithersburg; Jared T. Griffin, Kennedy; Chinelo Harvey, Bethesda-Chevy Chase; Lloyd P. Henry III, Poolesville; Abiye L. Ibiebele, Clarksburg; Sinclair Jackson, Springbrook; Elijah Martin, Thomas S. Wootton; Malu Mbungi, Quince Orchard; Sean McDonald, Churchill; Hailu M. Molla, Sherwood; Dereck Paul, Northwest; Marcus Smith, Rockville; Elie Tchoubfong, Watkins Mill; Joseph Walburn, Northwood; Anthony Young-Wiseman, Whitman; and Dawit Zewdie, Einstein.

Also recognized were Morris Hudson as the citizen of the year and William R. Roberts as the businessperson of the year.

Hudson is a former U.S. Marine and is employed as a community service officer with the Gaithersburg Police Department. He is also the executive director of the BROTHERS (Brothers Reaching Out to Help Each Reach Success) mentoring program. 

Roberts, regional president of Verizon of Maryland and the District of Columbia, was honored for showing commitment to the community through support of Mu Nu Chapter community projects and programs, and contributions to the Mu Nu Foundation. 

Bernie Scholarships available

Applications for the Bernie Scholarship Awards Program, given to low-income county residents (high school seniors and adults returning to school) living in Housing Opportunities Commission, Rockville Housing Enterprises, Scotland and Edgewood Management housing, are available at www.berniescholarships.org.

Last year, 24 scholarships were awarded.

Items appropriate for School Notes should be sent to Susan Singer-Bart at ssingerbart@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7182 or 301-670-7183, or mailed to School Notes, The Damascus/Clarksburg Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items will be used on a space-available basis.

Bill Teel Scholarship applications available

Applications are available for MCT Federal Credit Union's 2009 Bill Teel Memorial Scholarship Award.

Members who will attend an accredited college, university or other institution of higher learning during the 2009-2010 school year are eligible to apply for the $1,500 scholarship by downloading and printing an application at www.mctfcu.org.

Applications must be received no later than April 3 and mailed to MCT, Scholarship Committee, 15901 Frederick Road, Rockville, MD 20855.

Four winners will be selected and contacted by June 30, and scholarships will be given out in July.

The Bill Teel Memorial Scholarship Award was created in memory of a former MCT staff member who was employed between the 1970s and 1980s and helped bring innovative technology to the organization, credit union officials reported. Teel is remembered as a model employee with a strong work ethic who always went above and beyond his duties to help MCT.

‘Drawing the Line'

contest deadline Jan. 27

Drawing the Line on Under 21 Alcohol Use is sponsoring a Commercial Challenge Contest for county high school and middle school students, and the deadline for entries is 5 p.m. Jan. 27.

Participants are asked to create a 30-second video message directed at their peers. They may choose from one of three topics: how media influences teen thoughts about underage drinking; what teens can do to help a friend who drinks; and "Drawing the Line: Il/Legal, Un/Healthy, Un/Acceptable."

The two top winning middle school groups will receive $500 for first place and $250 for second place. The two top winning high school groups will receive $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place. Each participating student will receive a certificate of achievement. 

Entries can be mailed or delivered to: Drawing the Line on Under 21 Alcohol Use, Room 225, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902.

Visit www.drawingtheline.org or www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/safe for an application and more details.

Drawing the Line is a project of the Maryland Alcohol & Drug Abuse Administration, Montgomery County Health and Human Services and Family Support Center.

Literacy Council

seeks English teachers

English for Daily Living, a classroom program for parents of children in Montgomery County Public Schools, is seeking volunteer teachers and assistant teachers for spring classes.

Classes are held on weekdays, usually in the evenings, at schools in Silver Spring and Gaithersburg.

Lead teachers should have classroom teaching experience, experience teaching adults for whom English is a second language, enthusiasm for working with adult learners and be available to teach eight two-hour weekly classes.

Assistant teachers should have an interest in working with adults for whom English is a second language and be available to assist during the weekly classes.

For more information, call Jayne Klein at the Literacy Council of Montgomery County at 301-610-0030 or e-mail jayne@literacycouncilmcmd.org.

Students seek

vehicle donations

The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization, is accepting vehicle donations.

The tax deductible donations will be used to teach the county school system's automotive technology students.

To donate, call Mike Snyder at 301-962-4810 or e-mail Michael_C_Snyder@mcpsmd.org. For additional information, visit www.autocareers.org.

CHS offers

informal parent meetings

Clarksburg High School parents and guardians are invited to attend an informal gathering in the principal's conference room the third Thursday of each month from 8 to 9 a.m.

The get-together is an opportunity to engage in open dialogue with Principal James Koutsos and discuss what is happening at the school. The school provides a continental breakfast.

Koutsos will also hold four evening ice cream socials in lieu of four of the breakfast meetings. The ice cream socials will occur once per quarter from 8 to 9 p.m.

To attend any of the events, call Lana Ryan at 301-444-3008 so the school can plan sufficient refreshments.