The Upper County Steppers of Montgomery County and the Lady Wildcat Steppers of Silver Spring are stomping and clapping their hearts out to raise money to send 33 steppers to national step championships in September.

Stepping, a dance tradition made popular by African-American fraternities and sororities in the early 1900s, is a mix of precise-foot movements, stomps, chants and rhythms that can be traced to cultural dance traditions of Africa, according to the UCS Web site.

The nonprofit Upper County Steppers are students ages 10-18 who attend various schools in Montgomery County. The Lady Wildcat Steppers are elementary and middle school students. Both teams have award-winning records, said Kevia Shepard, UCS president and founder.

The two step troupes will jointly represent Maryland at the Disney Step Classic over Labor Day weekend. They will perform under the name "JustUs" Steppers "because the name coincides with our theme for the routine," Shepard said. "Plus this allows for both organizations to take credit when we win!"

The group must raise more than $26,000 to send 33 steppers to the national championships. Donations and sponsorship are needed, said Shepard, "but unlike cheerleading or soccer, people don't always know what step is about nor do they want to sponsor it, until they see it."

To help, e-mail Kevia Shepard at ucs20874@yahoo.com.

Soaring Scouts

Three residents became Eagle Scouts in June at a ceremony at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rockville.

"Eagle Scout is the highest attainable rank in Boy Scouting and requires years of dedication and hard work," Corinne Whited wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette.

Each young man completed at least 21 merit badges and organized and led a service project that benefited his church, community and school.

Greg May of Gaithersburg, Scott Oberst of Potomac and Kyle Tubiolo of Derwood, earned the honor. They are members of Boy Scout Troops 472 and 1450 of Rockville.

May, who is the son of Michael and Stephanie May, has been a Scout since second grade, Whited said.

For his Eagle project, May painted doors and awnings of St. Mary's Catholic School with members of his scout troop and the Gaithersburg High School NJROTC. The 2009 GHS graduate plans to attend Montgomery College to study mechanical engineering and works at his parents' Subway restaurant.

Oberst, son of David and Kathy Oberst, began scouting at 6.

For his Eagle project, Oberst led volunteers repairing and painting the exterior of St. Mary's Catholic School. The rising senior at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville is a National Honor Society member; plays varsity football, wrestling and track and participates in the Red Cross.

Kyle Tubiolo, son of Ryan and Corinne Whited of Derwood, has also scouted since he was 6. For his Eagle Scout project, Tubiolo led a large crew of volunteers who primed and repainted 34 fire hydrants in the Woodley Gardens neighborhood. The 2009 graduate of Col. Zadok Magruder High School plans to attend Montgomery College in fall to pursue studies in physical therapy and music.

Smooth sailing

with the Cub Scouts

Cub Scout Pack 318 in Gaithersburg will be holding its annual Raingutter Regatta model boat race and Ice Cream Social at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21 in the gymnasium at Mother of God School, 20501 Goshen Road in Gaithersburg. Any boys entering grades 1-5 who are interested in finding out more about Cub Scouts are invited to join the fun. The boys will be sailing their 7-inch handmade wooden sailboats.

For more information, call Jeanette Barnes at 301-926-1720.

Germantown church takes children to the beach

The Youth Ministries of St. Jude AME Church in Germantown has planned a beach trip to Ocean City on Saturday. The bus leaves at 7 a.m. from Fox Chapel Elementary School, 19315 Archdale Road, Germantown. Refreshments will be served. Limited seating. Donations: $25 for ages 12 and older and $10 for children under 12. For additional information, call Joyce Perry at 301-972-9400 or visit www.stjudeamechurch.org.

Interested in law enforcement?

Applications are being accepted for the Gaithersburg Police Department's Citizens Police Academy. The academy educates participants about law enforcement techniques, traffic collision investigation, patrol operations, drug enforcement, crime prevention and community policing. 

The program runs Sept. 10 through Nov. 5 with weekly Thursday sessions from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Robertson Park Youth Center, 801 Rabbitt Road. Participants must be at least 16 years old.

For more information, contact Community Services Officer Dan Lane at 301-258-6400 or e-mail policeCSO@gaithersburgmd.gov. Deadline for applications is Aug. 28.

Rabies clinic

The Montgomery County Animal Shelter will host a free rabies clinic for cats and dogs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 16 at the shelter, 14645 Rothgeb Drive, Rockville. The City of Gaithersburg has set up a separate line for city residents. All pets must be accompanied by an adult; all dogs must be leashed and all cats contained.

There is no fee for the rabies vaccination; however, a city pet license must be purchased at the clinic. All domestic pets in Gaithersburg are required by law to have rabies vaccinations and their owners must be licensed.

For more information about the clinic, call the shelter at 240-773-5960 or visit www.mchumane.org. For more information about city regulations, call Animal Control at 301-258-6310.

Kudos

Tianruo Hu of Gaithersburg made the spring dean's list at the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Gonzalo Martinez of Gaithersburg made the dean's list at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Four Gaithersburg residents were named to American University's dean's list: Aamir Khan and Lucy Wu, seniors majoring in business administration, Rachel Forcino, a senior international service major, and Andreana Lefton, a senior international studies major.

Caps Off

Valerie Ellithorpe of Gaithersburg graduated in May from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.

A number of residents recently graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, including: Katheryn Marie Phillips of North Potomac, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in diplomacy and foreign affairs; Kristin Michelle Foringer of Gaithersburg, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science; Lindsey Anne Kane of North Potomac, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology; William Lee of North Potomac, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance; and Michael William Gessner of Derwood, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance.

Education awards announced

The Marian Greenblatt Education Fund has announced its award winners for 2009 honoring junior social studies students, foreign language students at Watkins Mill High School, and teachers. In social studies, awards are given to a junior at each public high school in the county who has made significant achievements in the subject.

In the Potomac area, Winston Churchill High School junior James Blum, Thomas S. Wootton High School junior Heather Allentuck, Quince Orchard High School junior Timothy "Ted" Dressel and Walt Whitman High School junior Caroline Kahlenberg were all honored with the awards. Fatima Falama and David Cabrera, both juniors at Watkins Mill High School, were honored by Walter and Perlita Jones, the Plasma Fellows and The Marian Greenblatt Education Fund with $500 scholarships for excellence in foreign language.  The Marian Greenblatt Education Fund also honored Jennifer Goodstein of Thomas Pyle Middle School and Autumn Moore-Myers of Ridgeview Middle School with teacher's awards. Jaclyn Klueger of Sequoyah Elementary School received the First-Year Award, and Bryan Goehring of Takoma Park Middle School was honored as Teacher of the Year.

To learn more about the Marian Greenblatt Education Fund, which was named in honor of Marian Greenblatt, a former member and president of the Montgomery County Board of Education, visit

www.greenblatteducationfund.org.

Opera Club

Figaro, Figaro, Figaro…Ever wonder about the refrain? Join an opera club which holds regular meetings at the Gaithersburg Library, where members discuss, listen, watch and share favorite operas and opera moments. The club is free. If interested, drop in to the next meeting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 at the library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave. or call the library at 240-773-9490.

Send submissions to Patricia M. Murret via e-mail at pmurret@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gaithersburg-Montgomery Village Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.