Community News and Notes

Ensign Lydia Anne Hummel Ames

Ensign Lydia Anne Hummel Ames

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced approximately 2,200 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities. Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.

These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

Jeremy B. Ruggiero, a graduate of Kenai Central High School, has earned a National Merit Texas A&M University Scholarship. His probable career field is Mechanical Engineering.

Lydia Anne Hummel Ames graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in New London, Connecticut, on May 6. She received an academic award for highest test scores. Ensign Ames will be stationed aboard the NOAA ship Ron Brown. She is a graduate of Soldotna High School.

Timothy Standifer, of Tyonek, was named to the Dean’s List at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, for the Spring 2015 semester. Standifer’s major is Exercise Science – K-12 Teaching option. To be eligible for Dean’s List, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.6 or better in no fewer than 15 credit hours of graded college level work and have completed all work for which they are registered by the end of the semester.

The prestigious P.E.O. STAR Scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year was presented to Allison Ostrander, a senior at Kenai Central High School, at the KCHS awards ceremony by chapter representative Nancy Cranston. Allie is the daughter of Paul and Terri Ostrander and was recommended for this scholarship by Chapter M of Kenai/Soldotna. Ostrander will attend Boise State University in Idaho where she plans to study kinesiology beginning this fall.

The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship is a $2,500 scholarship based on excellence in leadership, extracurricular activities, community service, academics and potential for future success.

William L. McDermid, III, of Soldotna, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania during the 259th commencement ceremonies on May 18. He received two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering (Computer and Information Science).

Joel H. Zebill of Soldotna graduated with highest honors from South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. He earned an Associate of Arts degree, in Arts and Sciences.

Benjamin Carstens of Nikiski Middle/High School, and Madison Rose Orth of Cook Inlet Academy, have each received $4,000 scholarships and are among 25 winners of the BP Principals Scholarship program state wide. Since 1985, BP has awarded more than $3.5 million to 775 Alaska students who have excelled in academics and community service.

Esther Knox, a sophomore accounting major from Ninilchik, was named to the Spring 2015 President’s List at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. This President’s List recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher GPA.

Has a new addition to your family just arrived? Where in the world is your military person and what are they up to? Got a new graduate, dean’s list student or an award-receiving youth?

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