Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Class Acts *

* Julia DeLaRosa (right), a senior at Reicher Catholic High School, received an Achievement Award in Writing from The National Council of Teachers of English.

The council honored 543 high school seniors nationally as outstanding writers in the 2010 NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing. There were 1,641 students nominated in their junior year by teachers.

She is the daughter of Mitch and Elizabeth DeLaRosa and is in the AP English program at Reicher.

* Essence Stowe and Alexis Thornton, both of University High School, and Erick McBrewer of Waco High School were among more than 1,600 black American students named semifinalists in the 47th annual National Achievement Scholarship program.

Approximately 800 of these nationwide semifinalists will advance to receive Achievement Scholarship awards.

* Applause *

* McLennan Community College was one of nine community colleges in Texas that received a portion of $388,067 in grant funds to help finance equipment purchases for new career and technical education programs that support fast-growing industries.

MCC’s nursing program received $45,000 through the Job Building Fund, which helps Texans attain technical training for careers in high-demand occupations.

* The Scott & White Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Clinic program earned a three-year, full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

E-mail items to NeighborPlus at neighborplus@wacotrib.com.