SCHOLARSHIP SEMI-FINALISTS: Thirty-three black students from Triangle high schools have been named 2009 National Achievement Scholarship semifinalists.

The program, which is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. recognizes academically promising black high school seniors throughout the nation.

The semifinalists, by the town their school is in, are:

APEX: Apex High -- Bianqa D. Bizune, Lariah D. Ijames; Middle Creek High -- Kaiya M. Arroyo.

BENSON: West Johnston High -- Jade N. Palmer.

CARRBORO: Carrboro High -- Thomas C. Isabel.

CARY: Panther Creek High -- Jasmine V. Clark, John Fisher.

CHAPEL HILL: Chapel Hill High -- Sara L. Outing; East Chapel Hill High -- Myisha S. Eatmon, Monica Lallinger.

DURHAM: Hillside High -- Kiah J. Green; Jordan High -- Danielle S. Abbey; N.C. School of Science and Math -- Kasim A. Adewuyi, Melvin R. Allen, William J. Barber, Clyde T. Edwards, Graham G. Mulvaney, Christopher D. Nicholas, Myles A. Nicholson, Thomas M. Richardson, Kenille R. Sumler; Northern High -- Kadeem A. Fyffe.

RALEIGH: Broughton High -- Kelly Wyche; Enloe High -- Jacob H. Besigel, Amelia J. Lumpkin, Mariah Moore; Leesville Road High -- Tiffany Ezuma; North Raleigh Christian Academy -- Eric V. Walls; Raleigh Charter High -- Lauren M. Clements, Teni O. Coker; Ravenscroft School -- Alden B. Williams; St. David's School -- Stacey Lynn Gaillard.

WAKE FOREST: Wake Forest Rolesville High -- Derrick E. Smith.

RAISING SPARE CHANGE: Eastern North Carolina students, including those from the Triangle, raised $128,652 during Olive Garden's 14th Annual Pasta for Pennies program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

For three weeks, more than 50,000 students in 69 local elementary, middle and high schools filled collection jars in their classroom with pocket change. The class collecting the most money at each school was awarded a pasta party delivered to their classroom by their local Olive Garden restaurant.

The top local fundraising schools were Oak Grove Elementary School in Cary with $7,908, West Millbrook Middle School in Raleigh with $7,778 and Leesville Road Elementary School in Raleigh with $6,713.

A record $5.8 million was raised nationally to support research and provide critical resources to patients and their families.

The Eastern North Carolina chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is now recruiting schools to participate in the 2009 Pennies for Pasta program. To learn more about how your school can participate, call 677-3993 or go to www.lls.org.

JOHNSTON COUNTY

ESSAY WINNER: Polenta Elementary School fourth-grader Hannah Victoria Lee has won first place among elementary school students in a national essay contest.

The National Rural Education Foundation Essay Contest is open to all students in grades three through 12 who attend schools in rural areas.

The topic for this year was "How My Rural School Will Change in the Next 25 Years." Hannah's essay, "Discovery Through a Time Machine," was chosen for its idea, focus, organization and grammar.

Hannah won a $250 prize, according to a district news release.

RUN OR WALK: Powhatan Elementary School's PTA will hold an inaugural five-kilometer race and walk and Health & Safety Expo on Saturday in Clayton. The race starts at 9 a.m., and the Expo runs from 8 a.m. until noon. All proceeds will be used to purchase books for the school's media center and book room.

Registration for the race is $25 and $20 for the walk. Children 12 and younger can participate in a one-mile fun run, and children 5 and younger also can participate in a fun run. Awards will be presented after the race.

The Health & Safety Expo will feature area businesses, car seat safety checks, blood pressure checks, massages, face painting and much more. A used book sale will run from 8 a.m. until noon. Pre-school to adult-level books will be sold for $1 each.

For more information, go to www.powhatanpta.org.

To submit information online about school-related events and achievements, go to share.triangle.com and click on "schools" and then the "school news" link. For more information, call Amy Overton at 829-4520 or send news to The News & Observer, 215 S. McDowell St., Raleigh, NC 27601.

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