• A booth designed by area hotels in cooperation with the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau was voted No. 1 booth at the 2012 Association Executives of North Carolina 31st annual seminar and Trade Show, held at the Raleigh Convention Center on Dec. 13. The booth was named winner of “Best Theme Professionally Decorated,” and was designed by Linda Ekeland, director of sales, along with the following Orange County hotels: Quality Inn/Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Sheraton Chapel Hill, The Siena Hotel, Aloft Chapel Hill and The Franklin Hotel.

• In recognition of outstanding leadership Morehouse College’s Nassar Omar of Chapel Hill is one of 30 students from six United Negro College Fund (UNCF) member Historically Black Colleges and Universities who has received a $2,500 Anheuser-Busch scholarship through UNCF. Along with the scholarships, the well-known “Great Kings and Queens of Africa” art collection commissioned by Anheuser-Busch has been donated to UNCF, the country’s largest and most effective minority education organization. UNCF will distribute the collection to six member colleges and universities for display. Omar was announced a scholarship recipient at the leadership symposium hosted by Anheuser-Busch and UNCF at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Oct. 30.

•  Chatham County Schools held its annual County Science Fair at Jordan-Matthews High School. First place projects in grades 3-12 will proceed to the Regional Science Fair scheduled for Feb. 9, at Forsyth Community College in Winston-Salem. Each year the judges select the one project deemed the best overall from all the grade levels and categories. The winner receives a plaque reflecting this achievement. This year’s winner is “Reading Retention-Paper vs. Computer” by Lindsay Seitz and April Troxler from Siler City Elementary in Ms. Harris’ class.

The following students, listed by division, have received recognition:

Division K-12: Mrs. Barthoff’s class from Northwood, honorable mention for “Molecules on the Move;” “Kool-Aid Fun” Deswin Zavala Jucero, Giovanny Vicente and Victor Cervantes Munoz by Mrs. Freeman’s class Siler City Elementary, third place; “We Love to Munch”, but we want the “Crunch” by Ms. Malgoeuf’s class from Siler City Elementary, second place; and “Will it Float” by Ms. Thurman class from Bonlee, first place.

Division K-2 Class: The following are winners in the K-2 Class Division Honorable Mention: “Wipe it Up” by Mrs. Needham and Mrs. Arends from Siler City “Which type of container will keep an ice cube frozen the longest?” by Mrs. Canell’s second graders from Perry Harrison; “Imanes Son Fantastico” by Mrs. Bellak’s Blue Group from Siler City, third place; “Rust”-Tastic by Mrs. Holford and Señora Acero’s class from Siler City, second place; and “Do pumpkins have more seeds?” by Mrs. Fuquay’s first grade from Silk Hope, first place.

K-2 Team Division: “Card Sharks” by Reagan Mize and Seth Davis from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms. Garnett class, third place; “Effects of Vegetable Oil, Vinegar and Salt on Sweet Potato Growing” by Heidi Fleming and Sonya Fleming from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms. Garnett’s class, second place; and “Ant Habitats: Sand vs. Gel” by Mikal Ali and Jamil Ali from North Chatham in Mrs. Harrington’s and Mrs. Clark’s class, first place.

K-2 Division for Individual Projects: “Eat my Dust! What does a Car’s Shaper Have to do with Speed” by Kyle Hickey from North Chatham Ms. Heuer’s class and “Extreme Lasers” by Elijah Sudduth from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms Garnett’s class, honorable mentions; “Disintegrating Peeps” by Giovanni Cacciato from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms. Garnett’s class, third place; “Does the Color of the M&M Affect How Quickly it Melts” by Reid Albright from Bonlee in Ms. Palmer’s class, second place; and “What Goats Eat” by Isabel Anderson from Silk Hope in Ms. Dark’s class, first place.

Division 3-5 Team Category: “Save Our Strawberries” by Cameron Hughes and Taylor Hughes from Bennett in Ms. Gaines’ class, “What is the dirtiest surface in your home.” By Caroline Yell and Emi Hutter-Demarco from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms. Spillman’s class, “Gender Differences in Two Year Olds” by Tessa Yell and Ellie Tarlton from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms. Spillman’s class, honorable mentions; “Beauty vs. Brains: Do the Looks of a Candidate Affect the Way People Vote?” by Alyssa Krasovich and Hannah Kanapkey from North Chatham in Ms. Lowing’s class, third place; “Dirty Mouth” by Braden Phillips Reagan Phillips and Turner Harris from J.S. Waters in Ms. Shaw’s class, second place; and “Reading Retention-Paper Vs. Computer” by Lindsay Seitz and April Troxler from Siler City Elementary in Ms. Harris’ class, first place.

Division 3-5 Individual Category: “The Falling Factory” by Machenzie Kessor from North Chatham in Mr. McLean’s class; “Rooftop Rumble” by Michael Ansarijaberi from North Chatham in Ms. Moore’s class, “Can Lemons Light up an L.E.D Bulb” by Jacob Mattison from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms. Spillman’s class, honorable mentions; “What to Drink” by Ethan Watson from Pittsboro Elementary in Ms. Spillman’s class, third place; Chase Miller: Horton: B # 3 Ms. Partain’s class, second place; and “Which is the Best Power Plant?” by Shane Conroy from Siler City in Mrs. Baxter and Ms. Villalobos’ class, first place.

Division 6-8 Biological Science: “How do Different Conditions Affect How a Banana Ripens?” by Kris Valdez from Horton in Ms. Key’s class and “Lights Out” by Tori Hart and Alexis Yarborough from J.S. Waters in Mr. Winecker’s class, honorable mentions; “Is Coke Bad for Fillings?” by Maggie Wright from Pollard in Ms. Gardner’s class, third place; “The Chick Face Off “ by Lucille Gentry from J.S. Waters in Mr. Winecker’s class, second place; and “Recovering from an Oil Spill” by Andrew Argila from Pollard in Ms. DiFranco’s class, first place.

Division 6-8 Earth Science: “Will Ice Melting in the North and South Poles cause the sea level to rise?” by Halie Burnsfield, Dustin Bullock and David Herrera from Chatham Middle in Ms. Lee’s class, third place; “Bubble Bubble Trouble” by Charlie Adcock from Bennett in Mr. Thomas’ class, second place; and “Will it Grow” by Layne Moore and Megan Oldham from J.S. Waters in Mr. Winecker’s class, first place.

Division 6-8 Engineering and Applied Science: “What House Colors Conserve the Most Energy?” by Mallory Ann Storne from Pollard in Ms. Gardner’s class, and “Which Bridge Design is Stronger?” by Owen Martin from Pollard in Mr. Hall’s class, honorable mention; “It’s All About the Smile” by Tala Farrah from Pollard in Ms. Gardner’s class, third place; “Pedal Power” by Christopher Keesor from Pollard in Ms. Gardner’s class, second place; and “Charge it Up” by Courtney Williamson from Bennett in Mr. Thomas’ class, first place.

Division 6-8 Physical Science: “Turn that Down” by Cadan Fields from Bonlee in Ms. Ritter’s class, “Harnessing Mechanical Motion” by Joshua Hoffman from Horton in Ms. Key’s class and “Catch it” by Colton Bailey and Trey Romel from Horton in Ms. Key’s class, honorable mentions, “On Fire” by Alexa Wilderotter from J.S. Waters in Mr. Winecker’s class, third place; “Here’s a Clue to the Best Glue” by Lindsey Scarlette from Bennett in Mr. Thomas’ class, second place; and “Feet on Fire” by Sam Watson from Horton in Ms. Key’s class, first place.

Division 9-12 Biological Science-A: “The Brain Game” by Clark Streets and Chase Golden from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, “I Sing So High Like a G” by Madison McDiarmid and Carmen Reichle from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, “Just Another Reason to Eat Chocolate” by Forrest Glosson from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, “Which has a Greater Effect on Heart Rate Recovery Rate: Age or BMI?” by Sierra Atwater and Courtney Daniel from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, “Lung Capacity in Athletes vs. Non-athletes” by Danielle Van der Lelie and Drew Hill from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, “Double Dip Challenge” by Tanner Henson from Chatham Central in Ms. Jones’ class, “Disinfectants vs. Bacteria” by Marissa Devine from Jordan-Matthews in Mrs. Sandel’s class, honorable mentions; “Taste Testers” by Moli Eddins and Samantha Droese from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, third place; “Inference, Manipluation and Age” by Brandon Kelly from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, second place; and “If You Give a Mouse a Buzz Bar” by Bailey Revels and Sara Buckley from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, first place.

Division 9-12 Biological Science-B: “Will Chicken Imprint on Humans?” by Caitlin Cade from Jordan-Matthews in Mrs. Sandel’s class, third place; “How DO Roots Grow When the Direction of Gravity Changes?” by Allison Roth from Northwood in Ms. Robertson’s class, second place; and “Dirt Dauber Nest Location Preference” by Corey Rickman from Jordan-Matthews in Mr. Cox’s class, first place.

Division 9-12 Chemistry: “Light of Luminol” by Autumn Smith and Jasmine Williams from Chatham Central in Mr. Patin’s class, second place; and “Solutes and Boiling Points” by Madison Pleasants from Jordan-Matthews in Mr. Tillett’s class, first place.

Division 9-12 Earth Science: “Did the Devil Kill’Em” by Brooke Thornburg from Chatham Central in Mr. Pegram’s class, third place; “Growing Corn in Soil from different Geographic Areas” by David Brewer from Jordan- Matthews in Mr. Cox’s class, second place; and “Sizzling Soil” by David Smith from Jordan-Matthews in Mr. Cox’s class, first place.

Division 9-12 Physical Science: “Optical Merriment” by Luis Lucas from Jordan Matthew in Mr. Tillett’s class, third place; “Splat or Splatter” by Madison Pleasants from Jordan Matthews in Mrs. Sandel’s class, second place; “Effects of a Pendulum” by Drew Hinshaw and Chantal Mosley in Jordan-Matthews in Mr. Tillett’s class, first place.

Division 9-12 Engineering/Applied Science: “Which Shampoo results in Less Frizz?” by Briann Bowers and Jocelyn Calderon from Jordan-Matthews in Mr. Powell’s class, third place; “Organic and Inorganic Rope” by Jared Matthewson and Morgan Brannan from Chatham Central in Mr. Patin’s class, second place; and “Physics of a Gold Swing” by Heather Hancock and Nathan Poirier from Jordan-Matthews in Mr. Tillett’s class, first place.