Arundel Community College

Unity Gardens holds essay contest Unity Gardens, a nonprofit organization that promotes neighborhood greening projects to enhance the quality of life throughout Anne Arundel County, is sponsoring an essay contest for two free tickets for the Chanticleer Gardens bus tour on Sept. 18. Participants must write an essay of no more than 800 words on the topic, "How can community gardens build community unity and future leaders?" by Aug. 28. Submissions should be sent to Unity Gardens, P.O. Box 385 Crownsville, 21032 or unitygardensaa@aol.

Fourth-grade teacher chosen for Fulbright exchange program A fourth-grade teacher at Richard Henry Lee Elementary School in Glen Burnie has been chosen for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program and will travel to Wembley, England, for the 2008-2009 school year. As one of approximately 450 United States educators who will travel abroad next school year through the program, Lauren Sansone will trade places with fourth-grade teacher Michelle Hunt of the Lyon Park Junior School. Recipients of Fulbright grant awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

Benjamin Harris is like most 15-year-olds - He has his first summer job, and he is counting the days until he can get his learner's permit - but for one thing. Instead of starting his junior year in high school this fall, he will be a junior at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The Severn teenager graduated summa cum laude May 29 with an associate's degree from Anne Arundel Community College and won a $5,000 scholarship to UMBC. No matter that he is too young, according to the state of Maryland, to take the General Educational Development (GED)

Forum to showcase green initiatives The Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland will co-host a forum, "Greening the Supply Chain," with the EPA Green Suppliers Network and the Maryland-Asia Environmental Partnership, from 7:15 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum. The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp. is a sponsor of the conference, and U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin will give opening remarks. Tickets cost $75. Information: 410-771-8111 or www.marylandmanufacturing.

Art exhibit -- The 49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar and Gallery in Annapolis will present Karma's Awakenings by artist Kasey Wells through April 30. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to midnight weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekends. 410-626-9796. Nature exhibit -- McBride Gallery will exhibit Americana by Carol Dyer and Lou Messa from Sunday through May 11 at 215 Main St., Annapolis. An artists' reception will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Southern High School math teacher Joshua Dorsey has been selected as winner of the 2008 Maryland Instructional Computers Coordinators Association Outstanding Educator Using Technology Award. The annual award honors one teacher who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education. Southern High School Principal Maryalice Todd said Dorsey's biggest strength isn't just his ability to use technology effectively. Rather, she said, it's his ability to blend technology with a human approach that creates strong bonds with his students.

Don Cooke didn't know much about the college honors society he joined two years ago, aside from the fact that it made him eligible for more scholarships. That changed when he became head of Phi Theta Kappa's public relations at Anne Arundel Community College. Cooke said he learned more about the 90-year-old honors society for students at two-year colleges and its commitment to public service and leadership. Newly inspired, he realized that his campus chapter could be doing a lot more. "We really didn't look beyond the borders of the campus," said Cooke, now the chapter president.