•  The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honored Kristen Powers of Chapel Hill as one of North Carolina’s top two youth volunteers of 2012 during its State Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. She was honored for being a leader in developing school and community initiatives to protect the environment since she was in middle school, and she received $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and a trip to Washington.

•  Natalia Garay of Efland-Cheeks Elementary School submitted a winning essay in the second annual Mother’s Day essay contest sponsored by National Pawn. Prizes included a pair of diamond earrings valued at $1,000 for her mother and a $2,500 check for school supplies to her school.

•  David Lindquist of Chapel Hill has had an article published in the “Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies” on the authentication and valuation of multi-part antiques. This year is the 32nd Annual Whitehall Antiques Summer Series on Antiques July 22-27. While primarily attended by antiques appraisers, auctioneers and dealers, the courses are also open to collectors both local and national. This summer the courses are: “Silver, An Advanced Seminar” and “American Federal Furniture.”

•  Over the last 10 years, Cathy Elmore has brought her ideas, experience and background in public relations to St. Thomas More Catholic School’s used book sale. The sale brings in between $2,500 to $3,000 each year. Profits benefit the library and other areas of the school. Growing up in Rochester, N.Y., Elmore was active in nearby library circles. Her first part-time job in junior high and high school was as a page at a local library, with responsibilities at the circulation desk and in shelving. Later, she handled public relations for the library, worked in news at a TV station and after college worked as a PR person for a firm in Nashville, Tenn..

•  Students from Glenwood and McDougle earned honors in the N.C. Chinese Language Speech Contest. Ninety-six students entered the contest and 19 students competed in the finals. Winners were Brooklyn Fogerson, fifth grader at Glenwood Elementary School, first place; Neelan Mahadevan, sixth grader at McDougle Middle School, second place; and Benton Copeland, fourth grader at Glenwood Elementary School, third place. Both Glenwood Elementary School and McDougle Middle School have been awarded “Excellent Organization for N.C. Chinese Speech and Writing Contests” which includes a gift of Chinese books.

•  Indira Puri of Chapel Hill and Durham Academy Upper School in Durham, has been named a 2012 U.S. Presidential Scholar. Puri is one of 141 American high school seniors that have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship, service and contribution to school and community.