Merit Scholar group names Achievement, Hispanic honorees

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announces the names of three black high-school seniors who have been named National Achievement Program semifinalists for their high scores on the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

They are Maya Knight, Chattanooga Christian School; and Justin Badgett and Timi Coker of McCallie School.

Additionally, three students were notified they are among National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars. These qualifiers must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino, have achieved a minimum PSAT/NMSQT score for their region and have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher through their junior year.

The local honorees are Anna Carroll and Macy Cox, Girls Preparatory School; and Sam Lopez of McCallie.

Darrell Jared Burt

New Eagle Scout

Darrell Jared Burt achieved Eagle Scout rank during a Court of Honor held at Chester Frost Park pavilion.

The son of Darrell and Michele Burt is a member of Troop 219 and a senior at Soddy-Daisy High School, where he was a member of the band and JROTC.

For the community service project required of every Eagle Scout, Burt built a 30-foot bridge on the Cumberland Trail at the Three Gorges trail head, assisted by members of Troop 219.

Military park receives Best Idea grant

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is one of 34 national parks in the country selected to receive a 2013 America's Best Idea grant from the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's national parks.

America's Best Idea program funds park activities designed to connect diverse, underserved and under-engaged populations with their national parks in innovative, meaningful ways.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park's grant, "Diversifying History: Bringing a New Connections to an Old Park," will allow the park to provide money to local Title I schools to assist with transportation to the park. Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will provide assistance in ensuring schools receive these funds.

Students will participate in curriculum-based education programs to teach about the causes of the Civil War, abolition and emancipation related to soldiers who fought in the Civil War and the Battle of Chickamauga.

As long as supplies last, teachers will receive classroom resource materials focused on the meanings of "Freedom Quilts" and the institution of slavery by being provided copies of Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" and Jacqueline Tobin's "Hidden in Plain View."

Schools are already reserving times and receiving transportation funds for their students. Teachers interested in bringing students to the park should complete the reservation form and the Title I funding request form online at www.nps.gov/chch/forteachers/planafieldtrip.htm and email them to Ranger Christopher Young at christopher_young@nps.gov or fax them to 706-866-7981.

Music Club elects officers

New officers of the MacDowell Music Club are Dolores Harvey, president; Jim Martin, vice president; Bobbie Howell, treasurer; Mary Catherine Gang, historian; Nellie Makansi, corresponding secretary; and Marcia Jenison, recording secretary.

Committee chairmen are Steve Hollingsworth, Margaret Ann Rudolph, Jo Pennington, Virginia Marion, Ralph Altman, Lynda Shenefield and Norm Oien.