Many local students have been the recipients of new books recently.

“The Way to Go” and “My Favorite Book,” illustrated volumes expressive of moral values, are being made available in certain schools as a gift to first-grade through 10-year-olds by local business leaders.

Printed in these books is a parent guide explaining the values covered in the book, along with suggested topics for family discussions. With “My Favorite Book,” extra copies of the book are given to the school along with access to an interactive website www.MyFavoriteBookLand.com, incorporating the themes of the volume.

Schools involved were Southern Pines, Robbins, Westmoore, Highfalls and Aberdeen elementary schools and Aberdeen Primary School.

Local sponsors included Pinehurst Auto Group; Aberdeen Exterminating; Thomas Tire Company; Four Oaks Bank; First Bank; Aberdeen Glass; Ferrell Gas; Zip Zap Auto Sales; Microtel Inn 7 Suites; Aberdeen Bead Company; Central Farmers Mutual Insurance Co.; Carolina Fried Chicken/House of Pizza/ Thigpen and Jenkins LLP; Tarheel Drug; Southern Software; Garner Law Firm PLLC; Fore Properties; Southern Pines Fire Department; and Pretty ’n Bliss.

Huggins Graduates

Ryan Huggins, son of Robert and Carol Huggins, of Whispering Pines, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, on May 7.

While at The Citadel, Huggins received an Army ROTC scholarship, studied abroad in London, lettered in triathlon, was awarded dean’s list four times, and was a member of the 2011 Honor Committee. He also completed summer training for the Army at West Point, Fort Lewis and Fort Knox.

Upon graduation, Huggins was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.

McDonald’s Grants

Local McDonald’s owner/operators have awarded 25 Triad-area high school seniors and college freshman with $1,000 Ray A. Kroc Youth Achievement Award Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to McDonald’s employees who are furthering their secondary education and have shown a commitment to academic and community achievement.

Among the recipients is Austin Clayton, a student at Pinecrest High School.

Ray A. Kroc scholarship recipients were chosen based on their leadership skills, academic success, community involvement and a personal essay describing how they intend to make a difference in society. These scholars were recently honored at an awards luncheon with local McDonald’s owner/operators in Greensboro.

Spong Honored

Sixty-seven of the brightest and most dedicated students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were honored recently with the university’s most prestigious awards for academic achievement and leadership in activities.

Chancellor Holden Thorp presided at the annual Chancellor’s Awards ceremony, in which Executive Associate Provost Ron Strauss presented academic awards and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Winston Crisp presented service and leadership awards.

Angela Ruth Spong, daughter of Arthur and Ann Spong, of West End, received the Cornelius O. Cathey Award, given to the student who has made the greatest contribution to the quality of campus life through sustained, constructive participation in student programs, or through creative, persistent effort in development of new student programs.

Governor’s Page

Dustin James Roemer, of Pinehurst, participated in the Governor’s Page Program in Raleigh. Roemer spent a week gaining valuable life experience and providing administrative support as a page in the Department of Administration for the week of April 4-8.

“By participating in the page program, high school students from all parts of North Carolina have the opportunity to see firsthand how our government and government agencies work,” Gov. Bev Perdue said. “These students represent North Carolina’s future, and it is important for them to understand how our state functions.”

Roemer is the son of Douglas and Christina Roemer and is a junior at Pinecrest High School.

The one-week program is open to high school students between the ages of 15 and 18, who are in good academic standing at their schools. Application forms are available year-round, but appointments are made on a first-come-first-serve basis.

For an application or additional information, contact the coordinator of the Governor’s Page Program toll free at (800) 820-4483, or visit the program online at www.volunteernc.org/code/govpage.htm.

Central Carolina

Central Carolina Community College honored its outstanding graduating curriculum students during its 16th Annual Academic Excellence Awards night May 4 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

Seventy-two students were honored, including five from Moore County.

Award plaques presented at the awards night included academic excellence and outstanding student within curriculum programs, “Great Within the 58” North Carolina Community College System recognition, Who’s Who Among Students in America’s Junior Colleges, Outstanding Ambassador Service, and others.

To receive an academic excellence award, a student had to have an overall grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0. To receive an outstanding student award, a 3.75 GPA was not required, but the students had demonstrated excellence in other ways.

Those from Moore County receiving awards were:

Michael Marsh, telecommunications, academic excellence; Mary Stapleton, paralegal, outstanding student; Patrick Robinette, “Great Within the 58”; Shelby Parrott, dental hygiene, academic excellence; Tonya Tenters, outstanding ambassador service; Shelby Parrott and Tonya Tenters, “Who’s Who Among Students in America’s Junior Colleges.”

Program Participant

Heather Reed, a student at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, will participate in the U.S. Naval Academy’s Summer STEM Program.

The STEM Program gives students the opportunity to experience real-life applications of math and science principles through hands-on practical learning. Students will learn from distinguished Naval Academy professors in world class lab facilities that provide a unique learning environment outside the traditional classroom. The Academy’s current students, known as midshipmen, help run the Summer STEM Program and act as counselors and tutors to students.

For more information about the Summer Stem program and the application process, visit www.unsa.edu/admissions.stem or call (410)293-4361.

Phi Beta Kappa

Charles Eugene Davis III, a May graduate with a business administration major in Kenan-Flagler Business School, was recently inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most honored college honorary society.

Davis is the son of Charles Eugene Davis Jr. and Sue Bruton Davis, of Southern Pines.

UNCP Honors

The following students at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke qualified for the Chancellor’s and Honors lists during the 2011 spring semester.

Chancellor’s Honors

Lily Abigail Bothe, Alan Michael Caywood, Jacquelyn Lena Jenkins, Yolanda Pinero, Brandy Matina Rowe and Aaron Harrison Taylor, all of Aberdeen; Joanna Marie Cooper, David Harold Grindle Jr. and Peter George Peterson, all of Cameron; Lynnette Marie Carden, of Carthage; Janna Renee Williams, of Eagle Springs; Sara Jane Pack, of High Falls; Joshua Glen Haley, of Jackson Springs; Bryan Nelson Collins, of Lakeview; Katja Dammann, Brian P. Harpster, Emily Morgan Kline and Ginger Lynn Reed, all of Pinehurst; Christopher Adam Miller, of Southern Pines; David Peterson Renan and Densel Brett Williams, both of West End; Joel Michael Koppinger, of Whispering Pines.

Honors List

Tajari Sherod Goins, Jason Sloan Monk and Selisa Carol Scott, all of Aberdeen; Christina Annette Maness, of Carthage; Trudy W. Coleman, of Eagle Springs; Kelsey Elizabeth Groff, of Mount Gilead; Anthony Adam Chapman and Shannon Lindsay Hand, both of Pinehurst; Whitney Leeanne Marion, Mildred D. McCrimmoon and David Bruce Moody, all of Southern Pines; James Mark Ashwell II, Matthew Thomas Bean and Marie R. Sullivan, all of West End.

Graduate

Christopher Ray McMillan, of Osterville Mass., formerly of Aberdeen, graduated on May 14 from Bridgewater State University with a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in history, magna cum laude.

He was also inducted into the Phi Alpha Theta national honors society. McMillan also received departmental honors in history from the university. He has been accepted and plans to attend Northeastern University School of Law, in Boston this coming fall to attain his Juris Doctorate.

He is the son of Ray and Gale McMillan, of Aberdeen, grandson of Margaret Morris, of Cameron, and Mary McMillan, of Aberdeen, and the late Kermit McMillan.

Valedictorian

Mollyrose Milewski graduated from N.C. State University on Saturday, May 14, with highest honors as a valedictorian, having maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her college career.

As a nutrition science major, her academic achievements earned her membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She was a member of the University Scholar’s Program, served as an alumni ambassador for N.C. State, and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

Milewski will continue her studies at the Medical University of South Carolina, pursuing her master’s degree in physician assistant studies. Milewski was a 2007 graduate of Pinecrest High School. She is the daughter of Ron and Kathy Milewski, of Southern Pines.

RCC Grads

Four Moore County residents are among the 226 Richmond Community College graduates who participated in commencement ceremonies May 14 at RCC’s Cole Auditorium in Hamlet.

Melissa Kaye Locklear, of Aberdeen, received an associate degree in criminal justice technology; Carli Erin Phillips, of Carthage, received an associate degree in nursing; April Walker Peavey, of Southern Pines, received an associate degree in early childhood education; Charles Richard Clark V received an associate degree in mechanical engineering technology.

Johnson Graduates

Diana Helen Johnson, a 2008 graduate of Pinecrest High School, graduated magna cum laude from The College of Charleston Honors College with a degree in business management. She is the daughter of Ed and Joy Johnson, of Pinehurst.

Summer Ventures

Union Pines High School announces that Maris Mantle Riley II has been accepted to the Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics (SVSM).

Summer Ventures is a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented students who may pursue careers based in science and mathematics.

“We are thrilled for Maris,” Principal Robin Lea says. “Not only is he an outstanding student who will represent Union Pines with dignity and diligence, he also will be the student commander of our NJROTC program next year.”

Riley will spend four weeks at Summer Ventures, where he will study experimental design, instrumentation, mathematical modeling, strategies in mathematical problem solving, exploratory data analysis and laboratory skills, as well as computer applications and social issues related to science.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Maris,” Robin Lea attests, “and we are excited for all that he will get to experience.”

Scholarship

More than 2,900 winners of National Merit Scholarships financed by U.S. colleges and universities were announced by National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among finalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution.

Sarah E. Brown, of Southern Pines, a student at The O’Neal School, received a National Merit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Scholarship.

Her plans are for a career in English/journalism.

Arnold Graduates

Texie Arnold, daughter of Sally C. Wood, of Pinehurst and Marks Arnold, of Raleigh, has graduated with high honors from Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh. Arnold was among 88 high school seniors who received diplomas from head of school Theo Coonrod during the school’s 169th commencement exercises held Sunday, May 22.

St. Mary’s School was founded in 1842.