Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Class Acts *

* Kalle Schleicher Tiihonen of Eddy was named a National Merit Commended Scholar by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation this fall. He is currently a senior in the University of Texas High School Program and was a student at Midway High School.

* Bosqueville ISD’s elementary and secondary schools received Gold Performance Acknowledgements from the Texas Education Agency in mathematics, reading and writing for achieving commended status in those subjects.

Bosqueville’s secondary schools also received a Gold Performance Acknowledgement for Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills social studies scores.

Bosqueville High School reached the college readiness standard in mathematics and English because its juniors scored significantly higher than the minimum passing rate on the TAKS exit assessments for those subjects.

* Applause *

* Janet McAdoo, one of the three Excel program teachers in the Success Lab at Midway High School, recently was named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year by Hewitt/Woodway Wal-Mart Store #5389.

As a winner, she received a “Crystal Apple” award trophy, a framed certificate, $100 gift card, a Wal-Mart shopping bag with school supplies and a gift basket.

Principal Chris Allen and McAdoo also accepted a $1,000 grant.

* Three Midway ISD teachers were accepted into the Region 12 program “Journey Through America’s Past and Present,” which is designed to improve the teachers’ knowledge, understanding and appre-ciation of American history and pass that on to their students.

Diane Williams, a fifth-grade teacher; Leaslie DeVille and Vicki Adams, who teach eighth grade, will participate in monthly Saturday seminars taught by university professors and other experts in Amer- ican history, and may take trips to Boston, Gettysburg and Washington, D.C., in the summer months to study historical sites.

The program is a three-year commitment.

* In the Military *

* Army Pfc. Kimberly M. Guenther, a 2001 graduate of Midway High School, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of Suzanne Keener of Waco. She received an associate degree in 2006 from Texas State Technical College in Waco.

* Army Reserve Pvt. Christopher B. McKelvain, a 2008 graduate of A.J. Moore Academy, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Diane Walters of Waco.

* Pitching In *

* Waco Habitat for Humanity on Nov. 8 celebrated the completion of two new homes at 1121 and 1125 Holt Ave. in Waco. The new homeowners are David and Antonia Sanchez and Felipe and Mayra Sanchez. David and Felipe are brothers.

Felipe and Mayra Sanchez’s home was co-sponsored by Alcoa Fastening Systems through a grant from the Alcoa Foundation. Other gifts were provided by TYMCO, the Waco Association of Realtors and area businesses.

David and Antonia Sanchez’s home at 1121 Holt Ave. was built in memory of longtime Habitat volunteer Cliff Johnson, who died in October 2007. It was sponsored by the Gary and Diane Heavin Community Fund.