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 city editor Theresa Novak, 600 S.W. Jefferson Ave., Corvallis, OR 97333.

Health degree scholarship winners

Three college students pursuing health related degrees were recently awarded scholarships of $1,000 apiece for tuition from the Dr. Larry A. Mullins Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Joanne Huntley of Corvallis is enrolled in the registered nurse program at Linn-Benton Community College.

Candi L. Fisher is enrolled in the public health program at Oregon State University and is a medical transcriptionist for Samaritan Health Services.

Jenny Fisher of Tucson, Ariz., is enrolled in the health science program at Northern Arizona University and is a certified paramedic.

Recipients were chosen for demonstrating a passion for the field of health care as well as a strong commitment to accomplishing personal goals.

Fulbright recipient

Martin Bode of Corvallis will study abroad next year after earning an award from the Fulbright Program.

Bode will study and conduct research at the Institute of Space Systems in Stuttgart, Germany. He will work on developing more efficient technology for space exploration by studying the temperature and particles in plasma ion engines.

Virginia Welch Scholarship winners

Ten local college-age students received the 2008 Virginia Welch Scholarships, presented by the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Auxiliary. The scholarships, in the amount of $1000 each, are awarded to students planning a career in medical fields who have a 3.0 or higher GPA.

The students are:

Kathryn Collins (OIT), Amanda Groff (OSU), Joanne Huntley (LBCC), Tracy Loving (OHSU), Linh Nguyen (OSU), Yaesul Park (Pittsburgh), Courtney Schmidig (E OR), Kaylen Stutz (OSU), Rachel Ahola-Tyler (LBCC) and Sherri Willard-Argyres (OSU).

Military news

Navy Ensign Christopher L. Jensen, son of Brenda and Alan Jensen of Philomath, was recently commissioned upon graduation from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program with Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit, Oregon State University, Corvallis.Jensen is a 2004 graduate of Philomath High School of Philomath. He is a 2008 graduate of Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science.

O’Brien receives Ross MDA award

Dorothy O’Brien of Corvallis has been named the recipient of MDA’s 2008 Robert Ross Personal Achievement Award for Oregon.

O’Brien, 64, was selected for the honor because of her professional success and her advocacy for people with disabilities.

Initiated in 1992, the national awards program recognizes the accomplishments and community service of people with disabilities caused by any of the diseases in MDA’s program.

O’Brien, a medical librarian at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis, is dedicated to raising awareness of disability issues. She currently serves on the advisory board for the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s Telecommunication Device Access Program (TDAP). In addition, she’s a representative for Oregonians with speech impairments, meeting with various ALS and stroke support groups to share information about telecommunication devices.

College graduates

Portland State University, Portland — David E. Carter has received his Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from Portland State University and has been been hired full time as outpatient therapist at Old Mill Center. Prior to obtaining this degree he was a laser technician employed by Hewlett Packard.

Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind. — Kristin Jones of Corvallis, recently graduated from Butler University’s Jordan College of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in dance. She was also named to the Spring 2008 Dean’s List. The Dean’s List recognizes the top 20 percent of enrolled students in each of the university’s five colleges.

Linfield College, McMinnville — Sarah Davis of Corvallis recently graduated from Linfield College with a Bachelor of Arts. She received a SPURS honor cord, an award which recognizes a SPURS member who was exceptional in his or her service throughout the academic year, and was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi, an international academic honorary for education students.

Oregon State University, Corvallis — Rebecca Jacob recently earned a doctorate from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. She is the daughter of Gary and Sue Jacob of Astoria. Her aunt, Judy McCann, and grandmother, Trudy Jacob, are residents of Corvallis.

College honor roll

Binghamton University, Binghamton, N.Y. — Hyun-Jung Lee of Corvallis was recently named to the Dean’s List at Binghamton University. To be named to the list a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5.

Linfield College, McMinnville — Corvallis residents Julianne L. Upton (freshman), Ryan J. Gerdes (junior), Martin A. Bode (senior), Gerald E. Turner (senior) as well as Philomath resident Benjamin D. Edmonds (freshman) and Junction City resident Amber R. Ball (freshman) were named to the Spring 2008 Linfield College Dean’s List. To be named to the Dean’s List, students must complete 12 graded credits and be in the top 10 percent of their class.