B-CC Rescue Squad members get top honors in graduation ceremony

Rescue squad volunteer Daniel Carnevale completed the Cardiac Rescue Technician (CRT) Class. CRT certification requires more than 500 hours of classroom time as well as additional clinical time in a hospital setting. CRTs are trained to treat life-threatening conditions and administer specialized drugs to patients experiencing health emergencies.

Rescue squad volunteers Sandra Ockers and Aaron Baldinger carried on the squad tradition of academic excellence by receiving the Richard B. Thompson Award for top academic performance in their respective Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) classes. EMT-B is the first level of formalized medical training required for all rescue squad volunteers. The training program consists of more than 120 hours of classroom time coupled with additional in-hospital clinical requirements and many hours spent riding rescue squad ambulances on actual emergency calls. EMT-Bs perform a variety of skills, including patient assessment, basic life support, and use of automated external defibrillators.

Rescue squad volunteers Nathan Blumberg, Rita Delaroca, David Hroncich, Lee Kahler, Arun Mallikarjunan, Shana Metzger, Margaret Roberts, Daniel Rogers, Henrike Veith and Susan Williams also completed the EMT-B training program.

Rescue Squad volunteers Alex Akman, Adelina Buganu and Kristen Hubler completed the county’s Essentials of Firefighting Class. The 120-hour firefighter’s course consists of extensive classroom instruction as well as physically demanding practical training, including live firefighting exercises. Training includes not only extinguishing fires, but also skills needed to address a variety of emergency situations involving hazardous materials, electrical equipment, fire alarm and sprinkler systems and many others.

For information on volunteering with the rescue squad, call the membership hotline at 301-657-5557, e-mailmembership@bccrs.org , or visit www.bccrs.org. BCCRS welcomes new volunteers year-round. No experience is necessary, and volunteers receive free professional training as well as annual physicals.

President recognizesyoung Bethesda composer

YoungARTS Music winner Tudor (Dominik) Maican of Bethesda was one of 20 students across the United States named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

Maican and the other arts honorees recently gathered in Washington, D.C., with 121 other Presidential Scholars for National Recognition Week, where they were honored by President Bush in a special White House Ceremony.

As part of the week, the 19-year-old composer showcased one of his compositions (played by pianist Jeanette Fang, 2003 youngARTS winner and Presidential Scholar) at the Kennedy Center.

Arts honorees are recommended through participation in the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts’ youngARTS program.

Presidential Scholars are selected for their accomplishments in a variety of areas, including academic success, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. Scholars in the arts, all NFAA youngARTS awardees, are recognized for an additional ability in one of nine fields: dance, cinematic arts, classical music, jazz music, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. For more information about the NFAA youngARTS program, call 1-800-970-ARTS (2787) or visit www.youngARTS.org.

Holton Equestrian Team takes home honors

The Holton-Arms School Equestrian Team, which consists of Lucy Samperton of Potomac and Erin Nealer of Bethesda placed second in the InterSchool Horse Show for 2006-07.

The team earned Reserve Championship Honors and was presented with a silver trophy at the Invitational Horse Show on June 17.

More than 70 schools participate in the InterSchool Horse Show, which holds shows from September through May and attracts schools as far away as Annapolis.

Holton P.E. teacher Nan Smith coached the girls.

Bethesda resident joinsLiteracy Council

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County has appointed Carol Clifford of Bethesda to its board of directors. Clifford is a consultant providing services for unions and other nonprofit organizations on matters of labor, employment, and immigration. Prior to that, she worked as a staff attorney for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, and served as assistant director of the Montana Federation of Teachers.

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County, established in 1963, is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping adults learn to read, write, or speak English.

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