Published: May 13, 2008 09:56 am         

Education Newsmakers: 05/13/2008

The Job Winslow Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently honored six area people who competed in the local chapter's student contests.

Erica Ann Breen, Leland High School, was honored as the chapter's first-place winner and as the third-place winner on the state level in the Good Citizens contest. Benjamin Videan, St. Francis High School, was the chapter's runner-up.

Also honored were this year's winners of the American History Essay contest. The subject this year was "I Spy, Espionage in the American Revolution." Erin Lipp, a fifth-grade student at Bertha Vos Elementary School, won at the chapter level and was the state first-place winner. Three students from Traverse City East Junior High won chapter honors. Brianna Worthington was the sixth grade winner; and Clark Belanger was the eighth-grade winner. Alex Lipp, a ninth-grader, won the Christopher Columbus Essay contest.

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Traverse City Christian Schools announced the winners of its elementary school's Science Fair at Cornerstone Christian School. First-place winners for their respective grades were: Molly Ritsema (sixth grade), with a project on Tetralogy of Fallot; Marcus Wasson (fifth grade), with a project on How Different Acids Effect Acetaminophen; Shelby Wasson (fourth grade) with a project on How Exercise and Caffeine Effect Blood Pressure. Second-place winners included Ruben Schlegel in sixth grade, Hannah Keyser in fifth grade, and Levi Fassett in fourth grade. Third-place honors went to Eric in sixth grade, Kevin Mannes in fifth grade, and Clary Walker in fourth grade. Overall winners were Molly Ritsema who won first place, Marcus Wasson who was awarded second place overall and Shelby Wasson who received the third-place honor.

Alexander DeJong, 8, of Traverse City, has been named a semifinalist in the 2008 Huggable Heroes search. Alexander is one of 120 young people recognized worldwide and honored by Build-A-Bear Workshop for demonstrating strong leadership to help make the world a better place. Alexander is being recognized for raising funds for the Arthritis Foundation Michigan Chapter, and lobbying for congressional support of the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act -- the first-ever legislation to contain provisions specific to Juvenile Arthritis. By involving his entire elementary school and initiating a penny war with another team, Alexander was able to help raise more than $10,000 for the Traverse City Arthritis Walk.