Columbia newsmakers

Cleanup participant

Adam Nelson of Harlem, a student at Mercer University, recently participated in the 10th annual Georgia Rivers Cleanup. Nelson, a freshman, helped pick up trash in and around the Ocmulgee River in Macon.

Concert participant

Phil Waller of Martinez, a science major at Ouachita Baptist University, will participate in a jazz band concert on Nov. 19 at the school. Waller is in the rhythm section of the Ouachita Jazz Ensemble.

Medical award recipient

Lore K. Wright, a PhD and registered nurse who worked at Medical College of Georgia, was recently honored posthumously with the Utilization of Research in Nursing Practice Award for Video Phone Interventions for Caregivers of Elders Afflicted with Alzheimer's.

Food drive collectors

Several Riverside Elementary School fourth-graders recently collected food and money for the Golden Harvest Food Drive, "It's Spooky to Be Hungry." The pupils collected in five neighborhoods for the third year in a row.

Tae Kwon Do champ

Isaac Halverson, a third-grader at Westminster Preparatory Day School, recently won three first place awards in the Greenville Regional Tae Kwon Do Championship. Isaac has been studying martial arts for two years and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Justin E. Halverson of Grovetown.

School recognition

Amanda Hall of Martinez was recently recognized at a school cookout for her campus leadership at Georgia Southern University. Hall is a member of Kappa Delta, the Panhellenic Executive Board, the Early Educators Club, the Student Professional Association of Georgia Educators and volunteers with the group Top Step.

Golf pro recognized

Columbia County resident David Usry, the head golf professional at North Augusta Country Club, was recently selected as one of the featured pros on the FINDaLesson.com website. For more information and details about the website, click on the www.findalesson.com link.