Talk of the Neighborhood highlights Central Texans’ achievements.

* Class Acts *

* Maria Leticia Guerrero, who graduated from La Vega High School and was a student in the Upward Bound program at McLennan Community College, has been named a Gates Millennium Scholar.

She is one of 1,000 students across the country to receive the scholarship and was chosen from among more than 20,500 applicants.

Guerrero will receive a full ride to any U.S. accredited college or university, as well as additional funds for living expenses. She has applied to the University of Texas and Texas Tech University and plans to major in biology.

At La Vega she was president of the National Honor Society, vice president of Student Council and senior class vice president. Guerrero also was a member of Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALS) and was a student trainer for football and basketball.

* Nory E. Gonzalez of Hewitt earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y.

* Applause *

* Moe Spradley of the McGregor Fire Department received the 2008 W.A. Neel Firefighter of the Year Award at the annual banquet of the McLennan County Fire Protection Association.

Other nominees were Dennis Stapleton of Lacy-Lakeview, Rodney Baden of Lorena, Jeff Mitchell of Elk, Scott Garner of Leroy-Axtell, Lori Peterson of Robinson and Chris Millette of Lorena.

The Firefighter of the Year Award is named in memory of W.A. Neel, who served on the Waco Fire Department for 41 years. The award has been presented annually since 1987.

* Elizabeth Taylor, director of the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau, received the 2009 Gene Phillips Hospitality Award from the Texas Department of Transporation for her contributions to the Texas tourism industry.

A 25-plus-year veteran of the travel industry, she joined the Waco CVB as its director in 1993.

* Waco mystery writer Micqui Miller received the Third Annual Sage Award in Austin last month by the Barbara Burnett Smith Mentoring Authors Foundation.

The award recognizes her service in mentoring and sharing in the mystery-writing community. The Barbara Burnett Smith Aspiring Writers Event is one of the highlights of Texas Mystery Month.

Miller has several award-winning books and was the recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart award in the category of contemporary women’s fiction for her novel, The Killing Hour.#

* In the Military *

* Air Force Airman Colten R. Niswanger,a 2008 graduate of Robinson High School, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He is the son of Doris Barfield of Robinson and the grandson of Phyllis Canipe of Waco.

* Army Pfc. Kayleigh K. Ojeda, the daughter of Teresa K. Conn of Waco, has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. The private is a 2004 graduate of Temple High School.

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