Vanessa Amoako grew up in Ghana and moved to Chapel Hill after freshman year. She speaks English, French, and two Ghanaian languages (Ga and Twi). She has been a writer and editor for Carrboro Jagwire Newspaper and an active member of the Carrboro High School Unity and Community Club, Carrboro High School Global Health Club, Tobacco. Reality. Unfiltered (TRU), SADD and the Blue Ribbon Youth Leadership Institute. She will be attending Ashesi University in Ghana, majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in International Relations. Her career goal is to become an international journalist working to solve the problem of poverty and political instability within the developing world.

Samantha Burch has been active in the Climate Leadership and Energy Awareness Program, Academy of International Studies, National Student Leadership Conference for International Diplomacy, Global Health Club, Unity/Carrboro Community Club and Global Seminars. She has participated in mission and service trips to Mexico, Georgia, Peru, British Virgin Islands and Costa Rica, and volunteers at Genesis Home. She plans to attend Elon University, majoring in Environmental and International studies, with a focus on Communications and Spanish. Her career goals are to advocate for basic human rights, start green initiatives and teach sustainability.

Scott Weathers has participated in Global Poverty Reading Groups, wrote a series of articles on poverty for his school newspaper, is an ESL volunteer, raised funds for Vitamin Angel, is president of his school’s Amnesty International club and is a promoter of vegetarianism. He plans to attend American University and major in International Development and Public Health. His career goals are to write for an aid agency or non-profit newspaper or online journal about social justice, equality of opportunity and ecological preservation, and to improve our political system.

•  When Sarah Heckel, a fifth grader at Morris Grove Elementary, learned about the PTA’s 2011-2012 Reflections contest theme “Diversity Means…,” trees inspired her. Heckel believed trees were a good symbol because despite the many types of trees, they are still all trees and it is the same with people. Whatever race, we are people. Her composite photograph titled “Diversity is Best,” is a national winner and was shown on the large-screen television in New York City’s Times Square. She wrote in her artist statement that “Just like many different varieties of trees are important to a healthy ecosystem, people of many races, religious, heritages, and cultures are important to a diverse and healthy human world.”

•  High school chapters of FFA from across the state competed in events during the 84th annual state FFA convention in Raleigh during the week of June 18.

The Chatham Central floriculture team won the state competition winner and will advance to the national competition, which a team from Central won last year, this October. The floriculture team members are Matt Brooks, Kaylyn Groce, Ethan Mason, and Tiara Taylor. Mason was the high individual scorer for the competition.

The Central nursery/landscape team won second place in the state. The nursery/landscape team members were AJ Brooks, Dillon Parker, Heath Shaw, and Quinn Street.

The Central tool team placed second in the state competition as well. Team members were: Anna Dixon, Dana Hart, Colby Lee, and Justin Sessoms. Dixon tied with several other competitors as the high individual scorer for the competition.

In addition, Chatham Central graduate Taylor Craig was elected as state FFA vice president at the treasurer station. Craig is a rising sophomore at Sandhills Community College who plans to study agricultural education at N.C. State University.

From the Jordan-Matthews FFA chapter, Christian Cook received a third place proficiency award in equine science. Cook kept accurate and detailed records with his show horses through his supervised agricultural experience project.

The Jordan-Matthews Agricultural Education and FFA program recently received a grant from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund through the North Carolina FFA. Thirty-four recipients from around the state were recognized at the state FFA convention on June 21. The grant money will be used to replace the roof on the current greenhouse structure and to convert the space into a planting and greenhouse storage space.

•  UNC professor of dentistry Dr. Raymond P. White has received the annual Meritorious Achievement Award from the N.C. Dental Society. The NCDS represents more than 3,600 dentists.

White is a professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery and has authored numerous publications, books and papers. He is assistant editor of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and editor of Adult Orthodontics and Orthognathic Surgery.