Pianist Evan Wu and violinist Patrick Yun both received honorable mentions at the Oregon Music Teachers National Association Performance Competitions at Lewis and Clark College on Nov. 3. Wu competed in the senior piano division and studies piano with Rachelle McCabe. Yun competed in the senior strings division and studies violin with Carol Sindell. Both are sophomores at Crescent Valley High School.

Hooley nominates two for military academy

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-5) has nominated two Corvallis students for candidacy at the distinguished Air Force Academy. Hooley nominated Corvallis residents Matt and his brother Andrew Richardson. Each were nominated for showing outstanding leadership qualities, a strong academic aptitude and a commitment to public service.

Every year, Hooley nominates a select group of candidates for appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point. Securing a congressional nomination does not guarantee an offer of admission or an appointment to a military academy, but is a critical step in the highly competitive application process.

Andrew attends Santiam Christian High School and is ranked 18th in a class of 82 with a 3.94 GPA. He served as junior and senior class presidents and plays on the football and basketball teams.

Matt graduated from Santiam Christian High School in 2007 and attends New Mexico Military Institute. He received a Falcon prep scholarship.

Kiwanian of the Year and New Kiwanian

The nominating committee of the Kiwanis Club of Corvallis recently honored and recognized the achievements of two of their members. Bob Van Patten was named Kiwanian of the Year and Mickey Bernhardt was named New Kiwanian of the Year at the annual installation banquet.

Van Patten, of McLellan Temporaries, was recognized for his outstanding 21-year tenure as club secretary, as well as his work as chair of the Feed the Local Kids Committee.

Bernhardt, a broker with Asset Realty, was recognized for her contributions as recording secretary of the executive board and as the chair for one of the club’s main fundraisers, the Annual Community Pancake Party.

Oregon State University professor named fellow

Tom Dietterich, a professor of computer science at Oregon State University, has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal Science.

Dietterich received his doctorate from Stanford University in 1984 and has been on the OSU faculty since 1985. His research focuses on how complex computer systems and machine learning can be used to build integrated intelligent systems and user interfaces. Some recent applications have included work that makes computer desktops “task aware” and able to help users perform their work, or other systems that can aid in insect identification for environmental monitoring.

Two published in medical journal

Jacqueline Joss, Pharm.D, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Pharmacy Residency Program director, and Young Sook Lee, former Samaritan pharmacy practice resident, have been published in the Nov. 1, 2007, edition of the American Journal of Health System’s Pharmacy.

As part of the residency program, Joss and Sook authored an article, Effects of vitamin E on cholesterol levels of hypercholesterolemic patients receiving statins along with David Blatt, M.D., an affiliate member of the Good Sam medical staff, and three members of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Scott W. Leonard, Debbie Mustacich, M.D. and Maret Traber, M.D.

The investigators concluded that vitamin E supplementation did not affect total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic patients receiving lovastatin or simvastatin. A small but significant decrease in HDL cholesterol levels was observed in the group that received vitamin E supplementation during the supplementation period but did not appear to be related to the cytochrome p450 enzyme system or cholesterol ester transfer protein. Further studies are needed to clarify the interaction and clinical implications.

Corvallis graduate heads to Southern Iraq

Capt. Joshua Mater, a Corvallis graduate, born and schooled in Corvallis and an Oregon State University graduate, is scheduled to leave Corvallis this week for Southern Iraq. He will serve with Charlie Co. in the 98th Civil Affairs Battallion where he will work with officials and prominent business people in the area to develop key infrastructures and provide basic humanitarian assistance, including water systems, schools, and medical care for humans and livestock.

Mater graduated from ROTC in OSU in 2002, and was stationed in South Korea. He spent the past year training at Ft. Bragg in civil affairs with local officials, connecting them with the U.S. government and non government local and international organizations. Mater is the son of Catherine Mater and the late Scott Mater and grandson of Jean Mater.

Lee named new president of AAUW

Edie Lee is serving as the new president of the Corvallis Branch of the American Association of University Women. Also elected to the executive committee are: SueAnn Bottoms, program vice president; Pam Duren, Dianne Jackson and Marion Dickens, membership vice presidents; Sue Borden, treasurer; and Janice Abele, secretary.

AAUW is a national organization founded in 1881 whose primary goal is advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. Corvallis Branch was chartered in 1931. The local branch raises funds for national scholarships and grants, local scholarships, and for the Legal Advocacy Fund that assists women in higher education who are seeking equity in lawsuits.

Membership in AAUW is open to all graduates who hold an associate or higher degree from an accredited college or university. For membership information, contact Pam Duren, 929-3710.