chapelhillnews.com

Amy Canosa of Chapel Hill recently received a scholarship from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for the 2006-07 academic year. Canosa attends Duke Divinity School in Durham. A scholarship student receives $2,000 to $5,000 for each semester and $1,000 to attend the CBF General Assembly. The fellowship seeks successful students who have a sense of calling to congregational ministry. The applicant must also have some connection with the fellowship, which may include membership at a partner church, participation with the fellowship directly or through a partner organization.

Lego, a golden retriever owned by Kim vanDusen, has received her first certificate from Helping Paws. Upon graduation, Lego will be certified to visit the Ronald McDonald House, hospitals, senior centers and schools. Besides making patients feel better, Helping Paws dogs also are used to help children relax when learning to read.

Valerie Murrah, chair of the UNC School of Dentistry's department of diagnostic sciences and general dentistry, represented all board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologists at the American Dental Association's August meeting of dental specialty boards.

Murrah, also director of oral and maxillofacial pathology at the School of Dentistry, is president of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology for 2005-06. A member of the UNC School of Dentistry faculty since 1998, she is the first female president in the board's 58-year history.

Murrah also will preside over the national board's October meeting, during which about 15 new diplomates will be certified.

Alec Grubbs of Chapel Hill completed requirements and was approved for The Congressional Award Gold Medal, Congress' highest honor for youth service. He is a senior at Durham Academy and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Andrew Grubbs.

In working towards his medal, Alec contributed more than 400 hours of public service within his community, as well as more than 1,000 combined hours of other activities in achieving the award.

The Congressional Award Foundation encourages participants to set goals in personal development, physical fitness and cultural exploration. In earning his medal, Alec volunteered through his Boy Scouts Troop on several approved Eagle Scout Service Projects. He designed and built new instructional kiosks to educate park-goers on the local population of endangered red wolves. He also volunteered for a public access cable TV station and worked to produce public service announcements.

To reach his personal development goal, Alec worked to achieve his Boy Scouts Eagle Scout Award with Gold Palm by completing all the prerequisite ranks. To fulfill his physical fitness requirements, he worked toward his first degree black belt in the Japanese martial art To-Shin Do. For his expedition/exploration, Alec planned and participated in a seven-day BSA High Adventure wooden schooner expedition in the Bahamas.