Sending photos

To submit photos and information recognizing your friends and neighbors for their accomplishments, e-mail Community Editor Ken Sury at ksury@wacotrib.com.

Celebrating ‘Year of the Rabbit’

The Chinese New Year began Thursday. It is the most important holiday to the Chinese, who consider 2011 to be year 4078, or the Year of the Rabbit, on their calendar. To celebrate this event, local residents Dennis and Agnes Tang hosted almost 50 Baylor University Chinese students at Mission Waco’s World Cup Café and next door in the Waco Table Tennis Club last Saturday for four hours of table tennis, Chinese board games (photo at left), and eating Chinese dumplings and other foods. In the top photo, Dennis Tang (center rear) plays table tennis with Daiwei Xiao (front left) and Zimu Yang (back right), who are sophomores at Baylor. Blaine McCormick, Baylor associate dean for undergraduate studies at the Hankamer Business School, shared his love for the Chinese culture. Daniel Wang of Waco’s Chinese Church, also welcomed the group. Mission Waco voluntees Karen Ray and Kathy Allison try on the parade costumes (photo at lower left).

Jimmy Dorrell photos

Robinson band member named to All-State unit

Robinson High School senior Kendall Newman was named to the Association of Texas Small School Bands All-State Band after tryouts held at Robinson.

Newman, who plays French horn, has been the marching band’s drum major her junior and senior years.

Band students from four music regions met at Robinson High for the All-State Band tryouts in January. The students had previously qualified for the contest at their respective All-Region tryouts in December.

At the four regions, more than 2,000 students entered in the first level of competition. Of those, 260 were certified to compete at Robinson. During the tryouts, 48 were certified as all-state in Classes 1A, 2A and 3A.

Robinson students also participating at the tryouts were Rosie Lingle, flute; Jared Graves, bassoon; Steven Hill, alto saxophone; and Valerie Roberson, trombone. The All-State bands will meet next week in San Antonio during the Texas Music Educators Association convention and perform a concert Feb. 12.

Photo submitted by Bob Vetter

Passing on the cup

Walter Abercrombie (left) receives a Kiwanis cup from Emil Plasek, president of the Waco Kiwanis Seniors, after Abercrombie spoke at a recent meeting of the club. The club presents each of its guest speakers with a complimentary Kiwanis cup.

Photo submitted by John Drivdahl