Jennifer Johnson of Corvallis High School received a $2,000 Young Scholar Grant from the Oregon Council for the Humanities. Johnson was one of 12 students statewide to receive the award. Grant recipients work independently throughout the summer with the guidance and support of a mentor and their Young Scholar peers statewide. The Young Scholars will then gather again on Aug. 31, during a public symposium and reception where they will present their projects.

Pianist and Cellist Evan Wu was recently selected to receive the Tiffany Wang Arts Scholarship. The scholarship, sponsored by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance — Portland Lodge, grants two Chinese high school students in the United States to receive a $500 scholarship to a summer arts program. Evan will be a sophomore at Crescent Valley High School in the fall. He studies piano with Rachelle McCabe and cello with Ann Grabe. He is a member of the Corvallis Youth Symphony, the Corvallis Camerata, and the Tangent String Quartet. He plans to attend the International Institute for Young Musicians this summer.

David Griffith, OSU College of Business senior studying International Business was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The grant is awarded to U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Such international study is intended to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world. Griffith intends to study in Thailand from August to December with his wife and one year old son.

Wilmington, DE — James Hill, a resident of Corvallis, has received an All-American Scholarship of $500 for his outstanding sales achievement with Vector Marketing. With more than 40,000 representatives nationwide, Hill placed sixth, for the most recent campaign. This is the first time he has received this honor since he began selling Vector’s product, CUTCO Cutlery. Hill is a student at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany.

Co-op honored for recycling efforts

First Alternative Co-op has been awarded the Alice Soderwall Reuse and Prevention Award by the Association of Oregon Recyclers. First Alternative offers a recycling area for many items not accepted curbside. The Co-op recycles Styrofoam, flower pots, aseptic containers, milk cartons, freezer containers, household batteries and all types of plastic, soft and hard. Items not accepted at local recycling facilities are transported to Eugene, Salem and Portland.

Youth exchange auction raises funds

The International 4-H youth exchange (IFYE) auction, a national alumni conference, brought more than 230 attendees to the Oregon State University Alumni Center on June 28. Corvallis High School students Jen Johnson, Annette Patton and Bonnie Rivera presented to IFYE alumni. The auction, which benefits the Corvallis-Gondar Sisters Cities Association, collected $7000 in proceeds to support school children at Tsadiku Yohannes school in Gondar, Ethiopia, notably by providing books. The Tsadiku Yohannes school serves approximately 4,000 kindergarten through eighth-grade students in Gondar.

Altrusa Club installs new officers

On May 30, the Altrusa Club of Corvallis celebrated the installation of its new officers at the Walnut Barn in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Bev McNeill and Past President Helen Küpeli presided the official part of the meeting. Officers for the 2007-2008 year are: President Elizabeth: Groner, vice president-elect: Judy Juntenen, vice president: Karen French, secretaries: Sandy Chase and Bettina Schempf, treasurers: Mary Lou McLocklin and Sharon Emenegger; directors: Lupe Maginnis, Pam Stauber and Carol Bailey.

The following members received awards for the 2006-2007 year:

Altrusan of the year: Nancy Davis; Altrouser of the year: Bill Meier; First Year Club Woman of the year: Karen French

Altrusa member named as Area II Director

Helen Küpeli, past president of the Altrusa Club of Corvallis was elected Area II director of Altrusa International at its District 12 conference in May in Pendleton. District 12 has 28 clubs in Washington, Oregon, Montana and British Columbia. Altrusa International is a service organization specializing in community needs as well as literacy, the environment and AIDS/HIV.

Kiwanis recognizes Conroy’s service

At a June lunch meeting the Kiwanis Club of Corvallis recognized Jay Conroy with a special award for his many years of service to the local community; and more importantly our youth. Conroy has served in multiple 509J schools over the years and helped change the lives of many youth in a very positive way. The Kiwanis Club especially wanted to recognize his past support of the vocational programs which helped keep many students interested in school, many who felt college wasn’t in their future.  

P.E.O. honors three with scholarships

The Oregon State Chapter of P.E.O. Sisterhood has awarded scholarships to three young women. Aubrey Wyant of Corvallis was awarded $1250. She will be a junior at Oregon State University, majoring in business and education. Rachel Brown of Corvallis was awarded $1,400. She will be a junior at Oregon State Univeristy, majoring in early childhood education. Amanda Ecker of Albany was awarded $1200. She will begin her third year of medical school at Oregon Health & Science University. The P.E.O. Sisterhood, a philanthropic educational organization with more than 250,000 members, is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for women. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic record, character, seriousness of purpose and financial need. Local P.E.O. Chapter AR recommended these young women for their awards.

College honor roll

Oregon State University Honors College — Spring semester dean’s list: Brittany Liesel Morgan, 4.0 GPA.

Arizona State University — Spring dean’s list: Cynthia Maureen Dooley of Corvallis, senior majoring in elementary education.

OSU Folk Club installs new officers

The Oregon State University Folk Club has begun its 99th year under the leadership of newly installed president Bonnie Krueger.

Other officers/chairs of the club for 2007-2008 are: president-elect, JoAnne Trow; vice president, Vicki Quinn; secretary, Julie Maloney; treasurer, Eleanor Evans; programs, Kathy Heath; interest groups, Barbara Moon; hospitality, Rose Kenneke; fanfare, Judy Malouf; courtesy, Kay Robinson; publicity, Astrid Hancock; mailing, Judy Adams, Rosalie Clinton and Monine Stebbins; historian, Becky Strandberg; computer, Joan Cook; thrift shop, Kate Matthews; registered agent, Kathleen Reistad; grants, Pat Kennedy; and scholarships, Elizabeth Spatafora. The OSU president’s wife, Beth Ray, serves as honorary president of the Folk Club.

Folk Club has been involved in service to the community and OSU since its inception in l908. Its most visible service has been the OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop, which has generated more than a million dollars over the years for scholarships for OSU students and for grants to non-profit organizations

Blodgett’s St. Clair wins logo contest

Kent St. Clair of Blodgett submitted the winning logo for this year’s Depoe Bay Salmon Bake to be held Sept. 15. He was awarded his $200 prize at the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce meeting on July 9 in the Depoe Bay Community Hall. St. Clair works for Quality Printing Service in Lincoln City and is a graduate of Philomath High School.

Brothers named directors on board

David Baglien of Corvallis was named a national director of the United Junior Suffolk Sheep Association at its annual meeting and exhibition in Spencer, Iowa, last week. At the same event, David was also named Outstanding Senior Exhibitor.

David, 16, the son of the Rev. James and Kim Nina Baglien, is a 4-H county ambassador and serves as president of the Peak Livestock 4-H club.

John Baglien of Corvallis was named to a second term as a national director. John, 17, first joined the board in 2005. He was recently selected as a delegate to the 4-H National Congress in Atlanta, Ga.

This is the first time siblings have served concurrently on the UJSSA board.

As directors, the David and John will assist in planning activities and events, and in promoting the Suffolk breed at national sheep exhibitions in Louisville, Ky., Sedalia, Mo., and elsewhere.



The Corvallis Knights of Columbus have awarded $500 scholarships to four students in the Corvallis and Philomath communities.

Recipients and their future plans are: Janet Martinez will attend the Academy of Cosmetology Careers in Albany; Alexa Doyle will major in pre-dental and American studies at Notre Dame; John Kish will major in botany and music at the University of Washington; and Matthew Geniza will attend Oregon State University majoring in pre-med biology.

“At Our Best’’ highlights the achievements of those in our community

Please send such information, along with pictures of those honored, to the newspaper in care of Wendy Geist, 600 S.W. Jefferson Ave., Corvallis, OR 97333.