Meredith Smith (left) and Rebecca Keller

Rachel Benton (left), Coach Joan Duus, Danielle Cormier

At the Mid Atlantic Regional's held at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmetsburg, Md., girls from six states competed for Miss Majorette of the Mid Atlantic and Regional Championships.

Pizzazz Twirlers from Southwest Roanoke County under the direction of Joan Duus who competed were:

Meredith Smith: Age 9, attends Cave Spring Elementary School. She was third runner up in the Novice Juvenile Pageant and won the modeling portion of the competition. Meredith won the Regional Novice Basic Strut, Novice 2-Baton and Novice Mid Atlantic Loveliest in the Juvenile Division. She placed in the top five in her Regional Novice Solo and Super X Strut.

Rachel Benton: Age 9, attends Penn Forest Elementary School. She placed second in her Regional Novice 2-Baton in the Juvenile Division. Rachel and Meredith placed second in their Regional Novice Duet in the Tiny Tot Division.

Pizzazz will be having its annual Spring Recital on Sunday, May 17, at 3 p.m. at Faith Christian School. This event is open to the public and admission is free.

Pizzazz will also be hosting the Commonwealth Games of Virginia Baton Competition on June 6 to be held at Hidden Valley High School.

For more information on either of these events contact Joan Duus @ 540-537-2960 or duus@cox.net.

For another photo, see The Notebook on swo-co.com

Submitted by Joan Duus

Dean's List

Roanoke College has announced the name of another student from Southwest Roanoke County who made the dean's list for first semester.

She is Kaylin Rachel Foor, a freshman who graduated from Cave Spring High School. She is the daughter of Tom and Debbie Foor.

Gospel sing

The ACS Relay for Life team of Windsor Hills United Methodist Church is having a free gospel sing. It will be at the church on Mud Lick at Windsor on Sunday, May 17. Starting at 2 p.m. will be The Southland Gospel Singers, followed at 3 p.m. by The Oyler Family and The JewellTones.

There will be a donation requested at intermission. Come hear some of the best gospel ever while supporting the American Cancer Society.

Submitted by Ira Chaffin

Cave Spring senior gets degree

Yingzhu Luqiu, who is a senior at Cave Spring High School and in the Mass Communication program in Arnold Burton Technology school, is scheduled to graduate from Virginia Western Community College with an AAS degree of Communication Design on May 15.

She won one gold and two silvers in 2009 Western Virginia ADDY awards in March, then she recieved three Awards ( one gold, one silver and one judge's choice) at the district Addys in April and now she is heading to Nationals.

She is a graphic designer for Roanoke Chinese Association for four years, and president of Roanoke Chinese Association for 2008.

After graduation, she is going to China for summer camp which is organized by Chinese government, then she is going to VCU for higher education.

Cave Spring grad elected into honor society

Lauren Goetsch of Roanoke was recently plus elected into the Lambda Sigma Honor Society at Auburn University in Alabama.

Goetsch is a 2008 graduate of Cave Spring High School. In addition to this honor, she has been appointed director of Holiday Celebration and has been elected as a sophmore representative to the Honors Congress at Auburn. Additionally, she is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and was recently voted "Most Involved Freshman" at the Alpha Chi Omega spring weekend.

Submitted by Jackie Goetsch

VWCC sophomore in Who's Who

Annah Elizabeth Robertson, a graduation 2009 Summa Cum Laude sophomore at Virginia Western Community College, has been tapped for membership in the 2009 Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She was nominated earlier this year by her school's nominating committee.

Annah is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the Honors Institute, and is employed by Lowe's. She is the daughter of Randy and Mary Anne Robertson of Roanoke. She is the granddaughter of the late J.C. "Jake" Robertson and Margaret Robertson of Roanoke and the late George L. "Judgie" Watkins of Salem and Mary E. Watkins-Tate and Ralph W. "Captain" Tate of Goochland.

The Who's Who program has honored and reward the individual scholastic excellence of outstanding campus leaders for many years. This prestigious award is one of the greatest honors given annually by the American academic community.

Annah, who is majoring in sociology and pre-law, will continue her education after Virginia Western at one of her three selected universities -- Virignia Tech, University of Virginia or Cornell in New York. She will be seeking a degree in sociology/pre-law, later to pursue a Juris Doctorate specializing in child advocacy and or environmental law.

Submitted by Mary Anne Robertson

Hampden-Sydney seniors join Omicron Delta Kappa

Hampden-Sydney College seniors Stephen Donald Berry and Matthew Ryan Hubbard were inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society for college men and women, on Tuesday, April 14.

The Lambda Circle of ODK was established at Hampden-Sydney in 1924, and membership is a mark of highest distinction and honor. Selection of members is based on their influence as campus leaders to better campus life and to encourage high standards in all activities.

A Patrick Henry Scholar, Steve serves as President of the Outsider's Club, as a columnist for the student newspaper The Hampden-Sydney Tiger, and for two years as a DJ on the student-operated radio station, WWHS-FM. He was a student leader in the Beyond the Hill freshman trips and is a member of the Student Admissions Committee, the Student Development Committee, the Society of 1791 (leadership program), and the national honor societies Sigma Tau Delta (English) and the Society for Collegiate Journalists. An English and economics major, he is a graduate of Hidden Valley High School and is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Gene P. Berry of Roanoke.

A Venable Scholar, Matt serves as President of the College Democrats and as a DJ on the student-operated radio station, WWHS-FM. He was recently initiated into the national honor society Phi Beta Kappa (academics) and is a member of the honor society Phi Alpha Theta (history). He is a tutor at Southside Learning Center and a volunteer at the Farmville Area food bank, FACES. Matt participated in a Summer Research Honors Project on Chinese nationalism in the summer of 2008 and in Virginia Commonwealth University's Capitol Semester Program. A political science and history major, he is a graduate of Hidden Valley High School and is the son of Johnnie and Pamela Hubbard of Roanoke.

Submitted by Hampden-Sydney College