Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Class Acts *

* Lorena High School’s top nine percussionists competed as an ensemble and won first place at the 2008 Percussive Arts Society International Convention held Nov. 5-9 in Austin.

The ensemble achieved the highest score ever recorded in that division. Ensemble members were Collin Brown, Richard Donahue, Tyler Stewart, Jason Kruger, Jordan Hanlin, Josh Barnard, Kelsi Melde, Charlotte Quaas and Cory Wilson.

The snare drum soloists repeated their top-five finish of last year. Defending champion Richard Donahue, a senior, took third, and junior Collin Brown, placed second after a third-place finish last year.

Lorena is the only high school to have had two soloists in the top five places at a single competition, and have done that the last two competitions.

The drumline is under the instruction of Damon Vela, with assistance from Mary Quaas and student assistant Jordan Wedemeyer.

* Waco High School students whose entries will advance to Waco City Council PTA Reflections contest are:

Literature — first place, Berkeley S. Anderson, 11th grade, “The Thing;”

Visual arts — first place, Thomas A. Colon, 10th grade, “Dragon Inferno” (medium: tempera artwork); second place, Justin M. Smith, 11th grade, “Deftones Inspiration” (medium: digitally created artwork from self photo); third place, Alexander R Moreno, 11th grade, “Night Of The Fox” (medium: tempera artwork).

Photography — first place, Stephanie G. Paris, 12th grade, “Pride of Waco;” second place, Dailen L. Olivarez, 11th grade, “Touchdown;” third place, Dailen L. Olivarez, “Sparklers.”

* Applause *

* Jimmie Gibbs-Munroe of Valley Mills was one of five Sam Houston State University graduates honored last month as distinguished alumna for contributions to society and the university.

The SHSU graduate, who has a bachelor’s in education, conducts horsemanship and barrel-racing clinics worldwide. She was a member of the university’s 1974 national championship rodeo team, earning three individual national titles in barrel racing and all-around honors in two years.

After college, she won five world titles in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and was president of the group from 1978 to 1993. She was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1997.

She and her husband, Dan”Bud” Munroe, have one daughter Tassie Oline Munroe.

* Dr. William Nesmith of the Brazos Area Health Education Center in Waco was named as a “Top Doc” for 2008 by the University of Texas Medical Branch, Office of Regional Medical Education.

Honorees are chosen based on how many UTMB students they have precepted, student evaluations, and involvement in their community.

* In the Military *

* Army Pfc. Joshua Denton has completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He will be stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He is the son of Kimberly Denton and the grandson of Martha Corley of Waco and Jim and Joen Denton of Gatesville.

E-mail items to NeighborPlus at neighborplus@wacotrib.com. Questions? Call 757-5750.