Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Applause *

* Kathleen Casey Douglas recently received the gold-level Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her dedication to community service and volunteerism.

She received her pin, letter of appreciation signed by President Barack Obama and certificate representing more than 300 volunteer hours in one year. Casey has had service opportunities through her 12-year membership in Girl Scout Troop 7254, Midway High School PALS and St. Jerome Catholic Church youth ministries.

She has more than 1,000 lifetime volunteer hours through service at Compassion Ministries, Caritas, Family Abuse Center, Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life, Food for Families and Friends for Life. She also has volunteered at the Mayborn Museum, Waco Civic Theatre and Cameron Park Zoo.

Casey, a senior at Midway High School, is the daughter of Melinda and Colin Douglas of Woodway.

* Class Acts *

* La Vega High School band member Erika Corazón Gonzalez-Tharp has been named to the Association of Texas Small School Bands All-State Band. She plays the clarinet at school under the direction of Tom English and is a private student of Greg Davis. This is her second time to perform as a member of the ATSSB All-State Band.

She also is a member of the Waco Area Youth Wind Ensemble and Waco Youth Symphony Orchestra. She is the daughter of Chad and Francis Tharp of Waco.

* Kristy Burton, an eighth-grade student at St. Louis Middle School, and Chase Sullivan, a junior at Reicher Catholic High School, participated in the Centex Honor Band Clinic and Concert Jan. 30 at the McGregor High School auditorium.

Kristy plays clarinet in the middle school band. Chase, a tenor trombonist, was named to the Symphonic Band.

* Cameron William Rhodes, a graduate of Texas Christian Academy, received his degree in fire science technology from Trinity Valley Community College.

He made the dean’s list two semesters and was named to the president’s honor list for fall 2009. His grandfather, the late Dr. William McMullen, served TVCC as vice president for student affairs and business affairs while Cameron was growing up.

Cameron will continue his education at Oklahoma in the fall. He is the son of Paula and Tommy Ray of China Spring and the grandson of Rosemary McMullen of Waco.

* Hayley DeGraff, the daughter of Deborah and Dennis DeGraff of Waco, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. She is a junior majoring in social work.

* In the Military *

* Stephen Santo, a 2005 graduate of China Spring High School, has graduated from the U.S. Navy boot camp in Great Lakes, Ill. Santo is stationed in Pensacola, Fla., as an aviation electronics technician. He is the son of Susan Ketterer of Crawford.

* Air Force Airman Christopher M. Lara, the son of Maria Lara of Hewitt, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He is a 2009 graduate of Ozona High School.

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