School honors for December 28, 2005

Stewart inducted into honor society

Laura Meghan Stewart, a University of Southern Mississippi student from Montevallo was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta.

Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society promoting academic achievement high standards of living and the development of meaningful goals in first year college students.

New initiates were recognized at the 2005 Awards Day Ceremony.

Stewart is a freshman music education major. She is the daughter of John and Kathy Stewart.

Pelham resident receives high honor

Andrew &uot;A.J.&uot; Johnson of Pelham has recently become recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization at the University of Alabama.

Sigma Alpha Lambda is dedicated to promoting and rewarding academic achievement and providing members with the opportunities for community service, personal development and lifelong professional fulfillment.

Johnson is the son of Trudy Johnson of Pelham and is a graduate of Pelham High School. He is a member of Crosscreek Baptist Church. A senior at the University of Alabama, he is on the staff of The Crimson White.

Local students make TU academic list

Troy University has announced its honor students for summer 2005.

The local student who earned a spot on the Chancellor’s List was Anna G. Cecil of Alabaster.

Christin M. Liveoak of Wilsonville earned a spot on the Provost&8217;s List.

Franks earns scholarship for work

FocusFirst, an Impact Alabama initiative that provides eye screenings to children living in urban and rural poverty, recently announced three University of West Alabama freshmen will receive scholarships because of their involvement in the project.

Nina Franks of Montevallo will receive a $1,250 scholarship from the service learning organization.

Franks, the daughter of Tommy and Nan Franks, must complete 450 hours of direct community service to receive the award. She and the other recipients will conduct vision screenings using state-of-the-art photo-screening technology and then assist in obtaining the appropriate treatment and follow-up in a timely manner.

&8220;FocusFirst is great because it allows us to be a part of an awesome service organization that is making a huge difference in our area,&8221; said Franks, an elementary education major. &8220;It is so much fun to work with the kids and know that we are helping them at the same time.&uot;

Franks became involved with FocusFirst through a UWA 101 freshman seminar taught by Mitzi Gates. The class helped screen the vision for about 450 children, ages 2-5, in HeadStarts and other early childhood development centers in Sumter, Greene and Tuscaloosa counties.

FocusFirst strives to ensure that all children within several targeted rural counties and urban communities begin their education with the best vision medically possible. The long-term goal of this initiative, founded by Birmingham attorney Stephen Black, is to operate a statewide campus-based network of undergraduate and graduate students trained to identify and screen children in communities of need throughout Alabama in order to enhance the educational development of children.

FocusFirst was one of thirteen programs in the nation awarded $50,000 in scholarship money from AmeriCorps. The UWA freshmen&8217;s scholarships come from the AmeriCorps award.