Newsmakers

Scholarships

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David Gianino of Evans has been awarded the Chick-fil-A national Leadership Scholarship. Gianino received the $1,000 scholarship from John Powell at the Washington Road restaurant. Gianino is studying journalism at Augusta State University.

Muktha Natrajan , a University of Georgia sophomore enrolled in the Honors Program, is a recipient of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a national award for undergraduates in math, science and engineering. Natrajan, who is from Martinez, is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in genetics and a master of public health degree in environmental health science. Natrajan is one of 278 Goldwater Scholars selected from an applicant pool of more than 1,000 nominated students. The one- and two-year scholarships support educational expenses up to $7,500 per year. UGA students have been named Goldwater recipients every year for the past eight years. Natrajan is the 34th UGA student to receive the scholarship since 1995. Her sister Nithya won the scholarship in 2007.

Afoma C. Umeano of Martinez has been awarded the Walgreens Corp. National Achievement Scholarship. Umeano is a Lakeside High School senior whose probable career field is cardiovascular surgery.

Emily K. Bragg of Grovetown has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship supported by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. She is a graduate of Greenbrier High School. Her probable career field is computer engineering or international relations.

Nicholas S. Reed of Martinez has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship supported by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. He is a graduate of Evans High School. His probable career field is software development.

Bena M. Tshishiku , a junior math major from Martinez and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene M. Tshishiku, was one of two students at Washington and Lee University this academic year awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, which covers tuition, fees, books and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. Also, Tshishiku has been elected into Washington and Lee's Gamma of Virginia Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Michael Brown , a senior at Greenbrier High and son of John and Theresa Brown, and Kristy Hardin , a senior at Evans High and daughter of Alan and Pam Hardin, were awarded Bright Futures college scholarships worth up to $20,000 ($5,000 per year for four years) from Kimberly-Clark.

All-State Chorus

The following Columbia County students participated in the Georgia All State Choruses Feb. 26-28 in Savannah:

Columbia Middle School: Phillip Streetman, director: Nicole Garcia, Sherilyn Harper, Sarah Varner, Victoria Yrizarry

Evans High School: Jean Lancaster, director: Caroline Bost, Matthew Breithaupt, Ashley Elim, Meagin Griffis, Kristina Johns, Olivia Messer, Kyle Monroe, Alissa Salvador, Vernique Sibert, Sara Stover, Alyssa Urbanawiz, Elin Waldenstrom, Meagan Woolard

Evans Middle School: Wendy Baggott, director: Danielle Davis, Carley Flores

Greenbrier High School: Karen Boyd, director: Rebecca Baylor, Amarachi Erondu, Haley Woods

Grovetown Middle School: Margie Story, director: Rex Blair, Rhiley Greene, Racheal Johnson, Kenya Spencer, Olivia Vasquez

Harlem High School: Margie Story, director: Matthew Cook

Lakeside High School: Stacy Branch, director: Molly Hynes, Kate Pendleton

Riverside Middle School, Vivian Easler, director: Rachel Cox, Megan Grandin, Kianna Leseberg, Stephanie Reville, Stephen Santiago

Honor societies

Anna Baker , a junior English major attending Berry College and daughter of Walter and Emily Baker, of Augusta, has been selected to become a member of Berry College's Phi Kappa Phi chapter. She was welcomed as a new member at a March 29 ceremony.

Briana Moody, of Grovetown, was inducted into the Psi Mu Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta communication studies honor society at Reinhardt College this spring.

Mary Firmin, Ruth Hymel, Anna Marshall and Rose Visitainer have been inducted into Belmont Abbey College's Saint Thomas More Society. Firmin, Hymel, Marshall and Visitainer were chosen from more than 800 applicants. From that pool, 126 applicants were eligible for the award, and the Augusta natives were among 96 inducted at the college's Scholarship Weekend in February.

Michelle Lee Evans , of Grovetown, was among five members inducted April 15 into the newly formed chapter of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society at North Greenville University in Tigerville, S.C.

The Augusta Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution presented JROTC medals to the following Columbia County Students: Tamika Boston , Evans High School; Rebecca Whitaker , Harlem High School; Garrett Smith , Greenbrier High School; Eboni Walls , Lakeside High School.

Mike Sizemore , a senior majoring in logistics and marketing and a graduate of Greenbrier High School, is one of 50 students selected to be a Southern ambassador at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro. Ambassadors give campus tours for prospective students and guests and serve as hosts for recruiting events.

UM graduate

Benjamin Joseph Meeks, of Martinez, graduated spring 2009 from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor of business administration.

Earned degrees

Lauren Michelle Hogan, of Appling, earned an associate in business degree, and Eric Jerome Beard , of Harlem, earned an associate in general studies degree from Truett-McConnell College.

Inductee

Shiv Kumar Sharma graduated cum laude with a B.A. in economics and commerce at Hampden-Sydney College. He is a graduate of Augusta Preparatory Day School and the son of Girish and Sarita Sharma of Martinez.