June 05, 1997|By Sally Buckler | Sally Buckler,SPECIAL TO THE SUN
AS MEMBERS OF Glenelg High School's Class of 1997, their families and friends crowded into the school auditorium for graduation Friday night, there was much to celebrate. Of the 243 graduates, 140 earned certificates of merit, which recognized that they took difficult classes while maintaining a high average.
The class earned 124 scholarships.
Noah Smith is a National Merit Scholarship Program recipient, and G. Thomas Finnigan and Christopher Selmer were program finalists in the National Merit Competition.
Meg Arenberg, Andrew Ashmore, Marla Conley, David Holland, Luke Reinke, Jill Rupprecht and Rita Turner are commended students.
Daniel Green won a national Achievement Scholarship for Outstanding Negro Students; and Finnigan, Reinke, Smith and Selmer are Maryland Distinguished Scholars in Academic Achievement.
Semifinalists in that program are Meg Arenberg, Conley, Carrie Fulton, Turner and Tonnie Warfield.
In the arts, Michael Schwartz is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalist in drama.
Peter Burch and Warfield are Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalists in visual arts; and Kathryn Wise and Reinke received honorable mention in instrumental music.
The top 5 percent of the Class of 1997, including many with perfect 4.0 averages, are Andrew Ashmore, Ryan Buckholtz, Burch, Conley, Melissa Durant, Fulton, David Irwin, Meaghan Massella, Bryan Morges, Sanjay Pant, Reinke, Selmer, Smith, Kimberly Stirn, Turner and Warfield.
Smith, who earned a perfect 1600 on the SAT last year, is a Presidential Scholars' Program finalist.
Patrick Gray and John Andrew McNeill had perfect attendance from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Many other students in this talented class won awards for their outstanding work from the A+ Auto Scholarship, won by Tim Lauterbach; to the Ward Memorial Scholarships for Carolyn Flowers and Jeremy Lignelli.
Congratulations to Principal Jim McGregor, who will take the reins at Atholton High School as principal next year.
He has reason to be proud.
Other top scholars
Chanu Rhee is another extraordinary youngster western Howard Countians can brag about.
The River Hill High School junior earned a perfect 1600 on the SAT.
Chanu, son of Sun and Kyong Rhee of Clarksville, carries a perfect A average.
Proud River Hill Principal Scott Pfeifer, noting that Chanu is also a gifted musician -- he was selected for All-State Orchestra as a violinist this year -- says this remarkable young man might be able to "write his own ticket to the college of his choice."
In memoriam
Three groups of people who were important to the late Bill Pindell will gather at 4 p.m. Sunday at Union Chapel to recognize his contributions to western Howard County.
Members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, the Glenwood Lions Club and the trustees of Union Chapel will honor Pindell's life and memory at a ceremony and reception.
Paul Embrey and Shirley Hobbs of St. Andrew's, Jim Pfefferkorn of the Glenwood Lions Club, and Warren Boyer, a trustee of Union Chapel, will speak about Pindell's efforts to develop St. Andrew's and, as a long-standing trustee, to restore Union Chapel as a community space and a place of worship.
Pindell, an unselfish charter member of the Glenwood Lions Club, held every office in the club at one time or another.
Lions Club members will dedicate a large spruce tree on the northwest campus of Union Chapel to Pindell's memory, and members of St. Andrew's will install a Bill Pindell memorial plaque in their Parish House.
Information: 410-489-4035.
Renewing school
Outgoing Glenwood Middle School Parent-Teacher-Student Association President Terry Chaconas says, "It's official."
With the adoption of the 1998 capital budget by the Howard County Board of Education, Glenwood Middle has a grant to create a plan to renovate the 30-year-old school.
Staff, parents and students will begin working on the plan in September.
Chaconas credits Brenda von Rautenkranz, the incoming PTSA president, for her "outstanding work as chair of the committee for renovation."
She also commends the hundreds of parents, teachers and students who attended one or all of seven public hearings, including 85 supporters who attended a recent County Council meeting.
Others who will serve in Glenwood Middle School PTSA next year include First Vice President Kathy Bowring, Second Vice President Mary Hedlesky, Treasurer Kay Partridge, Recording Secretary Barbara Asner, Corresponding Secretary Janet Thompson and PTA Council delegates Karen Laney-Cummings and Dottie Pesce.
West Friendship artists
Kudos to art teacher Shawn Brownell of West Friendship Elementary School and her talented fourth-graders, whose self-portraits have been selected for an International Children's Exhibit.
They are Brittany Smith, Bonnie Lauterbach, Peter Morrison, Elizabeth Logan, Megan Marland, Ashley Miller and Nathan Beigel.
Alex Smith and Suzanne Smith received honorable mentions in the contest, which was sponsored by Pentel.
Hippos dance
At 7 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night, the Bushy Park Junior Drama Club will present "When the Hippos Crashed the Dance!"
Take your family to see this free production by first- and second-graders Mairin Beliczky, Laura Burns, Meghan Daly, Rachel Davis, Lauryn Fantano, Sarah Fluharty, Kate Goodwin, Meaghan Gough, Samantha Grebow, Amber Jean Hof, Robin Lee Hof, Kate Johansen, Claire Knudsen, Rachel Laskey, Kristina MacMurray, Meaghan Pacious, Theresa Pacious, Madison Schiner, Jon Selfridge, Kate Selfridge, Bryan Spendley, Cammie Stang, Chelsea Stanton, Scott Talbott, Amanda Tammaro, Carly Wellham and Emily Zgorski.
Splash down to the library
Registration for "Summer Splash" at the Lisbon Community Library began Monday.
The free program of stories and activities about different ways children get wet in the summer, for children ages 2 to 5, will be at 10: 30 a.m. June 20.
Information: 410-489-4290.
Pub Date: 6/05/97
