Names in the news

AWARDs
>> Ryan Baldomero received the National Spirit of Nursing Award at the 11th Annual Spirit of Women Conference July 10-12 in Boca Raton, Fla. This is the second year in a row that a Medical Center Hospital employee has received this national award. Baldomero also recently took on a new role as the director of Clinical Quality and Rehab in the Center for Heart Disease.
>> MIDLAND Katharine Folger, a May graduate of Midland High School, and Christine Folger, a senior at MHS, were recently presented with the Congressional Aware by the Congressman Mike Conaway.
 Katherine Folger received the gold medal. She plans to attend the University of Notre Dame. Christine received the bronze medal.
The Congressional Award is the U.S. Congress' award for young Americans. It is non-partisan, voluntary and non-competitive. The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds. Participants earn bronze, silver and gold congressional award certificates ad bronze, silver and gold congressional award medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness and Expedition/Exploration.

DEAN'S LIST
>> Brian Steadman, who has just completed his freshman year at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich., was named to the Dean's List for the fall and spring semesters.
Steadman is the son of Bill and Jane Steadman of Carrollton and the grandson of Bob Kiser of Odessa and of the late Marna Kiser. He is a 2007 graduate of Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano.

SCHOLARSHIPs
>> Emily Alyse Bradford, a graduate of Permian High School, and Erin Nicole Whitmire, a graduate of Wink High School, have been awarded a scholarship by the Texas Interscholastic League Foundation.
Both received an Abell-Hanger Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $8,000, payable $2,000 each semester for the first two years of higher education.
The Abell-Hanger Foundation awarded 22 scholarships to students who have participated in the University Interscholastic League Academic State Meet and who have compiled an outstanding record of academic and extracurricular achievement. One Abell-Hanger Foundation scholarship was awarded to a student who plans to major in nursing.
This year the TILF awarded 393 new awards and will renew approximately 225 awards for a total of more than 600 scholarships for 2008-09, with value of over $1 million. Recipients may attend any approved college or university in Texas.
Bradford, daughter of John and Sandy Bradford, competed in editorial writing at the 2007 UIL Academic State Meet. She also participated in UIL choir and band throughout her high school career. She plans to attend Texas State University-San Marcos and major in print journalism.
Whitmire, son of James and Lori Whitmire, competed in spelling and vocabulary at the 2005, 2006, 2007 and placed second at the 2008 UIL Academic State Meets in addition to winning first place in poetry interpretation at the 2008 meet. He also participated in UIL vocal solo and ensemble throughout his high school career. He plans to attend Stephen F. Austin State University.

HONORS
>> Maribel Flores, a teacher at Bowie Junior High School, and Darlene Thomas, of Odessa and a teaches at Goodard Junior High School in Midland, were honored for their dedication to civics teaching with an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the non-profit Bill of Rights Institute's inaugural "Kansas and West Texas Teachers to DC: Historic Encounters" program.
"The teachers chosen to participate in this program have demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching their students about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents and how our Founding principles shape our society," said Victoria Hughes, president of the Bill of Rights Institute.
"This Bill of Rights Institute program is an opportunity for these teachers to visit the historical and political landmarks they discuss with their students."
During the three-day, July 8-10, trip, the teachers - many of whom had never visited the Nation's Capital before - saw Mount Vernon, the National Archives and Gunston Hall, home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, precursor to the Bill of Rights. The visit also included lectures on America's Founding - from the ideas of George Washington and George Mason to the "ins and outs" of the Constitutional Convention, given by in-house experts at the various venues and by Stuart Leibiger, assistant professor of history at Le Salle University in Pennsylvania and a well-known scholar on George Washington and James Madison.
Their attendance at the DC program was made possible by grants from the Abell-Hanger Foundation, The Fasken Foundation and the Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust, all based in Texas.
Founded in 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a nonprofit education organization. The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.

Competing against 123 finalist from across Texas, Julissa Garcia, 6, was crowned National American Miss Texas in the 4- to 6-year-old princess division at the state pageant July 25 in Dallas.
Julissa, daughter of Jesus and Christina Garcia, received her official state crown, banner, bouquet of roses and trophy plus a $1,000 cash award and a modeling scholarship.
She also received her airfare to compete in the national pageant to be held during Thanksgiving week in Anaheim, Calif., along with a special VIP day in Disneyland for two and a tour through the famous streets of Hollywood for two.
Julissa's other winnings included being the grand talent winner where she received a $250 cash award and trophy, winner for the "Best Thank You Note" to her sponsor her dad, second runner up in casual wear and received the Spirit of America and Portfolio Award.
She is a first grade student at Reagan Elementary and takes classes in cheerleading, hip hop dance, twirling, ballet, tap, modeling and tumbling.
The National American Miss Pageant program is based on inner beauty, as well as poise and presentation.
Emphasis is placed on the importance of gaining self-confidence, learning new skills, learning good attitudes about competition and setting and achieving personal goal.
Each year, the National American Miss Pageants awards 1.5 million dollars in cash, scholarships and prizes to recognize and assist the development of young women nationwide.
New this year, a new prize to be awarded to the 2008-09 National American Miss queens in each division, a new convertible Ford Mustang.