Washington College

A short-story writer dedicated to giving authentic voice to characters as they try to connect with the people closest to them is the 2012 winner of the nation's largest student literary award. Kathryn J. Manion will receive the Sophie Kerr Prize on Sunday at Washington College's commencement. She will receive a check for $58,274. Manion and four other finalists read their poetry and fiction aloud on May 15 at a private event in midtown Manhattan, then watched internationally celebrated novelist Colum McCann open an envelope and announce her name as the 2012 winner.

Washington College announced that Brittany Weaver,  daughter of Curtis and Dawn Weaver of Williamsport, was recently inducted into the Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows. Weaver is majoring in political science and minoring in history. She is a member of the varsity women's soccer team, chairwoman of the honor board, president of the Students Against Human Trafficking organization and is a Relay for Life team captain. Additionally, Weaver represents Public Leadership Education Network as an ambassador to Washington College.

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - On a warm, sunny day, Washington College is a delightful feast for the eyes. On campus, the tree-lined paths leading to refined brick buildings are graced by delicate petals in the spring and blazing leaves in the fall. Off campus, charming shops lace Chestertown's quaint downtown. A short walk from the college campus, where the downtown meets the Chester River, stands the Truslow Boathouse, headquarters of the crew and sailing teams. A waterfront pavilion provides a tranquil retreat for students - when the structure is not resounding with the cheers of fans rooting on their watersports teams.

Brittany Weaver, a 2010 graduate of Williamsport High School, has been awarded a $1,000 athletic scholarship from High Performance Cabling Inc. of Hagerstown, owned by Paul Plume. Brittany will attend Washington College in Chestertown, Md., and play soccer. She is the daughter of Curtis and Dawn Weaver of Williamsport.

HCC student receivesSchaeffer scholarship Daniel M. Baker, a student in the criminal justice associate degree program at Hagerstown Business College, was among 11 students to receive a William Donal Schaeffer Scholarship last week. A ceremony was held in Annapolis to present the scholarships, according to a press release from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The scholarship, named for Maryland's comptroller, provides funding for full-time students who are preparing for careers in public service.

Washington College has announced that Maria Noelle Queen, daughter of Roy W. Queen of Hagerstown, is one of five finalists for the Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest undergraduate literary prize in the nation, this year valued at more than $58,000. Queen is a humanities major and creative writing minor. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she submitted 18 pages of poetry to the Sophie Kerr Committee, much of it focused on the relationship between a daughter and her parents. “Her poetry is at times very funny and at times very sad, and it manages to be both extremely personal and yet objective about how she sees herself in the world," one committee member said.

Rebecca Hull, 13, will be a freshman at Boonsboro High School. She is always going to the movies. Nell Barber is a 12-year-old home-schooler from Keedysville who knows her mind and charts her own fashion course. Alexandra Cantone, 11, will be a seventh-grader at Montessori Academy in Chambersburg, Pa. She loves horses, acting and pretty gowns. Lydia Hadfield, 16, of Jefferson, Md., enjoys biking, hiking, reading and writing. She is home-schooled. Sarah Ofosu, 17, graduated this year from South Hagerstown High School.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Powell named Co-Player of the Year McDaniel College senior guard Katy Powell, a Smithsburg graduate, was named the Centennial Conference Co-Player of the Year, an honor she shares with Muhlenberg senior center Meghan Courtney. Powell leads the Green Terror this season in scoring (12.8 ppg), field goals (107), 3-pointers (25), assists (67), steals (54) and blocked shots (20). McDaniel (23-2, 17-1), ranked 19th in NCAA Division III and the winner of 19 straight, hosts the conference tournament this weekend.

The following area students were named to the dean's list for the spring semester at Washington College:  Sara Braunstein of Myersville, Md., is a senior, and has a double major in economics and political science. She is the daughter of Lori L. Linthicum.  Katie Despeaux of Thurmont, Md., is a senior, and has a double major in psychology and French studies. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bryant K. Despeaux.  Rodney Everett of Hagerstown is a sophomore majoring in physics.

A short-story writer dedicated to giving authentic voice to characters as they try to connect with the people closest to them is the 2012 winner of the nation's largest student literary award. Kathryn J. Manion will receive the Sophie Kerr Prize on Sunday at Washington College's commencement. She will receive a check for $58,274. Manion and four other finalists read their poetry and fiction aloud on May 15 at a private event in midtown Manhattan, then watched internationally celebrated novelist Colum McCann open an envelope and announce her name as the 2012 winner.

Washington College has announced that Maria Noelle Queen, daughter of Roy W. Queen of Hagerstown, is one of five finalists for the Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest undergraduate literary prize in the nation, this year valued at more than $58,000. Queen is a humanities major and creative writing minor. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she submitted 18 pages of poetry to the Sophie Kerr Committee, much of it focused on the relationship between a daughter and her parents. “Her poetry is at times very funny and at times very sad, and it manages to be both extremely personal and yet objective about how she sees herself in the world," one committee member said.

Washington College announced that Brittany Weaver,  daughter of Curtis and Dawn Weaver of Williamsport, was recently inducted into the Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows. Weaver is majoring in political science and minoring in history. She is a member of the varsity women's soccer team, chairwoman of the honor board, president of the Students Against Human Trafficking organization and is a Relay for Life team captain. Additionally, Weaver represents Public Leadership Education Network as an ambassador to Washington College.

The second annual Relay for Life of Washington County Colleges kicked off Friday at Hagerstown Community College. Students, faculty, staff and alumnae from HCC, Kaplan College and University System of Maryland at Hagerstown participated in the event, said Cathy Beckley-Thomas, community manager for the American Cancer Society in Washington County. For its second year, 22 teams with 144 participants including 12 cancer survivors had signed up for the relay, she said. About $13,000 was raised last year for the American Cancer Society, she said.

Brittany Weaver, a 2010 graduate of Williamsport High School, has been awarded a $1,000 athletic scholarship from High Performance Cabling Inc. of Hagerstown, owned by Paul Plume. Brittany will attend Washington College in Chestertown, Md., and play soccer. She is the daughter of Curtis and Dawn Weaver of Williamsport.

HAGERSTOWN -- First, the cancer survivors were asked to raise their hands. Next, those whose mother or father had battled cancer. Then, those with grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, best friends, boyfriends or girlfriends affected by the disease. "Now look around," organizing committee member Brittany Sines said as nearly every hand stretched upward in the group of more than 100 participants in Friday's Relay for Life of Washington County Colleges. "This shows what we are fighting for tonight," Sines said.

COLLEGE TRACK HCC at Nationals LUBBOCK, Texas -- Hagerstown Community College's Dustin Adams finished 13th in the men's 5,000-meter run in 16 minutes, 13.30 seconds during the first day of competition Friday at the NJCAA Indoor Track Championships at Texas Tech University. Elizabeth Ross finished 16th in the women's shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 8 3/4 inches for the Hawks. Samantha Valiton finished 18th in the women's 600 in 1:59.13. Justin Cole and Mike Podlesnik were scheduled to run in the men's 1,000-meter prelims Friday night.

The 2008 Washington County College Fair will be Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Athletic, Recreation and Community Center at Hagerstown Community College. Representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities and technical schools in the Mid-Atlantic region will be on hand to meet with prospective students. The fair is sponsored by Washington County Public Schools and HCC. Admission is free. For more information, contact HCC at 301-790-2800, ext. 412.