Academic Excellence

Carroll Commissioner Julia W. Gouge and School Superintendent R. Edward Shilling testified in Annapolis yesterday before the House Ways and Means Committee about educational mandates from the state.Mrs. Gouge said before leaving that she planned to explain how certain mandates affect Carroll and which ones county officials have concerns about. She said she would mention bus `f programs, school construction funds and health screenings.The hearing is a chance for county officials to explain to legislators how state cuts have affected local budgets, she said.

The Severna Park Branch of the American Association of University Women is seeking applicants for a $2,000 transfer scholarship for the 1992-1993 academic year.County women are eligible if they finishedtheir studies last December at Anne Arundel Community College or will complete them in May, and they plan to transfer to a college as a junior.Eligibility criteria include academic excellence, financial need and good citizenship. Candidates must complete an application, provide copies of their official college transcripts, and be available for an interview April 26.The application and transcripts should be sent by March 31 to: The Transfer Scholarship Award Committee, SevernaPark AAUW, c/o Jeanne Hawn, 457 Bendale Drive, Severna Park, Md. 21146.

The student: Anni Wheatley-Heckman, 12 School: Mayfield Woods Middle School The achievement: The Carson Scholars Fund, co-founded by best-selling author and pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson, honored Anni this year with a scholarship for academic excellence and community service. She was one of six Howard County residents to receive the award. Extracurricular activities: Anni plays the clarinet in her school band, takes private clarinet lessons, plays soccer, and writes and directs for her school's morning news television program.

Cadet Troy R. Harting has been placed on the dean's list for academic excellence at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.To be named to the list, cadets must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better.The mission of the academy is to provide instruction and experience to all cadets so that they graduate with the leadership and motivation to become career officers in the U.S. Air Force.Harting is the son Raymond D. and H. Gayle Harting of Fallston.The cadet is a1989 graduate of Fallston High School.

Boys Athlete of YearWillis Wu, Severn SchoolClass: senior.GPA: 4.18SAT: 1,410.College: Princeton.Sports: football and lacrosse.Other activities: National Honor Society; treasurer Student Council; vice president Spanish Club; member French, Math and Ping Pong Clubs; yearbook staff; member Big Brother; delegate to Model OAS and senior prefect; Cum Laude Society; part-time dental school lab research.Profile: First in his senior class, he has collected a string of academic awards while finding time to quarterback the Admirals football team (its scholar athlete)

Erika Renee Ragland of Columbia was named Towson State University's Outstanding Woman of the Year at its homecoming festivities. Ms. Ragland, a mass communications major, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.*Michelle Wong, a student at St. Paul's School for Girls, has been named a Distinguished Scholar Semifinalist for academic excellence and superior creative talent in dance achievement by the Maryland Higher Education Commission of the State Scholarship Administration.*Seton Keough students Cindy Katafiasz, Karen McKenny, Amy Anderson, Whitney May and Diana Rosenberg were recently awarded Certificates of Excellence in a forensics tournament.

IT'S EASY to question the priorities of parents who would file a lawsuit in order to force a school to make their daughter co-valedictorian. Turning class rank into a competitive sport somehow seems to go against the ideal of seeking excellence for its own sake -- which is, however unrealistic, the way many of us idealists would like to view outstanding young scholars.But let's look on the bright side. Remember the 1991 Texas cheerleader scandal, the sordid story of a mother so obsessed with helping her daughter make the squad that she tried to put a murder contract out on the mother of her daughter's rival?

Karl Streaker of Westminster was named East Coast Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete at Frostburg State University's spring commencement.Mr. Streaker, a graduate of South Carroll High School, graduated magna cum laude and was captain of the Bobcat swim team.He earned a 3.7 grade point average as a mathematics major with a concentration in education. He received the Christa McAuliffe Scholarship for academic excellence in his junior and senior years.Mr. Streaker was named to Phi Eta Sigma, freshmen honor society and Kappa Mu Epsilon, mathematics honor society.

The student: Michelle McGrain, 11 School: Harper's Choice Middle School The achievement: One of six Howard County students named Carson Scholars this year. The Carson Scholars Fund - which was co-founded by Dr. Benjamin Carson, best-selling author and director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions - recognized Michelle for her academic excellence and extracurricular endeavors. Michelle reports that she received all A's on her report cards this past year. She has been studying and performing Irish dance for the past six years.

Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, headmistress of Notre Dame Prep School, announced the following Harford County seniors have been named Commended Students in this year's 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program, which the National Merit Scholarship Corporation conducts. Honored are: Julia Bellantoni and Sarah Fetcho,both of Bel Air. About 34,000 commended students throughout the nation have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2012 competition for Merit Scholarship awards, commended students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.