Each week ‘‘At Our Best’’ highlights the achievements of those in our community. It includes honors, awards and other recognition that is being earned by local residents.

Please continue to send or deliver such information, along with pictures of those honored, to the newspaper in care of managing editor Mike Schmeltzer, 600 S.W. Jefferson Ave., Corvallis, OR 97333.

CARDV poster contest winners

Megan Sekermestrovich, a junior at Corvallis High School, won first place in the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence poster contest. Anita Spaeth, a senior at Philomath High School won second place. Each winner was presented with a framed copy of their poster during their school awards ceremony.

College graduates

University of Oregon, Eugene — Austin Charron graduated this spring from the University of Oregon cum laude and was awarded a Fulbright Full Grant to Ukraine to research the Crimean separatist movement beginning this fall. He is a member of the Phi Betta Kappa Honors Society and is one of two recipients of the Global Duck Award from University of Oregon’s Office of International Affairs. He is the son of Amy and Paul Charron of Corvallis.

Pomona College, Claremont, Calif. — Hannah Crumme of Corvallis has graduated from Pomona College with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. She is the daughter of Doug Crumme and Beth Aronoff of Corvallis and is a graduate of Crescent Valley High School.

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York — Joan Alison Casey of Corvallis graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in biological engineering.

University of Oregon, Eugene — Laurel Sky Hiebert of Corvallis recently graduated valedictorian and summa cum laude from the University of Oregon with a bachelor of arts degree in biology. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and plans to will pursue a graduate studies at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston.

Military news

West Point, N.Y. — Cadet Nicholas James Hanauer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Hanauer of Corvallis, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy on May 31 as a Distinguished Cadet, ranking in the top 10 percent of his class. While at West Point, he concentrated his studies in Foreign Area Studies (East Asia). He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army within the Armor branch. Hanauer received the East-West Center graduate degree fellowship and plans to pursue graduate studies at the University of Hawaii.

Art contest winners

Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis member Eliza Jandrasi’s drawing was selected out of 2,100 entries received from 29 Oregon counties for the cover of the Oregon Agriculture calendar. Another drawing of hers was also selected as the winner of the 2008 Oregon Fair Housing Act poster contest. Danielle Landucci was selected as honorable mention for the calendar contest. Kasey Wang placed honorable mention in the Oregon entries of the National Junior Duck Stamp contest.

College honor roll

Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas — Katie Lynn Boucher of Corvallis, forestry major, has been named to the President’s Honor Roll at Stephen F. Austin State University for the spring semester.

University of Notre Dame, South Bend Indiana — Alexa Doyle of Corvallis was named to the Spring 2008 Dean’s List in the University of Notre Dame. She is a 2007 graduate of Crescent Valley High School.

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass. — Andrew Doyle has been named to the Dean’s List First Honors for the spring semester at Boston College. He is a 2005 graduate of Crescent Valley High School.

Dalotto receives scholarship

Todd F. Dalotto of Corvallis received a $3,500 scholarship from National Garden Clubs Inc. The scholarship program offers financial aid to students and promotes study in agriculture related fields.

McDonald finishes season with ballet

Corvallis native Megan McDonald recently completed her first season as a professional classical ballet dancer with the Ballet of San Antonio of San Antonio, Texas. Megan, a 2001 graduate of Crescent Valley High School, began her classical ballet training at the Corvallis Academy of Ballet under the direction of Jutta Hardison and Catherine Levi.

Dieterrich receives honorable mention

Pomona College, Claremont, Calif. — Hannah Dieterrich (class of 2009) received an honorable mention for the Goldwater Scholarship, an award that honors academic merit in the fields of mathematics, science and engineering. Dieterrich is a geology major.

Girl Scouts earn Bronze Award

Girl Scouts Emily Klammer, Jessica Neilson, Whitney Rader, Nona Patcheck, Tessa Anderson-Ramos and Ellie Collins, of Santiam Council’s Benton Service Unit’s Troop 36, recently received the Bronze Award, the highest award possible for the junior level of the Girl Scout program. To earn the award, the scouts had to contribute a minimum of 15 hours of time to a community project and earn multiple awards and badges.

4-H Wildlife Stewards results

The following student teams received an outstanding placement result on their educational posters and oral presentations at the 4-H Wildlife Stewards Summit.

Lincoln students: Rachael Delaney, Breanne Schnell, Bobbie Kent Brakeall, Scott Purviance, Abbie Gribsgov, Areli Arredondo, Anna Hughes, Sindy Navarro and Lupita, Zapien-Ramos, Grace Spann, Annika Gabriel, Camille Miedema, Emma Nylin, Matt Bressler, Caitlyn Teppler, Erin Childers, McCoy DeLay, Grady Holaday.

Hoover students: Nate Albers, Stephen Chenard, Alex Hofer, Neal Van Tamelen, Tanner Macal, Madolyn Miller, Margaret Clark, Emily Comer.

Jefferson students: Marissa Gallegos, Isagel Yelsa, Hannah Altimus, Sarah Mohlman, Renee Stewart, Mary Hare.

Da Vinci Art and Science Scholarship

Three senior students at Crescent Valley High School and a Philomath High School senior have been selected to receive a 2008 da Vinci Art and Science Scholarship.

The $250 academic scholarships are sponsored by da Vinci Days and the Kiwanis Sunriser Club of Corvallis. In honor of artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci, the scholarships recognize achievement in the arts and sciences as demonstrated by a special project.

Winners of this year’s scholarships are:

Lizzy Brock, CVHS, for her pen-and-marker collage entitled, “Self-Portrait.”

Robert Hollon, CVHS, for a ceramic teapot entitled, “The Rejuvenating of a Pourboire.”

Sandy Liu, CVHS, for her photo essay entitled, “Colorblind.”

Anita Spaeth, PHS, for her landscape painting entitled, “Sun-Glaze.”

Golden Eagle Award recipients

Lori Mason and Jackie Ford, two faculty members at Santiam Christian Schools, recently received the Golden Eagle Award. The award, given by Mario Pastega, honors one Junior High/High School and one K-sixth grade faculty member for their outstanding contribution the Santiam community.

Lori Mason has been employed at Santiam Christian since 1995. She teaches Kindergarten and leads the pre-school program. Jacki Ford has been with Santiam Christian since 1988. She teaches Bible, coached cheerleading and currently also works with students as they prepare for their college careers through testing and scholarship applications.

Each recipient received a cash gift, a Golden Eagle statue, and their name engraved on the Mario and Alma Pastega Golden Eagle Achievement Award plaque in their respective buildings.