Award For Excellence

The Sun's "Reading by 9" series has been named a co-winner of the 1998 James K. Batten Award for Excellence in Civic Journalism.The Sun shared the award, given by the Pew Center for Civic Journalism in Washington, with a group of newspapers and television stations in Idaho and the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press."Reading by 9," which examined shortcomings in how reading is taught in Maryland schools, was called a "clear example of activist journalism" by the editors and television news executives who selected the series from 83 entries.

Clarion University senior Joanna Catalano, of Joppa, was selected as a finalist for the 2012 Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence, open to all students of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Catalano received a certificate of recognition and a check for $500 during Clarion University's Academic Excellence Week, April 15-21. Dr. Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, a founding member of PASSHE Board of Governors, established this program to recognize and reward outstanding academic achievement.

Anne Arundel Community College's restaurant management program has been given an award for excellence by the Maryland State Department of Education.The department's Award of Excellence named the community college's Hotel/Restaurant Management Program and Chef Apprentice Option as the top post-secondary career program in Maryland.The program also was recognized as a regional semifinalist for a U.S. Department of Education award given to exemplary programs in vocational and technical education.

The Hillcrest Elementary School PTA was honored twice at the PTA Council of Baltimore County awards banquet, which was held at Loch Raven High School in Towson on May 12. In addition to an award for Best PTA Communications, the school group was also recognized as one of only eight PTAs as a Unit of Excellence, a distinction the PTA also received last year. "It just shows all the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers," said Jennifer Parker, the second-year president of the PTA for the school on Frederick Road.

Some of the most influential people in sports labor and management will be in town today as the Sports Lawyer Association opens its 30th annual conference at the Hyatt Regency. Nearly 400 are expected to attend - including high-ranking executives from the NFL, Major League Baseball, NHL and NBA - to hear speakers and panel discussions on a variety of legal issues at the three-day meetings. "With all those leagues represented, that's what make it so special," said locally-based agent Tony Agnone, who is serving as the conference's program chairman.

Awards The National Defense Industrial Association presented its Edward M. Greer Award for contributions to military logistics to Joseph Grosson, corporate director of logistics for Lockheed Martin Corp. Grayson Homes, based in Ellicott City, received the 2005 Award for Excellence in builder/supplier trade relationships from TrueNorth Development Inc., a Michigan-based organization that works with homebuilders, suppliers, distributors and trades to improve the industry. The College of Southern Maryland named DM Group/DirectMail.

Academic, activity and leadership awards were presented to seven area students at the annual Spring Awards Ceremony at Western Maryland College.Laura Boesler of Westminster, a junior mathematics major, won the Charles J. Miller Award for Excellence in Mathematics.Gaelen Cross of Sykesville, a junior biochemistry major, was given the Harry Clary Jones Scholarship in Chemistry. The award, along with a scholarship in physics, honors the memory of Jones, a longtime faculty member at WMC.Lindsey Drager of Eldersburg, a junior history and English double major, was given the James D. Essig Memorial Scholarship.

Long & Foster Inc. sets sales record of $3.2 billion in May Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. announced May sales set an all-time company record of $3.2 billion. The company sold 9,783 properties for a total of $2.4 billion. Affiliate Mid-States Title sales increased 103 percent to $378 million, and Prosperity Mortgage saw a 36 percent increase to $234 million when compared with May 2001. Suburban Maryland's 19 offices saw sales increase 2 percent to $85.6 million. The 51 Baltimore/Southern Pennsylvania region offices had $435.

Barbara McWilliams and Sandy Hartzell, owners of a Glen Burnie-based company specializing in gift baskets and balloon decor, have been named Citizens of the Year by the Northern County Chamber of Commerce in recognition of their participation in community affairs. The award was among the business and civic honors announced Saturday at a chamber event at La Fontaine Bleu. In addition to serving on the chamber's board and executive committee, McWilliams and Hartzell, owners of Magic Moment Creations, were recognized for their roles in Arundel Habitat for Humanity, as sponsors of charitable causes and for helping to organize the annual Linthicum Community Fair.

Academic, activity and leadership awards were presented to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and nongraduating seniors, including nine students from Carroll County, at the annual Spring Awards Ceremony at Western Maryland College. Erin M. Clarke of Finksburg, an English major, was given the Jean Alpaugh Award for Interdisciplinary Study. The award is given to a student with appreciation for cross-cultural experiences and whose proposal for off-campus study will most benefit the scholarship and interdisciplinary interests of the late Jean Alpaugh, who graduated in 1990.

Some people said Paris Hilton looked as if she was going to burst into tears at the MTV Movie Awards, after comic Sarah Silverman made a joke at Paris' expense from the stage. Oh, please, if you're so fragile why spend your last night of freedom -- for 23 days, anyway -- at the MTV Awards? What about staying home with the Bible? We all know how devoted Miss Hilton is to matters of the spirit. I missed most of the MTV awards, except I did see Cameron Diaz, blond again and dazzling, handing Mike Myers his prize.

Awards The National Defense Industrial Association presented its Edward M. Greer Award for contributions to military logistics to Joseph Grosson, corporate director of logistics for Lockheed Martin Corp. Grayson Homes, based in Ellicott City, received the 2005 Award for Excellence in builder/supplier trade relationships from TrueNorth Development Inc., a Michigan-based organization that works with homebuilders, suppliers, distributors and trades to improve the industry. The College of Southern Maryland named DM Group/DirectMail.

Some of the most influential people in sports labor and management will be in town today as the Sports Lawyer Association opens its 30th annual conference at the Hyatt Regency. Nearly 400 are expected to attend - including high-ranking executives from the NFL, Major League Baseball, NHL and NBA - to hear speakers and panel discussions on a variety of legal issues at the three-day meetings. "With all those leagues represented, that's what make it so special," said locally-based agent Tony Agnone, who is serving as the conference's program chairman.

When Bill and Amy Hubbard bought the old stone house on Webster Street in Bel Air more than 10 years ago, they knew it had good bones. Slowly they renovated and added on, making the home an example of how a little extra effort goes a long way. What was important to the Hubbards was that the architecture and historic charm that they fell in love with was not lost in the improvements. So when it came time to put on a 2,300-square-foot addition, they wanted it to blend in and look like it was always part of the house.

Jalen Stewart, 22 months old, is Baltimore's Most Photogenic Baby. "This is the highlight of my life," said his mom, Wilde Lake resident Mary Weeks, who paid $70 to enter him in the "beautiful" and "fashionable" categories of the contest, which was presented by the American Performing Arts Network. The money will go to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, according to the group's Web site, www.photogenicbaby.com. "Jalen just lights up the dark side of the moon," said Paula Permison, who has known Weeks since middle school.

Long & Foster Inc. sets sales record of $3.2 billion in May Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. announced May sales set an all-time company record of $3.2 billion. The company sold 9,783 properties for a total of $2.4 billion. Affiliate Mid-States Title sales increased 103 percent to $378 million, and Prosperity Mortgage saw a 36 percent increase to $234 million when compared with May 2001. Suburban Maryland's 19 offices saw sales increase 2 percent to $85.6 million. The 51 Baltimore/Southern Pennsylvania region offices had $435.

Five Western Maryland College seniors from Carroll County received academic, activity and leadership awards at the college's annual Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation May 1.Joanne M. Engler of Sykesville received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award. It is presented annually to the student who, in the judgment of the economics and business administration faculty, has exhibited the best overall academic performance. Ms. Engler, a business administration and economics major, is a member of the WMC Non-Traditional Students Organization for students 25 years and older.

Jalen Stewart, 22 months old, is Baltimore's Most Photogenic Baby. "This is the highlight of my life," said his mom, Wilde Lake resident Mary Weeks, who paid $70 to enter him in the "beautiful" and "fashionable" categories of the contest, which was presented by the American Performing Arts Network. The money will go to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, according to the group's Web site, www.photogenicbaby.com. "Jalen just lights up the dark side of the moon," said Paula Permison, who has known Weeks since middle school.

Academic, activity and leadership awards were presented to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and nongraduating seniors, including nine students from Carroll County, at the annual Spring Awards Ceremony at Western Maryland College. Erin M. Clarke of Finksburg, an English major, was given the Jean Alpaugh Award for Interdisciplinary Study. The award is given to a student with appreciation for cross-cultural experiences and whose proposal for off-campus study will most benefit the scholarship and interdisciplinary interests of the late Jean Alpaugh, who graduated in 1990.

Barbara McWilliams and Sandy Hartzell, owners of a Glen Burnie-based company specializing in gift baskets and balloon decor, have been named Citizens of the Year by the Northern County Chamber of Commerce in recognition of their participation in community affairs. The award was among the business and civic honors announced Saturday at a chamber event at La Fontaine Bleu. In addition to serving on the chamber's board and executive committee, McWilliams and Hartzell, owners of Magic Moment Creations, were recognized for their roles in Arundel Habitat for Humanity, as sponsors of charitable causes and for helping to organize the annual Linthicum Community Fair.