Education briefs

Beams plays with Indiana All-Star Band

Amber Beams, a senior at North Putnam High School, performed in the Indiana State All-Star Band at Indiana State University Dec. 8-9.

Beams was selected as a flute player her first year with the band. She has also played at Purdue University in Lafayette with the Indiana 4-H All-Star Band.

She is a principle flute and piccolo player in the North Putnam High School Marching Band. She has been accepted to IUPUI where she will major in the dental field.

Moore named top volunteer

Brandon Moore was named the North Putnam High School volunteer of the year in the 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community awards program.

Moore is a sophomore at North Putnam and has volunteered at a local horse farm for the past two years, helping children with disabilities ride and manage horses. He has also assisted in events that take place through the farm including Special Olympics, a Halloween haunted house and weekly riding lessons.

Sponsored by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the awards recognize outstanding community service by young Americans.

He is eligible for the state award, which will be named in February.

North Putnam students honored

Seven students in the North Putnam school district have been honored recently.

Morgan Asher was named Optimist Student of the Month at Roachdale Elementary for November. In Mrs. Jones third grade class, Asher is the daughter of Jeana and Craig Asher.

Also named Optimist Student of the Month for November at Roachdale was Sydney Owens. In Miss Strain's third grade class, Owens is the daughter of Angela Longfellow.

Jacklyn Roush, an eighth-grader at North Putnam Middle School, was honored with the November Citizenship Award from Roachdale VFW Post 3284. She is the daughter of Michael and Terese Roush.

For October, Roachdale students Michael Mitchell and Kizzie Castille were honored as Optimist Students of the Month.

Mitchell is a student in Miss Black's class, and is the son of David and Jessica Mitchell.

Castille is a student of Mr. Shannon, and is the daughter of Cindy Castille.

The October Citizenship Award from the Roachdale VFW was presented to two students -- Beau Green and Brittany Smith.

Green is a sixth-grader and is the son of Kevin and Darcy Green.

Smith is a seventh-grader and is the daughter of Geoffrey and Dawn Smith.