Eric E. DeLander was recently awarded the Eagle Scout award at a Court of Honor recognizing his community service and scouting achievements. The ceremony was at First Presbyterian Church and included the American flag that was awarded to his father when he received the Eagle Scout award. Eric is a member of Troop 170, sponsored by the Kiwanis Sunrisers. The ceremony was led by Scoutmaster Emeritus, Bob Bernhard.

Eric is the son of Gary and Anne DeLander of Corvallis. Eric has been in scouting for nine years, beginning with cub scouts and earning the Arrow of Light. As a boy scout he has earned more than 25 merit badges, while advancing through the ranks. His scouting experiences have been highlighted by high adventure trips to the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the 2005 National BSA Jamboree. He has served in several leadership positions, including troop guide, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He was elected to the scout honor society, Order of the Arrow and currently serves as chapter chief.

Eric designed and constructed a meditation labyrinth, which is open to the public, at the Samaritan Regional Cancer Center as his service project. Dawn Fucillo, the center director, and David Alba, of Planting Seeds, assisted as project mentors. He led approximately 20 volunteers through more than 240 work hours in completing the project.

Eric is a sophomore at Crescent Valley High School. He continues to be active in scouting and is involved in soccer and band programs at CVHS. He also participates in his church youth group and will join them on a mission trip this summer.

Library Undergraduate Research Awards

Three Oregon State University students are recipients of the Undergraduate Student Research Award, which recognizes and rewards Oregon State University students who, through the comprehensive use of the OSU Libraries, demonstrated outstanding research, scholarship and originality in writing a paper. The awards are sponsored by the OSU Libraries’ Library Advisory Council. Awards went to the three students for 2006; $1,000 each to two upper division students and $1,000 to a lower division student.

The two upper division award winners were as follows;

Luke Peterson, who is pursuing a double major in art history and German, wrote a paper entitled “The Birth of German Art: Italia and Germania” for Art 469: Methods and Theory of Art History.

Carmen Halstead, the other upper division winner, is majoring in English. Her paper, titled “D.H. Lawrence, Ursula Brangwen and Feminist Misreadings,” was written for English 438: Studies in Modernism.

The lower division winner is Matthew Bradley who is majoring in business and wrote “Meat for Thought: Factory Farming at its Worst,” for Writing 121.

Duvall graduates Summa Cum Laude

Robert L. Duvall, formerly of Corvallis, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla., on May 7 with a major in aeronautics and a minor in business. Duvall began his flight career while in high school in Connecticut and has flown for two years for a charter airline based in Florida. He interned in 2006 with Continental Airlines and has joined SkyWest Airlines as a first officer. He was chosen by Florida Trend Magazine as one of Florida’s top 10 college graduates of 2007 and is featured in the May edition.

He is the son of Bob Duvall of Corvallis, Lori Duvall of Ridgefield, Conn., and grandson of Harold Bjornstad of Corvallis.

Homer Campbell Award honors Eichlers

In 2004 the Audubon Society of Corvallis initiated the Homer Campbell Award, in memory of a beloved ASC leader and conservationist. The annual award honors a person in the region for outstanding contributions to environmental protection and for stimulating increased public awareness of conservation issues. For the 2007 award, the third to be conferred, Corvallis Audubon has selected Wally and Mary Eichler, in recognition of their many contributions to environmental stewardship. The award will be presented Thursday at the monthly ASC chapter meeting, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, at Eighth Street and Monroe Avenue. The public is invited to attend.

Both Wally and Mary have been licensed rehabilitators for many years, and Mary served for some time as the Corvallis animal control officer. Later she was elected to the Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District, where she played key roles in flood plain management and development of the Jackson-Frazier Wetland.

The Eichlers live on a small farm near Sequoia Creek in northeast Corvallis. The way they have managed their property has set an example that inspires all who know them. They have planted numerous native plants and shrubs, fenced the slough to keep cattle away and planted trees and erected nesting boxes to attract barn owls, ospreys and numerous singbirds. The resultant diversity of bird life on this property testifies to the impact that people can make in managing their property, and it has made the Eichler farm a regular stop for the ASC Christmas Bird Count. For many years, the Eichlers ran a company in Linn County that created alternative uses for straw residue from grass seed production, designed to minimize field burning.

Community Outreach accomplishments

The human service organization, Community Outreach, Inc., over the past year, (May 2006 through April 2007), has met a number of accomplishments. Here are a few of those accomplishments, according to past president M. Sue Mariner:

Received a Mental Health License; Expanded its drug and alcohol program as well as its mental health program because of this license; Held birthday party on the 35th anniversary of the organization in June; Held its second annual Walk a Mile for a Child event which raised $1,990 the first year and $7,730 this year; Estimated the number of annual clients for the first time — 10,000; Sold the airport property; Hired a volunteer and intern coordinator and now have 611 new volunteers in addition to the existing 338 medical volunteers; Cemented its relationship with the city; All clients now have bicycles through a program with the city; Its AmeriCorps/VISTA employee has procured $207,350 in grant funding so far this fiscal year; Has a balanced budget; COI has a very low employee turnover; and created a subgroup which developed a Strategic Plan for COI, subsequently adopted by the board and currently being implemented.

Hospital volunteers honored

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center held its annual Volunteer Awards luncheon at CH2M Hill Alumni Center on April 24 with 94 people in attendance. This year 33 volunteers were honored with two volunteers compiling more than 10,000 hours.

During 2006, 225 active volunteers and auxiliary members provided GSRMC with a total of 23,497 hours of documented service in 45 different service areas, including 13 pet therapy dogs. The hours of service represent the equivalent of more than 11 full time employees and a savings of $441,038.69.

The Auxiliary benefits many areas of the hospital, providing allocations of $17,179.90 to meet hospital needs, and awarded 57 scholarships for a total of $18,878. This year it pledged $75,000 toward a trauma room for the soon-to-be expanded emergency department; largely possible because the gift shop generated $60,000 in 2006. Soon to open at Avery Square is Sam’s Espresso Bar, sponsored by the GSRMC Auxiliary.

Corvallis Knights of Columbus take awards

The Knights of Columbus, Corvallis Council 1785, was awarded many prestigious awards at the K. of C. Oregon State Convention in Newport on April 27 to 29.

The Corvallis Council received first place recognition for Church Activities and Council Activities. They were also awarded second place for Family Activities. Award winners were chosen out of 73 councils statewide, based on the amount of hours the council has worked and reported in each of the five categories of Church, Council, Family, Community and Youth.

Corvallis Council was then awarded Council of the Year for a well rounded program of activities and achievements, in its dedication to the goals and principles of the order.

Richard Paradis, Corvallis Council’s financial secretary, was presented the Bud Steinbacher Life Time Achievement Award for 55 years of active service, devotion and contributions to the order.

Robert Kish from the Corvallis Council was elected to be one of the five delegates to represent the State of Oregon at the 2007 K. of C. Supreme Convention to be in Nashville, Tenn., in August.

PHS travels to music competition

The Philomath High School Music Department recently traveled to San Jose, Calif., and competed in the Music in the Parks Music Competition.

After riding a bus for more than 14 hours, the three performing ensembles, jazz band, symphonic band and concert choir, earned the first place trophy for their division.

Schools attending this festival came from Oregon, Nevada and California.

PHS Concert Choir also received the Best Overall Choir Award for the competition — 11 choirs competed.

After competing, students enjoyed a day at Paramount’s Great America.

Local ballet students accepted to programs

Several high school advanced-level students of the Corvallis Academy of Ballet have been selected for attendance at various summer ballet intensive programs throughout the country. In addition, a former CAB student is studying full-time at a prestigious professional ballet school.

Angela Ahn, 13, daughter of Inseon and Guyoung Ahn of Corvallis — Boston Ballet Summer Dance Lab, Mass.

KateAshley Clarke, 15, daughter of Timothy and Carolynn Clarke of Corvallis — American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, Austin, Texas; Atlanta Ballet Summer Intensive, Ga.; and Walnut Hill Summer Dance Intensive, Mass.

Carly DeMeo, 14, daughter of Anthony and Cecilia DeMeo of Corvallis — Whitman College Summer Dance Lab, Walla Walla, Wash.

Dominique Jenssen, 14, daughter of Conrad and Paula Jenssen of Corvallis — Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and Boston Ballet Summer Dance Lab, Mass.

Hannah Rivera, 15, daughter of Aviva and Chris Rivera of Corvallis — Whitman College Summer Dance Lab, Walla Walla, Wash.

Ashley Selvey, 16, daughter of Victor and Taryn Selvey of Corvallis — Whitman College Summer Dance Lab, Walla Walla, Wash., and Long Beach Summer Dance Lab, Calif.

Emily Stavros, 14, daughter of Jason and Marcy Stavros of Albany — currently a boarding student at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C.

AAUW scholarships

The Corvallis Branch of the American Association of University Women has awarded a $750 scholarship to Linn-Benton Community College student Virginia Alvarez and a $1,000 scholarship to Oregon State University student Kendra Brown.

Alvarez is a single mom who graduated from high school in Mexico. She has volunteered at Lincoln Elementary School in Even Start Program and at Wilson School in the preschool room. Her goal is to become a preschool or kindergarten teacher.

Brown is a student in environmental engineering. Previously she was a volunteer in the United States Peace Corps in Madagascar. After earning her degree in engineering, she plans to earn a master’s in environmental engineering specializing in water resources and hydrology. Presently she is an assistant researcher in a hydrology lab and is an active member of Engineers Without Borders.