Hammond High

Thirty-six Hammond High School students have earned the designation of AP Scholar for their achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement program examinations. David Rogawski qualified for the National AP Scholar award, the highest award, by earning an average grade of 4 or higher (on a 5-point scale) on all the exams he took, as well as grades of 4 or higher on the nine examinations he took. Adam Bouland, Jonathan Chang, Mark Comstock, Chao Feng, Kelly Giedraitis, Grant Hamming, Ashley Park, David Rogawski, Kristy Schlueter, Sharayah Schram, Erin Simpler, Devin Taylor and Kyle Weber qualified for an AP Scholar with Distinction Award.

WITH THE weather finally warming up, a person's fancy turns to thoughts of -- getting out of the house.No longer forced by bitter weather to cocoon ourselves, we can all sally forth to meet our neighbors and sample our area's delights.This weekend features several great things to do.Hammond High is presenting the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" this weekend and next.As in all Hammond productions, it's an all-singing, all-acting, all-dancing delight.More than 100 staff members and students joined together to present this classic musical drama.

Staff and students of Hammond High bade a regretful farewell to JoAnn Sailer, an English teacher who retires this year. She has been at Hammond since it opened in 1977. Karen Dunlop, who taught foreign languages, also leaves the school community. Hammond's loss is the Howard County Education Association's gain. She begins a term as president of that organization.*Two years ago, piano teacher Leslie Goldstein met Cindy Yoo, a young student from Korea. Miss Yoo had given up the piano in her native Korea because her hands were thought to be too small for her ever to play well.

Tarat-ta-ta-ta-ra! (Loud trumpet fanfare.) Seventy-eight musical Hammond High students and their chaperones just returned from Fiesta-val, an invitational musical competition in Myrtle Beach, Va., held last weekend.This stalwart band returned covered in glory, having bested 17 bands representing nine states.The Hammond students won first prize for overall concert band. They also won first prize in the jazz combo, concert band and woodwind competitions.The jazz ensemble took second place.Vasili Frankos and Tamara Daniels both were named Outstanding Soloists for their performances on viola and cello.

HAMMOND HIGH drama teacher Mary Jane Sasser and her talented students are putting on "The Crucible" as their fall production.It promises to be a moving production. The play is a wrenching examination of the Salem witch trials of the 1600s. Those lucky enough to get the coveted on-stage seating will feel as if they are there in Salem.The students are down to the final week before the performance. While the technical crew and the actors put the final polish on their performances, it's a good time to note that without the efforts of the large and varied crews, this and other plays would not be as compelling or successful.

HAMMOND HIGH School students will present their production of "The Crucible" Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. at the school theater.Directed by Mary Ann Sasser, the cast includes Shoshannah Beck as Betty Parris; Larisa Stahl as Tituba; Evan Samuels as the Rev. Samuel Parris; Sarah Himmelheber as Abigail Williams; Cammie Surface as Susanna Wallcott; Molly O'Donnell as Mrs. Ann Putman; Nathan Harris as Thomas Putman; Georgia Paulding as Mercy Lewis; Jenny...

In 1979, the Orioles lost the World Series, disco was dying -- and Tanya Rayford Nixon was among the 134 students who got their diplomas, as Hammond High School graduated its first class.It was a landmark year for Ms. Nixon and for the Columbia high school, then just 2 years old and trying to establish its identity.Now, the 32-year-old Ellicott City mother of two is trying to recapture the moment -- the struggle of 538 students to carve out a school identity.She is among a group of former Hammond students organizing an April reunion of the school's first four graduating classes, which set milestones and traditions for the school.

PARENTS AND students are invited to come to Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road, for a "You Are Responsible" program Nov. 14 at 7: 30 p.m. Responsibility for safe driving is the evening's topic of discussion.Speeding, inexperience, failure to use seat belts and substance abuse are four leading elements of teen-age auto accidents.Howard County police Officer Paul Yodzis will talk about accident statistics and causes for the teen-age group.Chief Don Howell of the Howard County Fire and Rescue/Police Personnel will share experiences when responding to crash scenes and will present a video on the subject.

HAMMOND HIGH drama teacher Melissa Davis has announced the cast for the school's production of "Anything Goes."Susie Gist and Jason Ortega play Reno and Billy.Jon Nelson is Moonface, Lauren Mullen is Hope and Riana Hershenfeld is Bonnie.David Heine is Sir Evelyn, and Georgia Paulding is Mrs. Harcourt.Daniel Bresnick and Ernest de Lagarde portray Whitney and Bishop, respectively.The ship's captain is Brad Washer, and Trevor Green is his purser, with Robby Heacock as steward.Erik Johnson is the cameraman and Michael Wiles is his pal the reporter.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all East Columbia schools, churches, residents and organizations whose reported accomplishments have helped add interest to this weekly column. Keep those letters and phone calls coming.Hammond High's Tim Spruill has ended a year of accolades for his football prowess as cornerback for the school's team.He has been named Howard County player of the year, all-metro player of the year by the Washington Kickoff Club (Washington Pigskin Club), a USA Today and Super Prep Magazine's high school all-American, named to The Sun's and the Washington Post's all-metro teams and selected as cornerback for television station WRC's "golden 11" best players in the metropolitan Washington area.