Smithsburg High School

Marine Corps Pvt. James D. Nance, Jr., son of Gladys E. and James D. Nance of Smithsburg, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., designed to challenge new Marine recruits physically and mentally. Army Pvt. Eric S. Windsor Jr., son of Eric and Ingrid Windsor of Smithsburg, Md. has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. Windsor is a 2005 graduate of Smithsburg High School.

PHILADELPHIA - Smithsburg High School graduate Erin Kittel is one of three freshmen performing with the University of the Arts Big Band in Philadelphia under the direction of Matt Gallagher. The Big Band held its first performance Oct. 17 at the university. The band played selections from jazz great Stan Kenton. Kittel is majoring in music performance with a minor in music education. For information about future performances, go to www.uarts.edu/go .

Chris Laye, son of Jonathan and Linda Laye of Smithsburg, was recently promoted to sergeant 1st class and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for completing three years as a military police drill sergeant with Bravo Company 795th Military Police Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Laye is en route to Iraq. He is a 1988 graduate of Smithsburg High School.

Mitchell Ronald Akers, 18, of 109 Rachel's Court, Smithsburg, Md., passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at the Washington Hospital Center. Born Tuesday, March 8, 1994, in Hagerstown, he was the son of Richard Phillip Akers and Anne Ungvarsky Akers. He was a senior at Smithsburg High School, Class of 2012, where he was a member of the Link Crew, Student Government Association and Latin Club, and also truly loved being on the football, lacrosse, track, wrestling and bocce teams.

Katie Lushbaugh, 16, of Smithsburg, recently donated two of her braids of hair to the Locks of Love program. The program uses donated hair to make wigs for children who have lost their hair due to illness. Katie also made a donation of hair less than two years ago. She is planning to let her hair grow again in hopes that she can donate a third time. Katie said she appreciated the ability to help children less fortunate than herself. She is the daughter of David and Cathy Lushbaugh of Smithsburg, and the granddaughter of Nancy Scott of Waynesboro, Pa. Katie is a sophomore at Smithsburg High School.

A series of fundraisers organized by the Smithsburg Middle School student council generated more than $2,500 that student council representatives presented to the Coach Carroll Reid Stadium Committee. The contributions will support improvements to the Smithsburg High School athletic field, which recently was named in honor of longtime Smithsburg High Football Coach Carroll Reid, who passed away earlier this year. Fundraising activities included a readathon during National Read Across America Week, the eighth annual student vs. staff charity basketball game, a student activity night and a three-night partnership with Applebee's Restaurant in Waynesboro, Pa.

A group of Smithsburg Middle School seventh-grade students recently celebrated a successful walk-a-thon. On Oct. 19, students collected pledges for walking the track at Smithsburg High School 12 times - a distance of about three miles. The event raised $6,419.33 to benefit the John Marsh Cancer Center and Hospice of Washington County. A check presentation ceremony was held Nov. 3. Participating in the presentation were Justin Cooper, Larry Myers, Esther Chin, Sarah Smith, Courtney Smith, Morgan Shrader, Corey Dunkin, Lauren Reid, Dustin Blickenstaf, Kayla Pryor, Francis Welte, Brad Spickler, Jeremy Martinez, Angela Kang, Brandon Horseman and Tauri Grant.