This week's column is dedicated to some of northern Wake's finest students.

First, a round of applause for the 2008 northern Wake high school valedictorians.

The students are:

Timothy Palpant of Leesville; Emma Fauser of Millbrook; Jeeno Kim of Sanderson; Sara Moore of Wake Forest-Rolesville and Adit Shukla of Wakefield High School.

A majority of the students plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill. Adit plans to attend New York University.

* Congratulations to Sanderson High School sophomore Dustin Hatcher, 16, who was recently selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars.

Dustin is soccer player and YMCA volunteer. He is well on his way to academic success. His father Bruce notes that Dustin has already received more than 65 letters of interest from colleges and universities.

There are more than 300,000 Society members in over 120 countries. The society was formed in 2002.

* Three cheers for a few students at Our Lady of Lourdes who were recognized on Monday for their service to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

The students spent time each month helping to load food and doing inventory at the food bank. A plaque was awarded to the principal.

The students are: Rebecca Lampe, Carina Soriano, Beth Gaudette, Mary Gerald, Kate Donato, Heather Freddosa and Brianne Marino.