News in brief: Hurricane's Catherine Cunningham wins Mabel C. Merical grant

HURRICANE -- The Tau Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma has selected Catherine Cunningham of Hurricane as the 2008 recipient of the Mabel C. Merical Grant-in Aid award.

Cunningham was presented the award by Frances Tolley, Tau chapter member and science teacher, at the May 22 Awards Assembly at Hurricane High School.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving high school senior intending to pursue a degree in education. Delta Kappa Gamma International Society promotes professional and personal growth in women educators and excellence in education. Tau chapter congratulates Catherine on her achievements and award.

Putnam Students Attend Summer Engineering Camp

WINFIELD -- Five Putnam County high schoolers were among the 36 students selected to attend Marshall University's Engineering Academy this summer. Twenty-six high schools from as far away as Washington state and Texas were represented at the weeklong camp.

Putnam County students who attended were Kandice Gibson of Poca High School and Kirsten Cook, Shane Daly, Daniel Gilmore, and Alex Wilson of Hurricane High School.

The academy provided these students, who have an aptitude and interest in engineering, with an opportunity to meet, interact with, and learn from practicing engineers and engineering professors. They lived on campus and visited corporations that employ engineers, such as Toyota, West Virginia American Water, and Chesapeake Energy. In addition, they learned the importance of teamwork through completion of engineering projects.

The students, most of whom are rising juniors, were selected on the basis of grades, interest in and aptitude for engineering, and teacher recommendation.