Posted: Monday, December 4, 2006 12:00 am
Oregon State University's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps' (AFROTC) Silver Talons Drill teams earned two awards for their color guard and precision marching routine at the Albany Veterans' Day parade on Nov. 11.
Oregon State University's Air Force ROTC four-man special operations drill team conducted the color guard service, commanded by Cadet Adam Miles, an OSU junior majoring in political science. The Silver Talons Precision Drill Team brought up the rear, commanded by AFROTC Cadet Chance Hansen, an OSU junior majoring in communications.
Two awards were earned in recognition of their excellence and precision. The first award went to the Full Armed Flight, under the command of Cadet Hansen, for first place in the military marching unit category. The second award was earned by the Special Operations Team, under the command of Cadet Miles, giving them third place in the military color guard category. The OSU drill team members were honored with the personal congratulations of Brig. Gen. Daniel B. O'Hollaren, chief of staff of Oregon's Air National Guard and military master of ceremonies for the parade, at the awards ceremony after the parade ended.
The AFROTC is a dedicated, professional organization committed to providing America with the best Air Force leaders for our future. Annually, OSU's AFROTC program commissions approximately 15 active-duty officers who proudly go on to serve our nation.
Democrats honor local members
The Benton County Democrats recently honored several residents for their service to the community and the party.
Barbara Ross was awarded the group's Community All Star Award. The Most Valuable Democrat award went to Carol Sweeney and William Switzer, and the Young Democrat of the Year was Clinton Downs. They were honored at the Democrats' Trow Dinner in the OSU CH2M Hill Alumni Center.
The Community All-Star Award is given to a party activist who has served the community beyond politics. Ross has worked as a county commissioner and a state representative. She also has served on the Linn-Benton Community College Budget Committee and the Corvallis School District Board of Directors. More recently she has served as board president for Corvallis Neighborhood Housing Services, campaigned for school funding measures and recruited others to serve in elected offices.
The Young Democrat award goes to a person who is younger than mid-30s who has made significant contributions to advancing the goals of Benton County Democrats. Downs has been active on campus with the Associated Students of OSU. He also was coordinator of the OSU Pride Center and co-chair of the Basic Rights Action Team of Corvallis.
He worked on an amendment to the Corvallis City Charter that will add a non-discrimination and diversity paragraph to our city's founding document. He is state Rep. Sara Gelser's legislative assistant.
The Most Valuable Democrat Award goes to those who work on projects that advance the goal of getting Democrats elected. Carol Sweeney devised a way to increase voter participation through the "Field Headquarters." Since 2004, more than 1,700 voters have registered and names of more than 300 potential volunteers have been collected.
William Switzer headed up the effort to recruit Democrats to be precinct committee people and is the liaison with the Benton County elections office. In 2004, he organized the Benton County Veterans for Kerry. He also participates in various party functions, including the county fair, state fair and Fall Festival.
Cornerstone gives scholarships
Cornerstone Associates, Inc. has announced the recipients of the 2006-07 Thelma Bonney Scholarship. The recipients each were awarded one year of vocational training and support at Cornerstone, a local non-profit organization that provides vocational support for adults with developmental disabilities. The scholarships are made possible through the generous donations from our community.
Ron Collins is employed at Taylor Street Ovens. He enjoys the food service business and would eventually like to become a baker.
Chris Reed is employed at Cornerstone Woodshop. He said that he is glad he learned about Cornerstone Associates because he would not have had an opportunity to have a job.
Rick Stella is employed at Crystal Lake Cleaning. He said that he likes working the night shift and working at the Oregon State University campus.
Cornerstone Associates, Inc. created the Job Scholarship program in 1995. Since the program's inception, Cornerstone Associates, Inc. has awarded scholarships to more than 40 individuals.
Benton Rodeo Queen crowned
Nicole Schrock, a senior at Corvallis High School, has been named the 2007 Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen. Schrock is active in 4-H and the Corvallis High School equestrian team and is a three-year letterman on the Corvallis High School girls basketball team.
Fair and rodeo queen tryouts included horseback riding, a personal interview and a speech. As the 2007 Benton County Fair and Rodeo Queen, Schrock will receive a $750 scholarship and will serve as the fair and rodeo's official representative at events throughout Oregon.
"I am very excited to represent the Benton County Fair and Rodeo. I have been involved in activities at the Benton County Fairgrounds for more than 10 years, and it has become a very special place for me," said Schrock.
Military News
Army Spec. Garren M. Bremer has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. Bremer graduated in 2002 from Santiam Christian High School and received a bachelor's degree in 2006 from Pacific University in Forest Grove. He is the son of Randy and Brenda Bremer of Corvallis.
Military News
Army National Guard Pvt. Joshua G. Rice has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. Rice is a 2002 graduate of Crescent Valley High School and the son of Calvin and Kelly Rice of Corvallis.
La Leche League welcomes leaders
Lindsay Baker, Helen Gold and Christine Wolf have completed training to become La Leche League leaders. Baker, Gold and Wolf, of La Leche League of Corvallis, completed training in basic breastfeeding management, solving breastfeeding problems and helping mothers, and they have been accredited by La Leche League International. They, along with six other leaders in the Corvallis/Albany area, will be providing breastfeeding help by phone, at meetings and online.
Although Oregon breastfeeding initiation and duration rates are the highest in the nation, mothers still need information and support in solving problems, returning to work and adjusting to parenthood. La Leche League meetings serve as a support group for new parents.
Baker, Gold and Wolf originally attended La Leche League meetings as mothers seeking help in breastfeeding their own children. They continued attending for the support they received for breastfeeding and parenting. Now, as leaders, they want to help keep that support available to new parents in the community.
Senior nominated for national award
Dylan Lee, a Crescent Valley High School senior, has been nominated to compete in the national Principal's Leadership Award (PLA) scholarship program, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. One hundred national PLA winners will be chosen this spring to receive $1,000 scholarships.
High school principals from across the country were able to nominate one of their student leaders. Lee was nominated by CV principal Cherie Stroud. Nominees were selected based on their leadership skills, participations in service organizations and clubs, achievements in the arts and sciences, employment experience and academic record. They were also required to write an essay.
While at Crescent Valley High School, Lee has been a yearbook editor, a yearbook photographer, a member of student council, a member of National Honor Society, vice president of the French club, a secretary and publicist of the Asian club and a member of the science club.