Millennium Middle School

Education Extra

Four get National Merit scholarships

Four local high school seniors were among 28 students in Oregon and 2,500 nationally who were awarded corporate-sponsored $2,500 college scholarships last month from the National Merit Scholarship Corp., based in Evanston, Ill.

The students are Ian Doxsee and Zina Stavitsky of South Eugene High School, Kaitlyn Harris of Sheldon High School and Tyler Wagner of Marist High School.

Two seniors get Gates scholarships

Melika Jackson of Churchill High School and Katy Cheung of Sheldon High School have been named Gates Millennium Scholars.

The full-ride scholarships, awarded to 1,000 students nationally each year, can be used to pursue degrees in any undergraduate major at the accredited college or university of the recipients’ choice.

Jackson plans to study nursing at American International College in Springfield, Mass., and Cheung plans to major in engineering at the University of Oregon.

Ely receives Lancer scholarship

Dandelions Flowers & Gifts has awarded its 2011 Lancer Pride $250 Scholarship to Churchill High School senior Emilie Ely.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a Churchill senior who exhibits leadership and civic concern and writes an essay titled, “What is a Role Model, and Who Has Been One to Me?” Ely has given more than 500 volunteer hours as a youth mentor and counselor in her church youth organization, and her role model essay was based on her youth pastor, Patti Buss.

Rotary honors Oak Hill sophomore

Oak Hill School sophomore Hannah Gilbert recently received the Eugene Rotary’s 2011 Outstanding Youth Recognition Award. The award honors students who show extraordinary care for others and have overcome significant personal challenges.

Elkton team competes in finals

ELKTON — A team of six girls from Elkton Charter School took 13th place recently out of 57 teams in their division at the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Knoxville, Tenn. A total of 1,157 teams from across the country competed at the May 23 event.

Top Ten 8th Grade MEAP Scores at Michigan's public schools

My dad grew up in Scarsdale, New York – but, as he’s quick to point out, that was before it became “Scahsdahle.”  His dad told him always to root for the underdog, and my dad took that seriously.

All his friends were Yankees fans, but Dad loved the Dodgers.  A perfect Friday night for him, when he was a young teen, was to go up to his room with a Faygo Redpop, a Boy’s Life magazine – he was on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout – and listen to Red Barber, who wouldn’t say something so prosaic as, “the bases are loaded,” but “the bases are saturated with humanity.”

A rash of recall petitions for Republican lawmakers in Michigan have recently emerged.

At last count, 16 lawmakers are being targeted for recalls including Governor Rick Snyder, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, and House Speaker Jase Boldger.

Michigan Radio's Jennifer White spoke with Susan Demas, political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service and Ken Sikkema, former Republican state Senate Majority Leader and senior policy fellow at Public Sector Consultants to examine these efforts.

A member of the family that owns the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Canada testified before a state Senate committee in Lansing today.

He spoke with a handful of lawmakers who appear annoyed by conflicting information.

Matt Moroun told lawmakers that a proposal to build a publically owned bridge between Detroit and Canada is unnecessary because traffic is down, and tolls would not cover the construction costs.

But he also says the company is prepared to build a second bridge.

That prompted this question from Republican state Senator Geoff Hansen:

“If you receive a permit, will you build a second span?”

“Why would you build a second bridge the next day if you can’t make the money? The tolls aren’t going to be there. The traffic isn’t going to be there," Nofs said. "It’s going to cost you a lot more money, and you have to expand the roadways on both sides, and you have a government against you apparently right now - Canada - why would you build a second span?”