Wootton senior's text

nets big reward

Amy Levine, 17, of Gaithersburg has been named "a teen prodigy" and awarded a $25,000 scholarship as a 2009 Davidson Fellow.

Nineteen students nationwide earned the honor.

Levine, a senior at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, examined the shades of gray between black and white in her literature collection, "Grayscale Unraveled."

The Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a national nonprofit based in Reno, Nev., supports "profoundly gifted youth," according to a statement. In her writing, Levine "demonstrates how life choices that have the greatest impact initially do not appear to be choices at all, but have the potential to be the most transformative." Her portfolio "explores the small yet important events that determine who we are and how live, while breaking down the black-and-white decisions people make to show the grayscale that describes the world."

For more information, visit www.davidsongifted.org.

County seeks teen ‘buddies'

Teenagers who would like to make a difference in the lives of homeless children are invited to join the county Youth Advisory Committee's Big Buddy, Little Buddy program.

Mentors must attend Montgomery County public or private high schools, provide their own transportation and commit to three hours a week at the Greentree Shelter, located at 6301 Greentree Road in Bethesda. Volunteers will qualify for Student Service Learning credits.

Student mentors will assist their "buddies" with homework and arts and crafts projects, and play games and participate in sports activities with them. Group activities are planned once a month off the premises.

Applications must be received by Friday. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec, or call 240-777-6985.

The program is sponsored by the Montgomery County Youth Advisory Committee and departments of Recreation and Health and Human Services.

Teen coaches needed

The Montgomery County Department of Recreation's KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) Club is looking for high school students who would like to serve as teenage coaches for children with disabilities.

Interested teens must attend a Montgomery County public or private high school. Sessions are held every other Sunday from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m., October through April, at Tilden Middle School, located at 11211 Old Georgetown Road in North Bethesda.

Students will qualify for Student Service Learning credits.

KEEN Club provides a safe and supportive environment for participants to learn appropriate behaviors while developing self-esteem and confidence through sports and recreational activities.

Applications must be received by Friday. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec, or call 240-777-6985.

The KEEN program is sponsored by the county Youth Advisory Committee and departments of Recreation and Health and Human Services.

Community meeting

with Board of Education

Parents, staff, students and community members are invited to share their views on strategic plan priorities with the Board of Education at a forum set for 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Quince Orchard High School, 15800 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg.

Participants may register to speak by calling 301-279-3617

Swing a club in support

of Blake athletics

Registration is now being accepted for the fourth annual Bengal Classic Golf Tournament Oct. 8.

The tournament, which is sponsored by the James Hubert Blake High School Booster Club, will be held at Argyle Country Club, located at 14600 Argyle Club Road in Silver Spring.

For more information or to register, visit www.bengalclassic.com. All proceeds will benefit Blake athletics.

Leadership institute offered

for Latino families

The Family Leadership Institute for Latino Families of Montgomery County will be held Friday and Saturday and Sept. 25 and 26 in the Council Office Building, located at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.

The institute is a free, intensive program for families who are caring for a child with mental health challenges. It is designed to inform, train and empower families to be leaders in advocating for children with mental health challenges. All sessions will be in Spanish or translated.

The events are being sponsored by the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health and Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.

To register or for more information, call Joan Charquero at 301-681-8929, ext. 24, or e-mail jcharquero@mcfof.org.

MCT awards

four scholarships

Four county students received Bill Teel Memorial Scholarships from MCT Federal Credit Union.

They include:

-Althea DaCosta of Clarksburg, a student at Montgomery College, who hopes to become a pediatrician and specialize in autism. She is working towards her undergraduate degree in child biology/psychology.

-Kelly Anne Hauprich of Burtonsville, a student at McDaniel College, who has wanted to study deaf education since the age of 5.

-Marieanne Paz of Rockville, a student at St. John's University, who hopes to serve as the first Latina U.S. senator after attending graduate school this fall.

-Khendi White of Silver Spring, a first-year student in the Howard University College of Medicine, who hopes to specialize in cardiology, which she decided to go into after shadowing a cardiologist.

The Bill Teel Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of a former MCT employee who was employed between the 1970s and 1980s and helped bring innovative technology to the organization.

Applications for the 2009-2010 scholarship will be added to MCT's website in November.

Education Notebook is compiled by Staff Writer Melissa J. Brachfeld. Items appropriate for this column should be sent to mbrachfeld@gazette.net, by fax to 301-670-7183, or by mail to Education Notebook, The Rockville/Aspen Hill Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday for consideration for the following week's paper. Items are used on a space-available basis.