Named Maryland

Stephen M. Schenning, an award-winning prosecutor with 35 years' experience, has been named Maryland's first assistant U.S. attorney, described as "the highest ranking career position in the office. " He replaces Stuart M. Goldberg, who joins the U.S. Department of Justice as chief of staff to James Cole, the newly appointed deputy attorney general. Goldberg's new position was first reported by Baltimore lawyer Steven H. Levin, who wrote about it online Friday, in his blog "Fraud With Peril.

A Frederick County teacher who believes "chemistry is everywhere and for everyone" has been named the top educator in Maryland, state education officials announced Friday. Michelle M. Shearer, a chemistry teacher at Urbana High School, was surprised with the honor of being named the 2010-2011 Maryland Teacher of the Year during a gala attended by several dignitaries Friday night at Martin's West in Baltimore. "Choosing Maryland's Teacher of the Year is never an easy task for the judging panel," state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick said in a statement.

It was no surprise when Health Magazine rated the Smith Island cake as one of the 50 fattiest foods in the United States. After all, the cake is mostly just a frosting delivery system. In traditional versions, the layers of yellow cake are about as thin as John Waters' mustache. Between these eight to 10 layers is a smear of fudgy frosting; a slice of cake made using the official recipe from the Smith Island Cultural Alliance weighs in at 708 calories and 30 grams of fat. (With some alterations, our made-over recipe yields a slice with 415 calories and 12 grams of fat.)

Maryland's Caitlyn McFadden (Notre Dame Prep) was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's women's lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight season. Named as the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Division I lacrosse championship, McFadden led the Terps in 2010 to a 22-1 record and their 10th national championship. Joining McFadden, a kinesiology major, on the All-ACC Academic squad were teammates Abby Caso (McDonogh), Brittany Jones, Laura Merrifield, Katie Schwarzmann (Century)

The phone call came Saturday afternoon. Like a baseball manager summoning a relief pitcher from the bullpen, Maryland president C.D. "Dan" Mote Jr. was asking Randy Eaton to sub for departing athletic director Debbie Yow. Just like that, Eaton was elevated -- on an interim basis -- to oversee Maryland's 27 sports and $55 million athletics budget. There was almost no time for the 49-year-old to take it all in. Eaton, the athletic department's chief financial officer, was asked to keep his promotion private until senior athletic department officials could be briefed on his appointment Monday morning.

Mount de Sales standout Katy Buck on Wednesday was named the 2009-10 Gatorade Maryland Volleyball Player of the Year. Buck's receiving the honor, which is awarded for not only athletic excellence but also academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the court, means she is a finalist for the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year award. The winner will be announced late this month. Buck, a senior outside hitter who this month was also named The Baltimore Sun's All-Metro Volleyball Player of the Year, recorded 306 kills, 286 digs, 109 service aces and a hitting percentage of .462 this season.

Mount de Sales standout Katy Buck on Wednesday was named the 2009-10 Gatorade Maryland Volleyball Player of the Year. Buck's receiving the honor, which is awarded for not only athletic excellence but also academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the court, means she is a finalist for the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year award. The winner will be announced late this month. Buck, a senior outside hitter who this month was also named The Baltimore Sun's All-Metro Volleyball Player of the Year, recorded 306 kills, 286 digs, 109 service aces and a hitting percentage of .462 this season.

Imagine if the state of Maryland owned a racehorse. Imagine it was running in Saturday's Preakness. It needs a name and silks, so we'd like you to help us name Maryland's horse. We need a name (and why) and the colors you would pick for its silks. Send your entries to sports@baltsun.com. Leave us a contact number or e-mail address so we can verify the e-mail. Q&A Have questions about the Preakness or horse racing in general? Send them to us at sports@baltsun.com and one of our horse racing reporters will answer them.

Judy and Charlie Hunt arrived at Hickory Elementary School in Bel Air just before 10 a.m. yesterday and were whisked into the teachers lounge. For more than a week, they had kept a secret from their daughter, Diana Kolego, a teacher at the Harford County school, and they didn't want to blow it now, minutes before the ceremony. Finally, they were led into the gymnasium and stood behind their daughter. They tried to blend in, but Kolego spotted them. Judy Hunt quickly came up with a story about them making a donation for the playground.

Kimberly Lechlider, 19, of Laytonsville was named Miss Maryland Agriculture 2006 in a competition Friday night at the State Fair in Timonium. Lechlider, a 2005 graduate of Damascus High School who attends the University of Maryland, College Park, earned a $9,000 scholarship along with the title. She was selected from among 23 contestants. As Miss Maryland Agriculture, she will meet with fairgoers and award prizes at the fair, which runs through Sept. 4. In addition, Lechlider, who is an active member of the Montgomery County 4-H Program, Damascus Livestock Club and Montgomery County Agriculture Fair, will participate in a variety of activities associated with Maryland agriculture throughout the year.