Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Applause *

* Crawford High School teacher Christy Murphy, who has been as the University Interscholastic League academic meet coordinator at Crawford for all 18 years that she’s been at the school, has received the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award.

Crawford High School has won the district championship for 17 of the past 18 years, with an average of 19 students qualifying for the regional meet. Seven students have placed at state, while seven others qualified for state. She also has directed the One-Act Play for 16 years.

She received a UIL certificate and $1,000 award.

* Melanie Decker, a Midway High School English teacher, was selected as the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6008 Teacher of the Year for 2008-09.  She was honored at a banquet in December and received a $100 check and plaque from post commander Harold Munn.

* The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association recently named Texas State Techniclal College-Waco and TSTC-West Texas as Co-Members of the Year during the annual awards luncheon at its Texas Renewables 08 Conference.

TSTC-Waco was recognized for providing the impetus for the creation of the Texas Renewable Energy Education Consortium. TSTC staff member Sidney Bolfing was spotlighted for his central role in establishing the consortium.

* Class Acts *

* Waco Legal Professionals Association announced scholarships to the following students:

Paula D. Church, who is in the paralegal program at McLennan Community College. She is interning at the law office of Karl R. Quebe.

Mildred “Micki” Norris, who is the paralegal program at McLennan Community College. She interns with a nonprofit agency.

LaTishia Watson, a senior at Connally High School, who plans to enter the legal support field focusing on family law.

* Local students who received degrees from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville in December were: Kasey Michelle Deuvall of Hewitt, bachelor of arts in English; Gregory Thomas Evans of Waco, master of education in administration; Holly Elizabeth Johnson of Waco, bachelor of fine arts in musical theater; Gabriella Mercedes Lopez, bachelor of arts in criminal justice; Ross Michael Luedtke of Robinson, bachelor of arts in criminal justice; and Robert W. Ringo of Waco, bachelor of science in kinesiology.

* Local students on the dean’s list at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville for the fall semester are Tiffany A. Herbelin of Hewitt, a sophomore studying forensic chemistry, and Erin E. McCully of Lorena, a freshman studying finance.

* In the Military *

* Air Force Airman Asa Smith, a 2007 graduate of Valley Mills High School, has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He is the son of David and Sheri Fish and grandson of Ralph and Faylene Taylor, all of Valley Mills.

* Army Pvt. Brittaney P. Pierce, a 2006 graduate of Waco High School, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. She is the daughter of John Pierce of Waco and the sister of Lauren Brock of Hewitt.

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