Cornelius moves on in geographic bee

Randy Cornelius, a seventh-grader at Ashbrook Independent School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee on Jan. 15. He has completed the next level of competition, a written examination, to determine if he qualifies for the state competition. Up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee on April 2.

Wagenschutz is now ombudsman

Janet Wagenschutz of Corvallis has been appointed to serve as a certified long-term care ombudsman and will serve as an advocate for residents of Conifer House Residential Care and Park Place Assisted Living in Corvallis and three adult foster homes in Lebanon. She was previously employed as a family counselor with Cooley Associates and has served as a volunteer crisis counselor.

The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a state program dedicated to protecting the rights, safety and dignity of the residents of nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities and adult foster care homes. For more information, call 800-522-2602.

Daniel Jones heads to Pacific islands

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — Daniel Jones of Corvallis, a sophomore at Carleton College, is participating in a Carleton biology seminar in Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

The program is offered in the winter to students interested in studying marine biology. Students will study at sites such as Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, Leigh and Tutukaka in New Zealand and Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Daniel is the son of Karen and Kim Jones.

Collegians earn academic honors

HARRISONBURG, Va. — Rebecca A. Langstraat, a junior nursing major, and Maria Histand, a senior nursing major, were named to the fall semester dean's list at Eastern Mennonite University by earning at least a 3.75 grade point average. Both students are from Corvallis.

SPOKANE, Wash. — Erin Elizabeth Picht, a senior from Corvallis, was named to the Gonzaga University president's list for the fall semester by earning at least a 3.7 grade point average.

SALEM — David Dorr, a 2003 graduate of Philomath High School, has been named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Western Baptist College, with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Military news

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Pfc. Nick A. Shields graduated from One Station Unit Training at the Army Infantry School, Fort Benning. The training consisted of basic military training and advanced individual training.

Shields is the son of Nancy Shields of Corvallis and Jim Shields of San Francisco. He graduated from Corvallis High School in 2003.

SAN DIEGO — Pvt. Aaron D. Reed, son of Ingeborg Mussche of Corvallis and A. Scott Reed of Corvallis, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot.

Reed is a 2001 graduate of Crescent Valley High School.