Dist. 220 students named National Merit semifinalists praised

The Barrington Area Unit District 220 school board took time this month to honor some of the district's brightest students.

Eleven members of the Class of 2008 were recently named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.

"Their accomplishment truly reflects the district's mission," said Principal Emil Rode.

Recognized for their achievement by the board were Sam Barnett, Myken Bomberger, Claudia Hochstein, Lauren Janas, Melody Lee, Brian Lin, Ben Redpath, Bobby Schramm, Lisa Shandley, Roland Solinski and Katherine Woodrow.

Nationwide, 1.4 million juniors in 21,000 high schools participated in the National merit program by taking the Preliminary SAT test last year.

Of that group, just 16,000 were named semifinalists.

"They are in some pretty exclusive company," Rode said of the Barrington students.

The students are now in the running to be named a National Merit Finalist.

All winners of Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the finalist group, which is named in February, based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments.

Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, 8,200 Finalists will be selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award.

The National Merit Scholarship Program was started in 1955.

For more information visit www.nationalmerit.org.

Legal eagles: Seniors looking for answers about elder law will have the chance during the October meeting of the Barrington Area Council on Aging's Caregiver Support Group.

Elder law attorney Michael Babiarz and his wife, life coach Ann Babiarz, will speak at the meeting, scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the council's office in the Prairieview Building at The Garlands of Barrington, 6000 Garlands Lane, Suite 100.

The couple, who own EI Assocs. LLC, will discuss life project management and answer questions about elder law issues and power of attorney.

New members are welcome to attend. Call Penny LeNeveu at (847) 381-5030 with questions or to register for the meeting.

The Barrington Area Council on Aging's Caregiver Support Group provides ongoing education and support for caregivers. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m.

Successful fundraiser: As far as the Friends of the Home of the Sparrow are concerned, the recent golf outing was a hole-in-one.

The "Women Fore Women" ladies golf event was held this month at Makray Memorial Golf Club in Barrington.

More than 160 people turned out for the event, which raised $100,000 for the Home of the Sparrow, a transitional housing, counseling and job-skills training program serving women of the Northwest suburbs.

Special kudos go out to the winning golfers, including Patrice Bender, Janet Jones, Eleanor Nelson and Shirley Welsh, who won the front nine, and Lisa Gilmore, Cindy Kahn, Beth Kocmond and Chris Shelton, who won the back nine.

For more information on Home of the Sparrow, visit www.h-o-s.org.