Six Orange County residents have been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest national college honorary society. The six, all students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, are:

• Daniel Ethan Becton, a senior philosophy and music major, son of John Becton and Nancy Tannenbaum of Chapel Hill;
• Heather Grace Kendell, a senior exercise and sport science major, daughter of Barry and Virginia Kendell of Chapel Hill;
• Patricia Anne McGovern, a senior psychology major, daughter of John W. McGovern of Carrboro and Lavaine McGovern of Malta, N.Y.;
• Ryan Andrew Millager, a senior dramatic art and music major, son of Andy and Sue Millager of Carrboro;
• David Pierce Rabinowitz, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, son of George Rabinowitz and Stuart Elaine Macdonald Rabinowitz of Chapel Hill; and
• Raymond David Shen, a senior political science and communication studies major, son of Dayfann Shen and Yin Yin of Chapel Hill.

Membership is open to undergraduates in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences and professional degree programs who meet stringent eligibility requirements. A student who has completed 75 hours of course work and has a grade-point average of 3.85 (on a 4.0-point scale) or better is eligible for membership. Also eligible is any student who has competed 105 hours of course work and has a 3.75 grade-point average.

Eleven Orange County Schools teachers have received National Board certification. They are Debra Barnes (Hillsborough Elementary), Lee Floyd (Grady A. Brown Elementary), Gina Gaillard (Cameron Park Elementary), Rachel Green (Cameron Park Elementary), Cathy May (Efland-Cheeks Elementary), Elizabeth Quick (Grady A. Brown Elementary), Patricia Quigley (Cedar Ridge High School), Lindsay Rogers (Central Elementary), Elizabeth Tricomi (Cedar Ridge High School), Susan Tripp (Grady A. Brown Elementary), and Thomas Watson (Gravelly Hill Middle School). National Board Certification is a voluntary assessment program designed to recognize and reward great teachers -- and make them better. National Board certified teachers have successfully demonstrated advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices. Certification is achieved through a performance-based assessment that typically takes one to three years to complete. As part of the process, teachers build a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, videotapes and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. Additionally, teachers are assessed on their knowledge of the subjects they teach.

The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service has presented the 2007 Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to five people from Orange County. Award recipients are Ana Prothro with Duke Hospice; Carol Gunn, Orange County Animal Services; JoAnn Pitz, Duke Hospice; John Mathivet, Orange County Habitat for Humanity; and Berneta Lemon, Orange County Disability Awareness Council. The award honors people who have shown concern and compassion for their neighbors by making a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service.

Two Orange County artists have received North Carolina Arts Council 2007-08 North Carolina Fellowship Awards. Receiving an award of $10,000 are: Bethany Chaney, a nonfiction writer who lives in Carrboro; and Roy Jacobstein, a poet who lives in Chapel Hill. The award allows an artist to concentrate on the creative process or a specific project. The Artist Fellowship program operates on a two-year rotating cycle by discipline. Since the program's inception in 1980, more than 475 artists have received awards.