Fifth-grader wins bicycle essay contest
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White awarded Grant Miller, a fifth-grader from Windsor School in Arlington Heights, the third place award in the Bicycle Essay Contest held in honor of National Bicycle Safety Monty in May.
TREK Bicycle Corporation and the League of Illinois Bicyclists sponsored the contest statewide, which was designed to promote awareness of safe bicycle habits for children and parents.
Timothy Belter of Arlington Heights, a junior at St. Viator High School, earned a perfect score on his American College Test.
Better, who takes several advanced placement classes at St. Viator, plans to major in communications at either Marquette University or the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is a member of the boys cross country and track teams and the retreat team.
First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights honored Lynn Mikels, minister of education, for her 25 years of ministry. Mikels was presented with a certificate for a custom made vestment stole of her choice.
The following talented young writers were honored by Harper College as winners of its 35 annual High School Writing Competition:
Essay category: First place, Adam Edward Carnehl, Palatine High School; second place, Sonia Khan, Hoffman Estates High School; third place, Kevin Jacobi, John Hersey High School. Honorable mentions: Alicia Bruns, Schaumburg High School; Andrew Detrick, William Fremd High School; James Thomas Hoover, William Fremd High School; and Huijie Yang, Buffalo Grove High School.
Fiction category: First place, Timna Axel, Buffalo Grove High School; second place, Jane Pryma, Palatine High School; third place, Nora Heaton, Palatine High School. Honorable mentions: Eric J. Christensen, Palatine High School; Melanie Hoffman, Wheeling High School; and Surindarr Ramachandran, Wheeling High School.
Poetry category: First place, Nora Heaton, Palatine High School; second place, Sarah Glazer, William Fremd High School; third place, Alyssa Collins, Prospect High School; Honorable mentions: Sarah Blankenship, Palatine High School; Alyssa Collins, Prospect High School; Stefanie Guarino, Prospect High School; and Lauren Wolek, Rolling Meadows High School.
Drama category: First place, Cindy Tagaris, William Fremd High School; second place Zach Donisch, Wheeling High School; third place Adin Lenahan, Rolling Meadows High School. Honorable mention: Russell Kaminski, Palatine High School.
William Fremd High School senior Kellie Kinsella of Palatine was selected as a Distinguished Finalist in the 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, which honors outstanding youth volunteers.
Kinsella was honored for organizing the ongoing fundraising campaign, Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine program to provide funds for a local food pantry. She was presented with an engraved bronze medallion during an honors convocation at Fremd on May 21.
Bartlett resident Christian Wilson shot a hole-in-one May 17 at Apple Orchard Golf Course in Bartlett. Wilson reached the 80-yard, fourth hole using a lob wedge.