Rotary students of the month

Morgan Engle is the Linus Pauling Student of the Month. Morgan is involved in many activities. She is a member of the Linus Pauling Leadership Class. She has been a reading buddy at Garfield Elementary School, and she had two grandbuddies at Heart of the Valley that she visited once a week last year. She was involved in Youth Volunteer Core last summer. She volunteers at the Corvallis Public Library once a week for an hour. Morgan has given 260 hours to community and service-learning since the beginning of seventh grade. She was awarded the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award last year and has the hours to receive it again this year. Morgan sings in her church choir. She also enjoys traveling, kayaking, indoor rock climbing and camping. Morgan would like to become a marine biologist.

Julio Garcia is the Cheldelin Student of the Month. Julio is a role model at Cheldelin and is an all-around good student who is liked by his classmates. He has a positive attitude and assumes responsibility easily. Julio has excellent citizenship and teachers enjoy having him in their class. He is an eager worker who volunteers for activities often. He participates in soccer and has a future as a soccer player. While at home he is often taking care of his baby sister and brother Johnny. Julio's family is very proud and honored that he was selected Student of the Month.

Banquet honors 4-H members

More than 130 people came together Nov. 18 to celebrate accomplishments by Benton County 4-H leaders and members the recent 53rd 4-H banquet. Special guests included County Commissioners Jay Dixon and Linda Modrell, Fairgrounds Manager Scott Stoller and Fair Board member Dan Dunham.

Recognition went to:

• Outstanding Leaders of the Year: Betty Collins (Home Economics), Emma Erickson (Associated Projects); Harold Kerr (Agriculture); and Steve McGettigan (Wildlife Stewards)

• Leader Pins: Jeri Hitchcock and Stan Miles (40 years); Judy Grove and Reni Stewart (25 years); Jan and Ed Starkey, Patti Ball and Debbie Pratt (20 years); Jane Brandenburg, Lynn Honey, Debbie Sparks, Kathy Wells and Rick Wells (15 years); Bruce Ashenbrenner, Mindy Lawrence, Lynne Miller, Dena Oakes and Tina Withrow-Robinson (10 years); Nancy Allen, Betty Collins, Laurie Guldager, Jean Hall, Linda Hartwig, Kristy Lindvall, Nan Link, Steve Martin, Steve McGettigan, Pam McPartlin, Peter McPartlin, Julie White and Debbie Zeller (5 years)

• Citizens Bank Outstanding Senior Member Awards: Nicole Schrock and Megan Walker

• Goldner Outstanding Intermediate Award: Jonathan Brink-Roby and Cassandra Noble

• Distinguished Service Award: Myrle Slocum

• County Medals: Rob Livesay, Kiah Gourley and Sarah Dowless (Swine); Cassandra Noble and Ashley Culver (Sheep); Kathleen Hartwig, Jack Vaughn and Melissa Hartwig (Beef); Tessa Stroda (Horse); Leela Richman (Goats); Rachel Lee, Kaitlyn Pilkerton and Katie Schrock (Rabbit); Megan Collins (Fashion Revue); Hillary Bylund (Clothing); David Baglien and John Baglien (Judging); Nicole Schrock, Anna Fausett and Rebekah Hartwig (Public Speaking); Megan Walker and Stuart Ashenbrenner (Leadership); Pam Lundeberg and Jonathan Brink-Roby (Citizenship)

• Club Community Service Award: Country Critters Beef 4-H Club and Lucky Longnecks 4-H Llama Club

• Senior Service Award: Sarah Dowless, Katie Chambers, Jack Vaughn and Hillary Bylund

• Top Small Animal Records: Junior, Emma Larson; Intermediate, Dawn Marie Oakes; Senior, Nicole Schrock

• Top Large Animal Records: Junior, Tessa Gourley (first), Katie Waldo (second) and Daniel Thom (third); Intermediate, Katie Schrock (first), Leela Richman (second) and Melissa Hartwig (third); Senior, Anna Fausett (first); Stuart Ashenbrenner and Rebekah Hartwig (second), and John Baglien (third)

• Top Horse Records: Katie Schrock, Kathleen Hartwig, Melissa Hartwig, Megan Walker, Nicole Schrock, Pam Lundeberg, Rebekah Hartwig, Cassandra Noble. Dawn Marie Oakes and Tessa Stroda.

University Women award fellowship

Corvallis Branch of the American Association of University Women welcomes Juliana Mbuthia, from Kenya, the 2006-07 winner of the AAUW Education Foundation International Fellowship. She is a young mother of two and a high school mathematics teacher. Her husband is also a teacher. The AAUW International Fellowship will help support her graduate studies in mathematics at Oregon State University.

Mbuthia sees herself as an activist for higher education for women in the future, working with women's organizations in Kenya and helping start new ones if necessary.

She grew up in a rural village in Kenya with no electricity, paved roads or piped water. Her parents died when she was very young. Her grandmother raised her, along with her brother and four cousins who were also orphans. She was top from her division in the national primary school examination (eighth grade), which made it possible for her to be admitted to one of the most prestigious girls' high school. After graduating with honors from Egerton University, one of four women in a class of 60 in the mathematics department, she got a job with the Teachers Service Commission to teach mathematics and business studies at a high school.

"Someday, I hope to be a professor of mathematics at a university in Kenya so that other women can be inspired to pursue mathematics and science careers," Mbuthia said.

Two honored for civic engagement

Corvallis Superintendent Dawn Tarzian and board member Joan Schuster have been named by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) National Center for Learning and Citizenship in the second slate of members of its 100 District Leaders for Civic Engagements and Service-Learning Network.

Tarzian and Schuster, along with five other winners from around the state, will be honored at a special reception at the upcoming Oregon Civic Engagement Conference, to be Jan. 29 and 30 in Salem. Winners were selected from a national pool of applicants based on their leadership and commitment to integrate and sustain quality citizenship education and service-learning in K-12 schools.

Military News

Army National Guard Pvt. Phillip R. Manuel has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Rebecca Witt of Corvallis. Manuel is a 2004 graduate of West Albany High School.

Malaska earns technology honors

Corvallis native Mike Malaska, student in the Perry Technical Institute's Graphic Technology Program in Yakima, Wash., was named Student of the Month for October. Masaska, a native of Corvallis, spent two years on a mission trip to Venezuela and studied fine arts in Brigham Young University-Idaho. He did an internship with Enigma Marketing Solutions and accepted a job at Smith, Phillips & DiPietro in August. Malaska served as treasurer of the Graphic Technology Student Association.

Markley named Stellar Teller

Greg Markley of the Marion & Polk Schools Credit Union (MaPS), Monmouth Branch, was named MaPS Stellar Teller for his work during September, earning the highest possible member evaluations and perfect balancing and accuracy. The award recognizes the recipient as MaPS' top teller among all those at MaPS' seven branches.

A Salem resident, Markley is the son of Gary and Elaine Markley of Corvallis. He began employment with the Monmouth Branch in 2006. He holds a finance degree from Linfield College.

Worden: Fitness Leadership Award

Mark Worden, supervisor at the Corvallis Parks and Recreation's Osborn Aquatic Center, received the Fitness Leadership Award by the Oregon Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, presented by Mayor Helen Berg. As a graduate of Pepperdine University, Worden began his career working as the aquatics supervisor at Osborn in 1980. He has coached club, high-school and college level swimming, as well as swimming competitively for the past 30 years. Today, he actively promotes learn-to-swim programs, injury rehabilitation and drowning prevention. Worden continues to be a fitness role model by riding his bike to work and integrating swimming or running into his daily routine.

Democrats elect new officers

The Benton County Democratic Central Committee has elected new officers and delegates to committees.

Elected for a two-year term are Sam Sappington, chair; Gail Wolcott, first vice-chair; Mario Magaña, second vice-chair; William Switzer, secretary; and Biff Traber, treasurer.

Delegates to the State Central Committee are Tanya Shively, Sam Sappington and Ann Gaidos-Morgan; alternates are Mike Van Laere, Susan Van Laere and Larry Weymouth.

Delegates to the 4th Congressional District Committee are Rachel Ozretich, Larry White and LoErna Simpson; alternates are T.J. Thomas, Jeanne Raymond and Hundley Bergstad. Delegates to the 5th Congressional District Committee are Leah Bolger and Mike Van Laere; alternates are Sue Van Laere and Bart Bolger.