Key Club

The North Hagerstown High School Key Club will host a free Haunted House Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will include games, candy, books, face painting and haunted rooms. Rooms will be rated for parents to determine appropriateness. Donations are welcome and will benefit the Community Free Clinic.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Key Club members at the Franklin County Career and Technology Center recently shopped for and filled Easter baskets for children at the WIN Victim Services Shelter and the Franklin County Homeless Shelter. Cortney Krall, Mandi Maines, Maritza Ordonez and Derek Short chose items for the baskets that included stuffed animals, colored markers, jewelry, toy cars, pens, bubbles and candy. The items were brought back to the school where the baskets were filled and packaged with cellophane wrappers and pretty bows.

It looked worse than it was. Students at the Franklin County Career and Technology on Friday got to see how police, fire and ambulance crews respond to a fatal crash during a mock accident drill at the school near Marion, Pa. Sponsored by the school's Key Club, Treasurer Maritza Ordonez said the event was aimed at warning students about the dangers of drinking and driving during the upcoming prom season. The Franklin County Coroner's Office and the Stat 12 Medevac helicopter from Hagerstown also participated in the demonstration.

Andrea Ocarina Prez Rojas, daughter of Gladys Rojas of Hagerstown, has been chosen as a State Finalist in the National American Miss Maryland Pageant, to be held Monday at the Frederick Holidome and Conference Center in Frederick, Md. The winner of the pageant will receive a $1,000 cash award, the official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses and air transportation to compete in the national pageant at Disneyland in California. The National American Miss Pageants are for "Today's Girl" and "Tomorrow's Leaders.

High School to host Community Carnival North Hagerstown High School's Best Buddies and Key Club are sponsoring a Community Carnival Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Proceeds benefit Children in Need Inc., which means all of the money will help children in Washington County. Games are appropriate for elementary age and younger. Tickets for games are 25 cents. Every child will receive a book. Entertainment and food will be available. The event will be held rain or shine.

The following South Hagerstown High School students received scholarships from the South High Alumni Association:Kaitlyn Nicole Spangler - Kaitlyn will graduate with a 3.83 grade-point average and plans to continue her studies at Towson University in the nursing program and eventually pursue a doctorate.She is a member of the National Honor Society at South High and is captain of the cheerleading squad and softball team. In addition, Kaitlyn is a member of the Link Crew, color guard, band and Student Government Association, and serves as an office aide.

Two South Hagerstown High School graduates recently received $500 scholarships from Queen Esther Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 3. Lindsay Ann Beattie and Ashley Crawford were selected by the chapter's grant scholarship committee based on their academic excellence, community support and their desire to continue their education, according to a press release from the chapter. Beattie studied in all honors and advance-placement classes, served four years in the Rebel music program, ran cross country for two years and played softball for four years.

Teri Jene Keller of South Hagerstown High School graduated with a grade-point average of 3.97 and will attend Salisbury University in the fall. She was selected to receive the Salisbury University Presidential Scholarship, the West Virginia University Blue and Gold Scholarship, the South Hagerstown High School Alumni Scholarship, a Senatorial Scholarship, Maryland Del. John Donoghue Scholarship and a scholarship from Towson University. Keller was the class secretary, a National Honor Society officer, a Peer Helper, and a member of the color guard, student government, Link Crew, Key Club, Green Crew, and the Honor Club.

Put 1,100 teenagers in one room and what do you get? Energy, enthusiasm and excitement! Put 110 teachers in one room and what do you get? Suggestions, instructions and commands. Last weekend I attended the Capital District Key Club convention in Baltimore with a great group of area youth. We heard motivational speakers, learned about service projects, attended workshops, considered candidates' platforms and elected new district leaders. It was as close to a political convention — minus the politics — that these kids will get at this age. The weekend was educational and fun, if not just a tad bit exhausting.

Here are some of the events happening this week in Washington County Public Schools: Thursday, March 22 Boonsboro Elementary - Battle of the Books from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Boonsboro High - Wrestling team banquet from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Clear Spring High - FBLA participating in leadership conference through March 25 E. Russell Hicks Middle - Full sixth-grade band, period one; full eighth-grade band, period three; full seventh- grade...

The Town and Country Garden Club of Hagerstown selected Kirstie Lane Coombs, a student at North Hagerstown High School, as the recipient of its 2013 academic scholarship. The $500 scholarship was established in order for the club membership to contribute to the ongoing education of deserving students. To be eligible, a student must be graduating from a Washington County high school and planning to enter a college or university with a major in horticulture, agriculture, landscape design or other closely related field.

The Key Club at Heritage Academy was awarded the Best New Club Award at the Capital Key Club District Leadership Conference March 8 to 10 at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor. The club, which has 24 members, was formed last year under the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club of Hagerstown. Four students from Heritage - Bryce Nigh, Collin Poyle, Tristan Prejean and Abraham Strickler - attended the district convention to participate in workshops, hear motivational speakers and vote on next year's district officers.

Put 1,100 teenagers in one room and what do you get? Energy, enthusiasm and excitement! Put 110 teachers in one room and what do you get? Suggestions, instructions and commands. Last weekend I attended the Capital District Key Club convention in Baltimore with a great group of area youth. We heard motivational speakers, learned about service projects, attended workshops, considered candidates' platforms and elected new district leaders. It was as close to a political convention — minus the politics — that these kids will get at this age. The weekend was educational and fun, if not just a tad bit exhausting.

Teri Jene Keller of South Hagerstown High School graduated with a grade-point average of 3.97 and will attend Salisbury University in the fall. She was selected to receive the Salisbury University Presidential Scholarship, the West Virginia University Blue and Gold Scholarship, the South Hagerstown High School Alumni Scholarship, a Senatorial Scholarship, Maryland Del. John Donoghue Scholarship and a scholarship from Towson University. Keller was the class secretary, a National Honor Society officer, a Peer Helper, and a member of the color guard, student government, Link Crew, Key Club, Green Crew, and the Honor Club.

Stephanie Eberly, who will be a junior at Heritage Academy in the fall, received the 2012 Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Gold Level. Stephanie, the daughter of Roger and Jeanne Eberly of Clear Spring, earned the distinction by completing more than 700 hours of community service. Stephanie has been involved in service activities at her church, her school and with Convoy of Hope. She has spent more than 600 hours volunteering at Star Equestrian Center in Hagerstown since October 2009.

The following South Hagerstown High School students received scholarships from the South High Alumni Association:Kaitlyn Nicole Spangler - Kaitlyn will graduate with a 3.83 grade-point average and plans to continue her studies at Towson University in the nursing program and eventually pursue a doctorate.She is a member of the National Honor Society at South High and is captain of the cheerleading squad and softball team. In addition, Kaitlyn is a member of the Link Crew, color guard, band and Student Government Association, and serves as an office aide.

Members of new Key Club at Heritage Academy stand with their adviser, Lisa Prejean, second from left. Key Clubs are the high school arm of the Kiwanis Club. The new key club, formed this fall, is the third in Washington County. North Hagerstown and South Hagerstown high schools also have Key Clubs. 

The North Hagerstown High School Key Club will hold its inaugural car, truck and motorcycle show Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the North High parking lot. Registration will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Registration costs $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the event. The event will include entertainment and food. For more information, call 301-908-1019 or go to www.carshowlink.com . TOPS 0446 Carol E. was the week’s thinner winner, followed by Joanne Ph. at the weekly TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)

Two Bulldog Federal Credit Union members have been awarded $500 scholarships by Credit Union president and chairman of the Scholarship Selection Committee, David Barrett. The winners, both honor club members graduating in the top 5 percent of their class are Williamsport High's Kelsy M. Rupp and North Hagerstown High's Zachary A. Gilbert. A dance instructor and Interact Club member, Kelsy will graduate with a 4.06 grade-point average and plans to attend Radford University in Virginia in the fall.

HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. -- Confidence oozes from Joseph Reidy. When the 18-year-old Hedgesville High School senior talks about someday serving in the West Virginia State Senate, you tend to believe he will do it. He already seems to have a firm understanding of diplomacy and has led on the field of play as captain of the school's soccer team. Off the field, he serves as vice president of his class and has taken other leadership roles on campus. "The (soccer) program is growing, it's changing and I would say good things are going to come out of it," Reidy said.