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A new program at Frederick High School will honor distinguished alumni who have graduated during the last 116 years.

The Frederick High School Alumni Association Inc., a nonprofit organization of former graduates, has established the program to honor those who have distinguished themselves and brought recognition to the school and the community.

Dave Markoe, the association's director and Frederick High principal from 1977 to 1985, said the effort was suggested by current principal Denise Fargo-Devine as a way to acknowledge notable graduates. Markoe and the nearly 20 members of the association were able to go back and identify alumni from 1892 to the present and organize the effort.

"We've had a lot of people coming back to the building and saying that they want a way to recognized their classmates, but we had no procedure," said Markoe, a 1960 Frederick High graduate. "… We have a lot of folks who made major contributions to this school and their community and want the opportunity to share that."

Applications to nominate a distinguished graduate are now available at the Frederick High guidance department. The nominations will be collected through February; a selection committee will review the applicants.

Markoe said for the first five years of the program, the association will honor five members of graduating classes from 1892 to 1940 and seven from 1941 to the present, in seven categories: arts and humanities, business and industry, community service, education, public service, recreation/athletics, and special recognition.

Honorees will be listed on a commemorative wall by the school entrance and be honored during pre-graduation ceremonies next spring.

For more information on applications, contact Aaron Duckett in the guidance department at 240-236-7069. For more information on the Frederick High School Alumni Association, visit fhs.fcps.org/alumni.htm or contact Markoe at terps63@comcast.net.

Two complete basic training

Two Frederick natives recently completed basic training.

ïArmy Pvt. La'Dara Dillard graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. During nine weeks of training, Dillard studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values as well as instruction including basic combat skills, military justice and field tactics. She is the daughter of Cynthia Stephens of Frederick.

ïAir Force Airman Allen Heigaard has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Heigaard completed six weeks of training that included study of the Air Force mission and organization as well as rifle marksmanship and special training in human relations. He also earned credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He is the son of Cynthia Adams-Moore of Frederick.

Clergy elect officers

On July 1, the Frederick Area Ministerial Association elected new officers for the coming year.

Serving as president is the Rev. R. Christopher Spruill, associate pastor of Grace United Church of Christ; vice president is the Rev. Toni Fish, minister at Unity; the group's secretary is the Rev. Jan Daffern, associate pastor at the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ; and treasurer is Sue deVeer, past clerk of the Frederick Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

The association meets at noon on the second Tuesday of each month, September to June. The next meeting will be Sept. 9 at Grace United Church of Christ at 25 E. 2nd St., in Frederick.

Upcoming topics include discussions on the environment, immigration, the changing county demographics, interfaith connections and the effects of each on local spiritual communities.

For more information, contact Daffern at 301-662-2762 or at jdaffern@erucc.org.

Contact reporter Keith L. Martin at 301-846-2134 or e-mail kmartin@gazette.net.