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, 600 S.W. Jefferson Ave., Corvallis, OR 97333.

Gilbert selected

as Runyan Fellow

Sunny Gilbert, a postdoctoral research associate at Oregon State University, has been selected as a Damon Runyan Fellow for 2008 by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

Gilbert, who is working with OSU professor James C. Carrington, uses a model of small RNA biogenesis in plants to study the basic mechanisms that govern the process of RNA silencing.

This three-year award is made to outstanding postdoctoral scientists who conduct basic and translational cancer research across the United States.

Doyle attends leadership seminar

Caitlyn Doyle from Crescent Valley High School was one of more than 115 Oregon high school sophomores selected to attend the state Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar at the University of Portland.

Students are chosen based upon demonstrated leadership ability and potential for continued leadership growth.

Local 4-H’ers picked to go to Atlanta

Corvallis residents David Baglien, Jonathon Brink-Roby and Rob Livesay are among seventeen 4-H high school students from Oregon to be chosen to attend the National 4-H Congress during Thanksgiving weekend in Atlanta, Ga.

Delegates hear inspirational speakers, participate in cultural workshops, take part in a large-scale community service project and visit historical sites near Atlanta.

A state committee of the Oregon State University Extension 4-H Youth Development Program selects delegates based on overall achievement in 4-H projects, leadership, communication, citizenship, community service and readiness to benefit from Congress.

Good Samaritan nurses pass exam

A group of 10 Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurses recently passed the CCRN exam, a nationally recognized certification for intensive care nurses. They are: Charlene Skarphol RN, BSN, CCRN; Claudelle Lyall RN, CCRN; Laurel James RN, CCRN; Katrina Hoffman RN, BS, CCRN; Bruce Penner RN, CCRN; Jackie Sinclair RN, BSN, CCRN; Jodi Sorenson RN, BA, CCRN; Lee Chamberlain RN, BSN, CCRN; Tina Hering RN, CCRN and Herma Ornes RN, CCRN.

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center PCU Registered Nurses Jessica Ervin, RN, BSN, PCCN and Jennifer Kingsley RN, PCCN recently passed the PCCN exam, which is a nationally recognized exam for Progressive Care RNs.

College graduates

Emory University, Atlanta, Ga. — Kathryn Weeks of Albany, daughter of Dr. Jeffrey Power Weeks and Dr. Ann Elese Anthony Weeks, received a bachelors of science degree in nursing from the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing of Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. in May.

Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis. — Joe W. Pfender graduated in June with a double degree from Lawrence University, receiving a Bachelor of Music in theory/composition and a Bachelor of Arts in English. He attained cum laude honors in both areas of study. Joe is completing a cross-disciplinary study of the use of folk traditions in music (Z. Kodaly and B. Bartok) and in literature (W.B. Yeats and I. Bashevis Singer). He plans to move to Eugene in August.

College honor roll

University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho — Corvallis natives Andrew Thomas Pape in the College of Business and Economics and Emily Marie Doran in the College of Engineering were named to the University of Idaho Dean’s List for spring 2008.To be named to the list, students earned a grade point average of 3.5 or better on 12 or more graded credits.

Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass.— Harrison Harter of Corvallis earned placement on the Dean’s List for the 2008 spring semester at Berklee College of Music. To be eligible for the list, a full time student must earn a grade point average of 3.4 or above.