ACHIEVEMENTS

Angela H. Matson of Vicksburg is among 15 Mississippi State honors college members chosen to receive grants in support of summer research programs. Her award, part of the inaugural Shackouls Undergraduate Research Scholars program, will assist with her research project, “Real-time PCR, Conservation Genetics and a Caribbean Iguana.” A senior biological sciences/pre-physical therapy major, she is the daughter of Thomas and Kady Matson.

Anna Kate Gilmore of Vicksburg has been recognized for logging 100 hours in the American Quarter Horse Association horseback riding program. She was awarded a $25 gift certificate to Drysdale’s Western Store.

AWARDS

Mary Katherine Gwin was named the recipient of the Outstanding Junior Award for the Department of Tourism Management at the University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Business awards ceremony. Separately, she was inducted into the Gamma Tau chapter of Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. She served as president of her pledge class and was named Most Scholastic Pledge. She also serves as president of the Catholic Student Association and is a member of the University Activities Council. She is a 2005 graduate of St. Aloysius High School.

COMPETITIONS

Carlisle Koestler, a student at St. Francis Xavier, has won first place in chemistry at the 2008 MSEF Region II Science Fair held at Jackson State University, qualifying him to compete at the national level in September in Washington, D.C. He had placed first in the St. Francis Xavier fair and fourth in the district fair. He is the son of Michael and Carla Koestler of Vicksburg.

DEGREES

Deidra Janiece Jones of Port Gibson has received a doctor of dental medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. She has been accepted into a one-year residency program at UMC. She graduated in 1999 as valedictorian from Port Gibson High School and in 2004 from Alcorn State University, where she was named Most Outstanding Student. She is the daughter of Carnell Metcalfe-Jones of Port Gibson.

Area students who received degrees during spring commencement exercises at the University of Louisiana at Monroe were Latoya Danielle Clark of Utica; Josh Jude Gerache of Clinton; and Abigail Elizabeth Claypool and Carlton Alexander Hayes, both of Vicksburg.

HONOR ROLLS

Lexie Lanae Strong has been named to the dean’s list for the spring semester at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff M. Strong of Vicksburg.

Area students named to the president’s list for the spring semester at the University of Louisiana at Monroe were Latoya Danielle Clark of Utica and Amanda Kreuz Andrews of Vicksburg. Those named to the spring honor roll were Jerrica J. Thomas of Utica; Christine Deann Nevels of Redwood; and Joseph R. Beard, Kira Michelle Holdiness and Randy Young, all of Vicksburg.

IN ATTENDANCE

Ria Judge, assistant principal at Beechwood Elementary, participated in the Principals’ Summer Institute at Millsaps College.

Peter Michael Halinski attended the Mississippi Hugh O’Brian Youth leadership seminar in Jackson. A student at St. Aloysius High School, he is the son of Dr. and Mrs. David M. Halinski.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Children’s Crafts Day – For ages 5 and up; 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Poverty Point State Historic Site archaeology lab in West Carroll Parish, La.; bring a lunch; 888-926-5492 for more information.

“Acting Up! Three Days of Theatre” – Day camp for ages 8-12; 9 a.m.-noon July 8-10, Millsaps campus; cost, $80; instructors, Beth Kander and Imagination Education staff; 601-974-1130 to register.

“Get Ready, Class of 2009” Free Informational Expo – Open house for high school seniors and parents to begin previewing and preparing for college; 10 a.m.-noon July 19, Jackson State University’s College of Business; campus tours, noon-2 p.m.; RSVP by July 11 to tangelia.t.kelly@jsums.edu or 601-979-1383.

Environmental Science Summer Day Camps – Junior program, ages 9-12; senior program, ages 13-18; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 28-Aug. 1; Village Campus, 1132 Highway 548 in Hermanville; sponsored by Community Youth Achievers Inc.; 601-535-7551 to register; deadline is July 14, with parent orientation 6-7 p.m.