EDUCATION EXTRA.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Six area seniors named

National Merit scholars

Six local seniors are among the recipients of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships, awarded to more than 2,400 students across the country. Colleges selected winners from among the finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to enroll at the sponsoring institution.

The recipients were Caitlin Bowman of South Eugene High School, from New York University; Abigail Cole of Willamette High School, from the University of Oregon; Samantha Johnson of Crow High School, from the UO; Christopher Purvis of South Eugene, from Oregon State University; Alexei Savtchenko of South Eugene, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Jennifer Cunningham of Springfield High School, from OSU.

The awards provide between $500 and $2,000 each year for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Another group of winners will be announced in July. More than 1.3 million juniors became eligible for the program by taking the 2004 Preliminary SAT qualifying test. The 16,000 semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of high school seniors.

South Eugene senior wins musical scholarship

Dario LaPoma, a senior at South Eugene High School, has been awarded a $7,500 Presidential Conservatory Scholarship by Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., for outstanding musical achievement. The scholarship is renewable yearly upon continued demonstration of conservatory excellence. A pianist, LaPoma is the son of Daisy LaPoma of Eugene and the late Daniel LaPoma.

Junction City High scores in top three at Envirothon

A team from Junction City High School was one of the top three teams that competed in the Ninth Annual Oregon Envirothon, held May 12 at the Oregon Garden in Silverton. Twenty-three high school teams were tested on their knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and the current environmental issue, "Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate."

Led by teacher Kathy Smith, the team from Junction City placed third and was awarded a cash prize of $125. Its members were Mary Lemhouse, Jennifer Likens, Kasey Ford, Brianna Price and Nathan Gent.

The competition was hosted by the Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, the Oregon Garden, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute and the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts. A team from Churchill High School placed fourth.

Three share Rotary Club's Outstanding Youth Award

The Eugene Downtown Rotary Club has announced the recipients of its Outstanding Youth Award, given to young people from the community who stand out from their peers and have overcome obstacles or disabilities in ways that inspire others. This year's award was shared by three local seniors: Ashli Jones and Rebecca Bellissimo, both from Sheldon High School, and Kirsten Walters from North Eugene High School.

Siuslaw Bank awards

Leadership Scholarships

Siuslaw Bank's Leadership Scholarship winners for 2006 are Kyle Kotaich of Siuslaw High School, Thomas Lovell of Springfield High School, Aaron Lewis of Thurston High School, Rachael Peterson of Oakridge High School, Alexandria Ann Westlake of Pleasant Hill High School, Jessica Comstock of Lowell High School, Kasey Rowe of Marist High School and Meegan Cotter of Elmira High School.

Other winners are Ashley Patterson and Justin Burt of Mapleton High School, Jayme McNeill of Creswell High School and Anthony Discerni of Cottage Grove High School. Each student will receive $1,500 for their college education.

Scholarships were awarded on the basis of scholastic aptitude and potential for community leadership. An endowment established with Western Lane County Foundation provides the financial support for the scholarship program.