Gold Award

The Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Western Maryland College has been designated a Gold Star Chapter by its national charter for efforts in community service and other areas of leadership.Phi Delta Theta President Russell J. Weber, son of Carl and Barbara Weber of Ramsey, N.J., recently accepted the award during an on-campus ceremony.The award signifies that the chapter has had "significant success in all areas of operation," including academics, community service projects, alumni relations and a pledge program that emphasizes education.

Heading into this season, the Orioles were known for being strong up the middle defensively. Now, with the team coming off its best season in 15 years, that strength is being acknowledged on a national stage. Shortstop J.J. Hardy, center fielder Adam Jones and catcher Matt Wieters were named American League Gold Glove winners at their positions Tuesday night. It's the first time since 1998 that three Orioles have earned baseball's annual benchmark of fielding excellence in the same season.

For the second consecutive year, the Orioles have three players that are finalists for the annual Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, which are given to the best defensive players at each position in each league. This year, catcher Matt Wieters is up for his second consecutive American League Gold Glove Award, center fielder Adam Jones will be going for the second (2009) of his career and shortstop J.J. Hardy is seeking his first. The awards will be announced on ESPN2 starting at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Baltimore Orioles' Cal Ripken rewrote the record book for shortstops last season, but Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox received the Gold Glove award for that position yesterday.So what does Ripken have to do to be recognized for his defensive accomplishments?"I don't know," he said. "I just have to go out and continue to make the plays I make. Granted, it's not too flashy and not too noticeable, but I still have to go out and play the way I play."Ripken made a higher percentage of them than anyone else.

FRIDAY WAS a significant day in the history of the Freedom Elementary School PTA.The organization received the Gold Seal Award, the highest award bestowed by the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers Inc., for its work during the 1995-1996 school year. The Gold Seal recognizes excellence in serving the needs of the students and the community.The award was presented at the state PTA convention at the Hunt Valley Marriott. Present to receive the award were Principal Larry W. Thompson, PTA President Tina Crockett and PTA Vice President Joan Swiston.

The Rawlings Gold Glove awards will be announced Tuesday, and it seems almost certain that Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken finally will get one.Strange as it may seem, sometimes it takes a great offensive season to get some defensive recognition. It doesn't make a lot of sense, and it doesn't always work that way, but it happens more often than you might expect.Look for it to happen to Ripken, who was passed over in favor of Chicago White Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillen last year, a year in which Ripken set a major-league record for fewest errors (three)

THE DECISION of the International Olympic Committee on Friday was swift and sure, like the skating of Canadian pairs team Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. But unlike their performance, it was not flawless. In this case, though, flawless may well have been impossible to achieve. After a huge international flap, the IOC agreed to award the Canadian pair what they deserved for their gold-medal performance in figure skating earlier this week. The first-place gold had originally gone to Russian skaters Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the Orioles considered one of the worst defensive teams in baseball a few months ago? Is this the same team that headed into September leading the American League in errors and trailing the other 13 AL teams in fielding percentage? It is, of course, but the Orioles got another organizational pat on the back on Tuesday night when Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy were awarded Gold Gloves, signifying that the league's managers and coaches consider them the top fielders at their respective positions.

PeopleKevin McLamb has joined Paragon Computer Services Inc., a systems integration firm based in Ellicott City, as a LAN engineer. He will be responsible for services to the health care, commercial real estate and financial services industries.Joseph D. McCreary, formerly senior mortgage account executive for Columbia National Inc., has been named mortgage director for the Columbia Bank. He will oversee residential mortgage initiation and production, including permanent and single-family construction loans.

Shannon McDonald, a South Carroll High School senior, will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a handicapped-accessible trail, bridge and walkway that were recently constructed in the wetlands behind the school in Winfield.The ceremony will be held at 12: 45 p.m. tomorrow and concludes Shannon's community service project to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.She coordinated the project with the help of science teacher Robert Foor-Hogue, fellow students and her family.