Briggs Chaney students raise money for shelter

The students used the profits for household items to donate to the Stepping Stones Shelter, located in Rockville. To help those on their way out of the shelter get on their feet, students bought screwdrivers, blankets, dishes and other items.

‘‘The students took [this idea] from a conversation in class and single-handedly turned it into a project that turned out amazing,” Darden said.

Darden cited student donations of goods as the key to the ‘‘truly wonderful outcome” of the fundraiser. ‘‘Since the students volunteered all the items, we were able to achieve 100-percent profit,” Darden said.

Blake National Honor Society inducts new members

The James Hubert Blake chapter of the National Honor Society held its annual spring induction ceremony June 5. Seven new members from the Class of 2008 were inducted.

Inductees from the Class of 2008 are Erin Hamilton, James Lanning, Sarah Monsheimer, Rebecca Martin, Christopher Moy, Kara Rose and Jonmarc Winfield.

Candidates are evaluated on scholarship, leadership, character and community service, according to a news release from the school. The Blake chapter of the National Honor Society maintains a scholarship requirement of a 3.5 unweighted or 4.0 weighted cumulative grade-point average.

The formal induction ceremony will take place in December.

Paint Branch science chair named Educator of Year

Paint Branch Science Resource Teacher Pamela Leffler has been named the 2006-2007 Educator of the Year from the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics National Capital Section (AIAA NCS) for high schools in Montgomery and Prince George’s County schools in Maryland.

Leffler will be presented a $250 award and Paint Branch High School will also receive $250.

Leffler was recognized for her accomplishments at Paint Branch including the last four as the Science Resource Teacher (department chair), according to a news release from the school. Along with teaching two sections of Advanced Placement biology, Leffler developed many courses during her tenure, including biotechnology, forensic science and pharmacy, the release said.

Leffler also coordinates the annual Science Expo, an all-school event where students present a project dealing with some aspect of the sciences.

Springbrook sophomore to attend seminar

Juliana Atabong, a sophomore at Springbrook High School, has been awarded a full scholarship to the 2007 Telluride Association Sophomore Seminar at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The seminar is titled. ‘‘Infectious Disease Detectives: Fighting Epidemics Using the Right Tools.”

Terica Adams, a Springbrook junior, was accepted last year and spent the summer in Michigan.

This six-week long educational program is centered on a college-level seminar for high school sophomores, according to a news release from the school.

Candidates are nominated by teachers and counselors and submitted essays and transcripts. They are then interviewed.

Springbrook students named STAR scholarship winners

Twenty-two Springbrook High School students will be recognized as STAR Scholarship winners by Montgomery County Public Schools.

The STAR Scholarship Foundation invites ninth- through 11th-grade African American students to apply for grant-in-aid scholarships worth up to $1,000 per year for future college or vocational school costs, according to a news release from Springbrook.

The following students will be recognized at a June 16 luncheon: Omoniyi Akande, Nenna Akpaete, Erica Barnett, Rutchilia Bleus, Rachael Browning, Jenise Ebanks, Nicodemus Guetatchew, Rodney Kizito, Katrina-Camille Lowe, Abeyu Mengistu, Charnelle Pinkett, Jessica Sawadogo, Dara Wilson, Alan Adebayo, Kefre Akpuete, Juliana Atabong, Steven Johnson, Meraf Kebede, Kaela Landon, Aselin Lands, Charles Mwalim and Yowhens Semaie.

Washington Christian Academy teacher honored

Mildred Guzman, a Spanish teacher at Washington Christian Academy in Silver Spring, was honored last month by the president of the Dominican Republic with the Medal of Merit for Dominican women.

Ramona Garcia, undersecretary of state for the Ministry for Women, presented the award to Guzman April 20 at a ceremony at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.

Guzman, a native of the Dominican Republic, received the medal for her lifelong career of service to her country in both politics and education, according to a news release from the school.

Send school news to The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. Items may be sent by fax to 240-473-7501 or by e-mail to jbrocker@gazette.net.

Before she became a teacher, Guzman worked with former president Juan Bosch as his personal secretary from 1978-1994. During those years, she also studied for her degree in political science at the Universidad Autonoma of Santa Domingo. She also worked for President Leonel Fernandez, from 1996-2000 as vice minister and secretary to the president – a job in which she was responsible for the public administration area of the Dominican government.

Guzman became distinguished for her work with the Dominican Liberation Party, and became the first female member of the Political Committee in 1980. She has written a booklet on political science and many newspaper articles.

In 2004, she was named Outstanding First Year Foreign Language Teacher by the Maryland Foreign Language Association. This is her first year at Washington Christian Academy.

Study Circles volunteers needed

Facilitators are needed for the Study Circles Program in Montgomery County Public Schools. Study Circles is a dialogue and action program that works with schools to address racial and ethnic barriers to student achievement and parent involvement.

An introductory meeting 7 p.m. June 27 at the Carver Educational Services Center auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, will give an overview of the study circles process and specifics on roles and expectations of facilitators.

Participants selected for the 14-hour training will receive instruction in multicultural and group processes, a certificate of completion, and a stipend. Visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org⁄departments⁄studycircles for information and application, or contact program staff at 301-279-3455 or studycircles@mcpsmd.org.

Send school news to The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. Items may be sent by fax to 240-473-7501 or by e-mail to jbrocker@gazette.net.