Upper Marlboro teen selected for Maryland pageant

Jones, 13, will participate in the Maryland competition Aug. 16 to 18. The winner of the Maryland event receives $1,000 and air transportation to the national pageant being held in November at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

Jones will enter the ninth grade at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro this fall. She was a student at John Hanson French Immersion School in Oxon Hill, where she was a cheerleader, newspaper columnist and member of the safety patrol.

The National American Miss pageant includes formal wear, personal introduction, interview and community involvement components.

The junior teen competition is for girls ages 13 to 15.

Student attends forensic science conference

Regina Cain of Clinton recently attended a 10-day forensic science conference at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Cain is a junior at Oxon Hill High School.

The invitational event, the 2008 Congressional Student Leadership Conference, CSI: Forensic Science, gives students an opportunity to learn about forensics and earn up to two college credits.

The event included crime scene simulations to teach techniques of DNA analysis, blood spatter and fiber analysis, facial reconstruction and ballistics. Students also attended talks with prominent forensic and law enforcement experts, hands-on training, workshops and field experiences.

The conference, held July 14 to 23, was sponsored by LeadAmerica, a national youth development organization.

UMES graduates announced

The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, recently awarded degrees to 47 graduates from Prince George's County. The graduates were among 372 students who received bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the university in Princess Anne.

South county students graduates included Clinton residents Keyana Barnes, Christopher Brown, Maeghan Gale, Amarachi Nwaije, Jamel Price and Margaret Rutherford; Fort Washington residents Jaida Carter, Sylvia Dasi, Ashley Doster, Sasha Frederick, Christopher Gaither, Amanda Leigh and India Powell; Suitland residents Reginald Asare, Shameka Bryant, Tonya Lewis, Tonaio Swagin and Fyanhio Winter; Temple Hills residents Molika Al-Amin-El, Brittany Goodman and Audrey Medley; Upper Marlboro residents Sarena Alexander, Tawanna Bell, Jamel Cornish, Yamada Dorsey, Latrice Green, April Marshall and Marvin Parker; Oxon Hill resident Ebony Bounds; and Accokeek resident Corey Bray.

Other county graduates were Anthonia Adegbesan, Andre Arthur, Omolara Oshisanya and Lakia Pinkney of Bowie; Patria Smith and Tiffany Williams of Capitol Heights; Chiara Ali and Sharde Green of Greenbelt; Fatu Kanu, Alie Koroma, Mamud Mansaray and Andre Martin of Lanham; Jennifer Green-Butler and Aaron Credle of Riverdale; Brittany Butler of Springdale; Issa Conteh of Laurel; Brandyn Fox of Mitchellville; Derrick Gaither of District Heights; Kimberly Jennings of Landover; Donnia Macauley of Glenn Dale; Larnetta Matthews of Hyattsville; and Oyindamola Oladosu of New Carrolton.

Upper Marlboro Marine completes training

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Willy A. Maldonado, a 2007 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, recently finished an eight-week administrative clerk training program.

The program equipped Maldonado with key skills in personnel management and administration.

Maldonado joined the Marines in January.

Lanham student nominated for scholars program

Dante Marshall Jr. of Lanham was nominated by his fifth grade teacher at Catherine T. Reed Elementary School to represent the school at the National Young Scholars Program.

NYSP was held July 26 to July 31 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase and allowed students to pursue disciplines including environmental science, architecture, forensic science and medicine. During the program, the students were given challenging coursework and encouraged to develop their independence. NYSP ended with student projects incorporating leadership skills and findings from their specific areas of study.

Lanham resident completes combat training

Army Pfc. Herbert Jason L. Parr, son of Jennifer Quitugua of Lanham, graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training in Columbus, Ga. His training involved Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individual Training.

Over the nine-week training, soldiers are trained in drills and ceremonies, weapons, map reading, tactics, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid skills and Army history, core values and traditions.

The Advanced Individual Training course trains infantry soldiers to perform investigative operations, fire and recover antipersonnel and anti-tank mines, locate and neutralize land mines, and operate target and sight equipment. In addition, soldiers operate and maintain communications equipment and radio networks, construct field firing aids for infantry weapons and perform infantry combat exercises and dismounted battle drills.

NASA welcomes the public to view its facilities

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center will open its doors to the general public will allow the public to see what NASA Goddard does, meet the people, see the spacecrafts, take tours, partake in lots of interactive activities for adults and children, meet scientists and engineers, enjoy food from vendors, music, and more.

LaunchFest is coming to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 13. There will be free admittance to explore NASA science and technology with tours and hands-on activities. Call 301-286-NEWS or visit www.nasa.gov/

centers/goddard/events/

launchfest.html.

Bowie family leads parade at Six Flags America

Brianna, Jayden, Lauren, Jill and Janet Page of Bowie along with friends Melanie Long and Morgan Johnson were chosen as Parade Grand Marshals at Six Flags America in Largo on July 22. The park selected the group from thousands of guests to be VIPs and ride in a special vehicle during the Freedom, Flags and Fun parade. The group spent most of the day riding roller coasters and water rides before becoming parade marshals.