Education Extra Achievements.

Byline: The Register-Guard

DISCOVER CARD SCHOLAR: Wells O'Byrne, a junior at South Eugene High School, was one of nine Oregon students to be awarded a $2,500 scholarship as part of the Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship program. Given in cooperation with the American Association of School Administrators, the scholarships are awarded to juniors who have demonstrated accomplishments in special talents, leadership, obstacles overcome and community service. Recipients must maintain a 2.75 GPA.

The funds may be applied to various education or training programs, including a four-year university degree program or certification in a trade.

CHURCHILL AWARDS: Several Churchill High School students recently won honors and scholarships for achievement. Senior Alisa Bright won a $1,000 National Honor Society scholarship, based on her leadership, scholastic achievement, character and service. Amber Lindros and Yoonie Park were recognized for outstanding achievement in mathematics and will receive certificates of merit from the Oregon Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Oregon Department of Education. And juniors Megan Anderson, Brian Barton, Ramsi Hawkins, Christina Murphy and Rachel Peroutka earned commendations for their outstanding PSAT scores, making them eligible for the 2003 National Merit Scholarship program.

CONGRESSIONAL ARTIST: U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio last week announced that the artwork of South Eugene High School senior Kyle Augustson will represent Oregon's 4th Congressional District in the U.S. Capitol's Annual Congressional Art Competition. The work will be on display as part of a yearlong exhibition in the Cannon Tunnel, a pedestrian walkway leading to the Capitol. Augustson's piece, entitled "Dozing Clay Face," is a pencil drawing of a partially sculpted clay face.

SOUTH COUNTY SCHOLARS: The Cottage Grove Community Foundation recently presented scholarships to eight local high school seniors, based on scholastic achievement and participation in activities and community service. Recipients of $500 scholarships from various foundations were Jenny Boyd, Desiree Books, Jessica Martin, Kelsay Norton and Marlaina Stulken of Cottage Grove High School. Winning $1,200 Woodard Family Scholarships for Lane Community College were Maisie Davis of Cottage Grove High School, Rachael Moss of Creswell High School and Tabbatha Ward of North Douglas High School.

BEST FRENCH: Ten students in Roosevelt Middle School's French Immersion program ranked nationally in Le Grand Concours, a national French language contest that drew 94,000 student competitors from around the country. In the sixth-grade division, Nathaniel Fleming won a gold medal and an all-expenses paid, five-day trip to Boston in July, and Kimberly Lohmuller won a bronze medal. For seventh grade, Alyssa Layne won a silver medal and Melissa Bernstein, Kaylee Kooiman and Cody Schvaneveldt won bronze medals. For eighth grade, Carrie Litchman won a silver medal and Katie Christensen, Devin Lee and Sam Reis-Dennis won bronze medals.

STUDENT LEADER: Tyler Nice, a senior at North Eugene High School, has been selected to attend the 2002 Congressional Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., this summer. He was chosen for academic excellence, extracurricular involvement and leadership potential. The conference theme this year is "Democracy in Action." Students will attend interactive workshops, briefings and field trips to meet and talk with prominent leaders such as judges, members of Congress and government staff.

EEA SCHOLARS: The Eugene Education Association will award $500 scholarships to six Eugene seniors at a ceremony today. The recipients, chosen for their academic achievement and intention to pursue careers in education, are Catherine Ryan and Kelly Peterson of South Eugene High School; Stacy Ermini of Willamette High School; Andrew Steig of North Eugene High School; and Mary Alina Bryan and Alisa Bright of Churchill High School. The EEA is the union representing teachers in the Eugene and Bethel school districts.

COCA-COLA EDUCATOR: Joel McCowan, a math teacher at Elmira High School, has been named a 2002 Coca-Cola Educator of Distinction by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. He's one of 252 educators across the country chosen as an "Educator of Distinction," an honor that recognizes outstanding teachers dedicated to providing education with an enhanced purpose. He will receive a commemorative crystal Coca-Cola bottle and a plaque inscribed with a personal dedication written by Elmira senior Jason George, a 2002 Coca-Cola Scholar, who nominated McCowan. Students selected as scholars nominate the teacher who inspired and encouraged them most.