SIX YOUNG WOMEN have earned the Balfour Key, a recognition of achieving a perfect 4.0 final grade point average at North Carroll High School in Hampstead.
A valedictorian is not selected at North Carroll. The tradition is to award deserving graduates the Balfour Key. This year's recipients are: Jessica Herbert, Sandy McCarthy, Krista and Kelly Summers, Catrina Trainor and Leah Young.
"These are very outstanding young ladies, all bound for strong four-year colleges, who've taken a most rigorous academic program," said Carole Wescott, a guidance counselor.
"[The Balfour Key] is a recognition and honor to students that best exemplifies outstanding scholarship."
Jessica will attend Western Maryland College, where she plans to major in business with a minor in math. She hopes to manage the family horse farm.
She has been active in the community, assisting the 4-H therapeutic riding program, competing in the 4-H State Horse Bowl contest, and singing in the concert choir and playing field hockey at school.
Sandra will study geoscience at Pennsylvania State University in State College. She plans to enter research or teaching. Sandra played in the concert and marching bands at North Carroll, and was concert mistress of the Western Maryland College Community Orchestra.
She has been active with the high school mime troupe, Kids on the Block puppet theater and her church youth group.
Sisters Krista and Kelly are among five sets of twins to graduate from North Carroll this year. They'll attend college together (although they haven't chosen one) and plan to study medicine.
In high school, Kelly and Krista played basketball and soccer, were members of the yearbook staff and the Spanish Club, and were involved in science research projects.
Catrina has been accepted into the honors program at St. Mary's College, where she'll major in biology.
She served as co-editor of Tangents, North Carroll's literary magazine, and has been published outside high school.
Catrina has been a soloist with the Western Maryland College Community Orchestra, the All-County Band, and has been active in 4-H and Girl Scouts.
Leah, who transferred to North Carroll two years ago, was active in the Drama Club, appearing in several plays. She will attend Union College in Tennessee.
Her desires in life are "to be and do whatever God wants, no matter what the cost. To serve God; all else fades like flowers."
On Friday, the young women will receive the Lamp of Learning Medallion, along with 42 other outstanding graduates who have been on the honor roll all 16 marking periods.
The medallions will be presented during the annual assembly for awarding recognition and scholarships by local colleges, community organizations and academic departments.
The recipients will wear the red-ribboned bronze medallions during commencement Saturday at Western Maryland College in Westminster.
"We have some outstanding people at this school," Wescott said.
Manchester Day
Families will enjoy Manchester Day on Saturday,an all-day, rain or shine event on the grounds of the Manchester Volunteer Fire Company off York Street.
The annual event benefits the fire company. Admission is free.
Breakfast will be served from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The outdoor market opens at 8 a.m. with antiques, collectibles, plants, crafts, and yard sale items. Pit beef and ham begin sizzling at 9 a.m. The event closes at 4 p.m.
Square dancing by the Carroll Promenaders begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Little German Band at 11 a.m.
At noon, the Street Commotion Drill Team performs. Popular instrumental music by the Alesia Band will start at 1: 30 p.m. The last performance will be by the Carroll Cloggers at 3 p.m.
Rides for children will run all day, and wagon rides for all ages will be given from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Information: Ralph Dull, 410-374-4012.
Pat Brodowski's North neighborhood column appears Wednesdays in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.
Pub Date: 6/04/97
