Janice Raper honored
Janice Raper of Salisbury has been named the Phillip J. Kirk Jr. Honored Educator Scholar for 2007-08 at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching in Cullowhee. The announcement was made during a recent meeting of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education.
Raper will be eligible to attend a five-day seminar of her choice this year at NCCAT and will receive $250 for use in the classroom with her students. A teacher at Hurley Elementary School, she is the Teacher of the Year for the Northwest Region, representing Ashe, Alexander, Alleghany, Avery, Burke, Catawba, Davie, Iredell, Rowan, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. Most of her 30-year teaching career has been in the Rowan-Salisbury School System.
The Phillip J. Kirk Jr. Honored Educator Scholarship at NCCAT is named for an advocates for public education. The scholarship fund was endowed in 2007 after contributions from Kirk’s friends and admirers exceeded $25,000. A Rowan County native, Kirk is vice president of external relations at Catawba College. He had been chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education and for 16 years was president and chief executive officer of North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry.
Raper and her husband Ron were in Kirk’s English class at Salisbury High School when he was a student teacher there. “They are both outstanding educators who have made so many positive contributions to our school system and to literally thousands of students over the years,” Kirk said.
Gardner-Webb lists
Three Rowan County students have been named to the fall semester dean’s list at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs for earning grade-point averages of 3.7 or more.
They are Elizabeth Farmer of Salisbury, Allie Mills of Spencer and Kelly Cobb of Woodleaf.
Five were named to the honor roll for earning grade-point averages between 3.2 and 3.7.
They are Marikay Baker of Cleveland and Daniel Carby, Hyatt Grissom, Josiah Fernandez and Koshari Pledger, all of Salisbury.
Gibbs certified
Bridgette Edwards Gibbs of Salisbury completed a certification in Meeting and Event Planning during the fall semester at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Gibbs, a 2002 Catawba College graduate and director of event planning at the college, studied the many different aspects of meetings and special events during the semester.
Silverburg a lecturer
Dr. Sanford Silverburg, professor of political science at Catawba College, was a lecturer at the recent 2008 Florida Chautauqua Assembly, “A Journey into the American Presidencey,” in DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Silverburg’s lectures were titled “Who or What Drives the President? A Political Party, Advisors, or the People,” “The American Presidency and Personality: Where’s the Power?” and “Can a New President Change America’s Course?”
Silverburg is a specialist in international relations and international law as well as the government and politics of the Middle East. He has published and lectured internationally and has experience with government and military affairs.
‘Pfeiffer Pfight’
Pfeiffer University students led the fight against breast cancer during the first “Pfeiffer Pfights,” a 5K walk/run and 24-mile bike ride benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Carolina Breast Friends on Jan. 26.
The “Pfight” began the day before with a dedication and blessing attended by students, faculty and staff in the Henry Pfeiffer Chapel. Two-time breast cancer survivor Cindy Loflin, director of purchasing at Pfeiffer, shared her personal and courageous story. The ceremony honored breast cancer survivors, like Loflin, remembered those who passed away and celebrated the support the fight against the disease has garnered.
The inaugural event registered more than 90 participants who received pink Pfeiffer Pfight T-shirts and raised more than $4,000. The student-led organization, Catholics At Pfeiffer, created and organized the event that was the brainchild of Patricia Hunter, a Pfeiffer junior and the organization’s president.
Blue ribbon awards
The North Carolina School Public Relations Association has awarded three Blue Ribbon Awards for excellence in effective communications and public relations to Rowan-Salisbury Schools.
The awards were presented during the Annual Blue Ribbon Awards brunch hosted by the association and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction last month in Raleigh. The statewide recognition is for outstanding publications, Internet home pages, photographs, special programs, reports and marketing campaigns.
Rowan-Salisbury was recognized for Annual Report: 2006-2007 Annual Report ń “Inspiring, Challenging, & Empowering Students”; Excellence in Writing: Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom’s news article “Understanding AYP/NCLB” (Adequate Yearly Progress/No Child Left Behind); and Internet Web Site: the school district’s Web site.