Year Award

Well, we've reached the end of another NBA season, so it's time to hand out some awards you've heard of and a few you haven't (all unofficial, because this paper didn't receive an official league ballot.) Maurice Podolak Most Valuable Player Award: At midseason, we thought New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd would be the likely winner. San Antonio's Tim Duncan has had a phenomenal second half, Detroit's Jerry Stackhouse has rounded out his game and become an elite player, and the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal has been, well, Shaquille O'Neal.

Six teachers honored for awards The county Board of Education recently recognized six teachers for winning national awards. *From the International Technology Education Association, Ruth Akers received the Teacher Excellence Award, and Angela MacCubbin earned the Donald Maley Spirit of Excellence Outstanding Graduate Student Citation Award. *From the National Art Education Association, Linda Popp was named 2008 Eastern Region Art Educator of the Year; Cecilia Terlizzi received the National Junior Art Honor Society Sponsor of the Year Award; and Robert Miller received the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design/National Art Education Association Creative Educator Scholarship Award.

When he was traded to the Orioles' organization in December as part of the Ramon Hernandez deal, Brandon Waring was hoping just to get noticed by his new employers. "Going into a new season with a new team, you just try to put your name on the map," said Waring, who hit 26 homers and batted .273 at Single-A Frederick to earn the organization's 2009 Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year award. "That's what I tried to do every day, just come out and keep the same approach, not put too much pressure on myself," Waring said.

Ravens center Matt Birk was voted by the team as the 2011 Water Payton Man of the Year, the club announced Friday morning. Birk was the seven-time Man of the Year for the Minnesota Vikings and named one of three finalists for the 2008 NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. As the anchor of the offensive line, Birk has contributed to a rushing offense that finished the regular season ranked 10th in the NFL. He has also been active in the community. In addition to establishing the Matt Birk H.I.K.E.

On Friday, May 20, 2005, JEFFREY LEVIN of Melbourne Beach, Florida, died at home at the age of 55. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. Levin has been a resident of Brevard County since 1998, enjoying golf, and boating on the Indian River Lagoon. Previously, he was a resident of Finksburg, MD for 25 years. Mr. Levin was Executive Vice President of Visual Aids Electronics, Corp. (VAE) and Conference Systems, Inc (CSI) of Gaithersburg, MD where he had recently been recognized for his ten years of service to the company.

The North Baltimore Aquatic Club garnered three of USA Swimming's top awards yesterday when Michael Phelps was honored as the organization's Athlete of the Year. The 16-year-old from Towson also earned the Phillips 66 Performance of the Year award for his effort at the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in July when he lowered his own world record in the 200-meter butterfly to 1 minute, 54.48 seconds. Phelps' coach at the NBAC, Bob Bowman, was named the Doc Counsilman Coach of the Year.

Long & Foster names Gallagher Manager of Year Peggy Gallagher, manager of Long & Foster Real Estate Inc.'s Columbia office, was named Manager of the Year at the company's awards ceremony for its Baltimore/Pennsylvania region. The Columbia office was the top sales office for the ninth consecutive year. Joan Cochran, also of the Columbia office, was named Company Top Producer and Top Lister of the Year. Charles Buckley of the Annapolis office was the Top Salesperson of the Year. Joining Cochran and Buckley as top producers in the Baltimore/Pennsylvania region were Jean Legal, Columbia; Lee Hosea, Annapolis; Lisa Riggleman, Annapolis; Sharon Keeny, Columbia; and Peggy Stancavage, Severna Park.

Bryan Voltaggio presented Governor Martin O'Malley with Share Our Strength's 2011 Humanitarian of the Year Award on Sunday for his leadership in working to end childhood hunger in Maryland at a ceremony before more than 500 national and state anti-hunger advocates, government leaders, corporate partners, chefs and restaurateurs on Sunday in Baltimore. The presentation was made at as part an annual conference being held in Baltimore by Share Our Strength , a national non-profit working to end childhood hunger.  "With so many of the country's leading anti-hunger advocates in the audience, it's a particular honor to be presented this award for our work in Maryland," said Gov. O'Malley at the awards ceremony.

Sponsors of the Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year Award are accepting nominations to honor individuals who have created successful and growing businesses.Nominations for the 1996 award program, begun by Ernst & Young LLP, the accounting and consulting firm, must be received by April 5. The winner of the Maryland award will be announced June 26. That person will be eligible for the national award to be announced Nov. 16 in Palm Springs, Calif.Judges for the Maryland awards -- the seventh year they have been given -- are David S. Cordish, chief executive officer of Cordish Co.; Jean C. Halle, vice president and chief financial officer of The Baltimore Sun Co.; Charles O. Heller, director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland; Freeman H. Hrabowski III, president, University of Maryland-Baltimore County; Carroll D. Nordhoff, executive vice president, McCormick & Co.; Nancy D. O'Neil, partner, Piper & Marbury, LLP; and Jane M. Shaab, executive director, the Technology Council of the Greater Baltimore Committee.

The Greater Annapolis Chamber of Commerce honored their members withawards during a recent January meeting at Bay Ridge Inn in Annapolis.Members were given 1990 awards for outstanding leadership and volunteer service at the General Membership Dinner.Awards were given to past president Frederick C. Sussman, of Wright, Wright & Sussman; Cheryl Deats of Creative Solutions received theAmbassador of the Year Award; Director of the Year Went to John Riceof Business Systems Management, Entre Computer Center; Director of the Year went to Marlene Prendergast, Marlene Prendergast and Associates; and Member of the Year went to Sever Ames, Scarborough Ames and Associates.