Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Class Acts *

* Hillary Swanton of Waco was a member of the homecoming court at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The court was recognized at halftime of the Razorbacks’ Nov. 1 game.

She is a senior majoring in English and anthropology. A student ambassador, Swanton also is president of the school’s chapter of Pi Beta Phi sorority.

* Lynne McMahen, a graduate of McLennan Community College, has had a poem selected for publication in Note Bene, the literary anthology published by Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

The poem, “Things I Need to Do,” is about divorce and the mental list of everyday things to do, as well as the difficult things associated with divorce.

McMahen graduated in May with an Associate in Arts degree and is taking time off before returning to school next fall to pursue her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Tarleton State University through the University Center at MCC.

* Applause *

* Linda (Barron) Sullivan, a graduate of Waco’s Richfield High School, was named Florida Middle School Counselor of the Year for 2008 by the Florida School Counselor Association.

She will complete 40 years as a teacher and counselor in Texas and Florida in December.

She is the daughter of Dorothy (Norwood-Bass) Harding of Eddy and Neal Barron of Waco. She is the grandchild of the late Katie Dillard Barron-Tripp and the late Gertrude and Alton Norwood of Lorena.

* The city of Woodway recently held its annual Appreciation Awards Banquet. The following awards were presented:

Customer service — Veronica Banks and Jennifer Canady.

Teamwork — Tracy Becker and Luis Sanchez.

Innovation — Rodney Dieterick and Bob McCauley.

Leadership — Sandy Bickel and John Norman.

Outstanding service — Donna Barkley, Sandi Browning and Barney Witt.

Work Horse — Bret Crook and Jerry Jones.

Volunteer of the Year — Ben Selman.

Officer of the Year — Terry Mason.

City Manager Achievement Award — Janet Schaffer and Robert Starnes.

Service award recipients were: Shawn Bushee, William Dudley, Trixie Sarna, Carrie Shuffield, Bobby Sparks, Robert Starnes and Beau Crosby, five years; Sheila Childs and Tino Villarreal, 10 years; and Ronnie Fanning and Bert Hernandez, 15 years.

* In the Military *

* Army Reserve Pfc. Heather D. Fish, a University High School student, graduated from basic military training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., to be a member of the Army National Guard or Reserve Split-Option Program.

The program allows high school junior and seniors to attend National Guard or Reserve weekend drills while in school and pursue a military career specialty after they graduate.

She is the daughter of Carol Sorrells of Waco.

* Pitching In *

* CareNet Pregnancy Center of Central Texas and the Waco Humane Society, received the top two prizes in the Perry Office Plus $25,000 Charity Office Makeover contest after the public voted in an online survey.

CareNet will receive an office makeover from Perry Office Plus worth up to $25,000. Both winners will receive a prize package of office machines, artwork and supplies worth up to $1,000.

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

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Area school honor rolls can be found online at wacotrib.com/nabeplus