West Virginia daily

Elizabeth Hurst, a junior at Wittenberg University, has been named the school Alma Mater winner, an honor that recognizes outstanding academic achievement.

The Alma Mater honoree is elected by students, faculty and staff, based on character, integrity, service to community, concern for others and high standards of scholarship.

Hurst was also elected to Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa.

The Wittenberg Education Department also gave Hurst the Virginia Lucas Silver Apple Award because she displayed the qualities exemplified by Virginia Lucas, professor emeritus of education, 1973-1992.

To be elected to the Mortar Board, a student must have a minimum 3.3 grade point average and excel in both curricular and co-curricular leadership and service to the Wittenberg community.

Hurst is an education major. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Lambda Delta, First-Year Women's Scholastic Honor Society, Pick and Pen, Junior Service Honor Society and a member of the Student Senate.

She is a 2002 graduate of Sycamore High School and the daughter of Mark and Nancy Hurst of Remington.

The Episcopal Retirement Homes Inc.'s public relations team has received international recognition for outstanding professional communication work.

The 2004 team of Tami Boehmer, Becky Fairman and Jill Hafner won a Gold Award from MarCom Creative Awards.

The award was given in the writing category for the team's combined spring magazine and annual report.

The judges said only 16 percent of entries received a Gold Finalist award. There were 3,344 entries from throughout the United States and several foreign countries.

Hafner also received an honorable mention award in the marketing and promotion category for her design and content of a promotional poster, Living Well Into the Future.

The poster was used to promote the organization's adult health and wellness conference last fall.

MarCom Creative Awards, of Arlington, Texas, offers an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communications practitioners.

"We were pretty proud of what we did," said Hafner, public relations specialist for Episcopal Retirement Homes.

Episcopal Retirement Homes in Fairfax is a not-for-profit organization. It owns and manages the Deupree and Marjorie P. Lee retirement communities in Cincinnati and Canterbury Court in West Carrollton.

It also manages Deupree Meals on Wheels, Living Well and Parish Health Ministry.

Choosing a homecoming queen is an annual ritual for high school students across the country.

When Scott High School chose the 2004 queen, senior Shelli Garvey, the crowning and dance wasn't the last recognition of her accomplishment.

Garvey will be among the candidates at Kentucky's 25th Annual Homecoming Queen Selection on Saturday and Sunday at the Executive Inn, Louisville.

America's Homecoming Queen is a nonprofit organization promoting education, educational travel and community service in schools throughout the United States.

Homecoming queens from across the state compete for scholarships and the chance to compete nationally.

"We are so proud of the girls who have participated through the years," said Peggy Hester, founder of the program. "So many have gone on to do great things. They are centered in their communities, making a difference as teachers, mothers, doctors, news anchors and in many other ways."

The winners of the competition will receive a free trip to California for the national finals. They coincide with Disneyland's 50th Birthday and the candidates will take part in the celebration.

"I'm just really excited," said Garvey. "I'm looking forward to meeting new people and the chance to win a scholarship. This is a great opportunity."

To learn more about the program, visit www.americashomecomingqueen.com .

July is the month that three other pageants begin their search for Kentucky's best women.

Miss Kentucky International seeks women between 20-26.

Miss Kentucky Teen accepts girls 13-19 and Mrs. Kentucky International includes women 21-56 who are married.

Programs can be reviewed and applications made at: www.missteeninternational.us and www.mrsinternational.com .

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