School headlines

Xenia Community Schools bus drivers celebrated

XENIA -- Xenia Community Schools bus drivers were honoredrecently for their participation in the West Region School Bus Rodeoin Bellbrook.

Anna Shoemaker, Michelle Sonnycalb, Victoria Jones and GailLouderback were members of the team.

Jones was also honored for serving as an on-board instructor toprofessionally train 14 new school bus drivers and nine six-yearcertified drivers in only 24 month.

Xenia girls track team honored

XENIA -- Members of the Xenia High School girls track team werehonored at the June meeting of the Xenia Board of Education fortheir achievements in the state track meet.

Shapiro makes dean's list

DAYTON -- Jacob Z. Shapiro of Xenia is on the spring semesterdean's list of Denison University in Granville.

Shapiro is a physics and mathematics major.

Area students graduate from Kent State

The following Kent State University students graduated May 14 and16 on the Kent State campus:

Fairborn: Melody Vanderkolk, master of arts, College of Arts andSciences.

Xenia: Eileen Krajewski, master of library and informationscience, College of Communication and Information; Bradley Prinz,bachelor of science, College of Architecture and EnvironmentalDesign.

Beavercreek: Tiffany Cao, summa cum laude, bachelor of science,College of Arts and Sciences.

Area students graduate from Wilmington

WILMINGTON -- The following Wilmington College students from thearea graduated recently from the college:

Jamestown: Lauren E. Pauley, bachelor of arts in psychology.

Xenia: Christy M. Clark, magna cum laude, bachelor of science inbiology and chemistry; Erica A. Fawley, bachelor of arts ineducation; Laura K. Pagett, bachelor of science in agriculture.

Centerville grad declares major

FAIRBORN -- Nicole M. Grant, daughter of Griffin Grant ofFairborn and Melinda Grant of Miami Twp., has enrolled as a freshmanbiology major at Ohio Northern University in Ada.

Grant is a Centerville High School graduate.

Barton earns master's degree

BEAVERCREEK -- Rebecca (Robbins) Barton of Beavercreek recentlygraduated from Walden University with a master of science degree innursing education, and will be inducted into the Walden UniversityInternational Nursing Honor Society.

Barton, a 1993 graduate of Fairborn High School is a nursingfaculty member at Hondros College School of Nursing in Fairborn.Barton obtained her associate's degree in nursing from SinclairCommunity College in 1998, and her bachelor's degree in nursing fromWright State University in 2006.

Barton is married to Scott Barton of Beavercreek and has onedaughter, Ashley. Rebecca is the daughter of Jennifer Robbins(Fairborn) and the late Courtney Robbins, and granddaughter of thelate Denzil and Nell Nickell (Fairborn).

Xenia announces student lunch policy

XENIA -- Xenia Community Schools has announced its 2009-10 policyfor free and reducedprice meals for students unable to pay the fullprice of meals served under the National School and Lunch SchoolBreakfast programs.

Local school officials have adopted the following incomeeligibility scale for free or reduced-price meals. For a householdsize of one (parents, children and other household members), theincome cap to receive free meals or free milk is $14,079. Forreduced-price meals, the income cap is $20,036.

Application forms were distributed. Additional copies areavailable at the principal's office in each school. A completeapplication is required.

Additionally, families with children eligible for school mealsmay be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio's Healthy Start and Healthy Families programs. Call (800)324-8680 for more information or to request an application.

Information can also be found on the Internet at www.jfs.ohio.gov/OHP/ consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid cardis already receiving these services.

A fair hearing can be requested either orally or in writing fromSuperintendent Jeffrey Lewis, 578 E. Market St., Xenia; (937)376-2961.

Mathes earns bachelor's degree

BEAVERCREEK -- Michael J. Mathes of Beavercreek recently receiveda bachelor of science degree from Excelsior College, a long-distance learning institution based in Albany, N.Y.

Shaw earns scholarship

YELLOW SPRINGS -- Amelia Shaw, a Yellow Springs High Schoolgraduate, is the recipient of the Jim Wilger Memorial Straight AllyScholarship from the Dayton Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families andFriends of Lesbians and Gays).

"This one meant a lot because it was personal," Shaw said. "Mymom is a lesbian, so this scholarship wasn't just for me -- it wasfor her, too." In support of her mom, Shaw's senior project focusedon the National Day of Silence, held each April to protestharassment and bullying of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender) people.

Since 2000, PFLAG Dayton has awarded two to four $2,000scholarships to area students in two categories: to LGBT studentsand to supporters known as straight allies. Funding is raised inpart through the organization's annual When the Stars Come Out dancecompetition, to be held this year on Oct. 3 at the Dayton ConventionCenter.