Education notes News-Chronicle Brian Martin and Jenna Hamersky, both of Green Bay, were selected as the 2004 Homecoming king and queen at the University of Wisconsin-Eau-Claire. Martin, a junior majoring in English, represented the Singing Statesmen. He is the son of Terry and Teresa Martin. Hamersky, a junior majoring in psychology, represented Bridgman Hall. She is the daughter of Daniel and Jean Hamersky. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire forensics team recently traveled to De Kalb, Ill. to compete at the Mid-American Forensics League Tournaments held at Northern Illinois University campus. The team advanced 11 of their 16 events to the final round, placing second overall in the MAFL #1, and advanced 15 events to the final round. Senior Chris Conklin of Green Bay placed first in extemporaneous and impromptu speaking and fifth in informative speaking at the MAFL #1 hosted by NIU The team competed at MAFL #2 hosted by North Central College and again placed second overall. Conklin placed first in impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, qualifying both events for the American Forensics Association nationals. He also placed second in informative speaking and fifth in prose interpretation. The following students completed degree requirements at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in August: Khary Jeffers, Ashley Wauters, Kristen Rymer, Lindsay Deyoung, Jolene Blindauer, all of Green Bay, Lee Watson of De Pere, Amanda Luedtke and Sarah Peterson, both of Denmark. Sarah Lepak of Green Bay is participating in the Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy, a collaboration between Wayne State College, Educational Service #1 and 16 northeast Nebraska school districts, resulting in classroom experience for 65 Wayne State College education majors while helping to alleviate the substitute teacher shortage in the area. The program, started in 2000, is the first and only of its kind in the nation. Prior to their first assignments as substitute teachers, the NENTA students completed training on the art of effective teaching. In addition, they have completed training by APL Associates of Baldwinsville, N.Y., a nationally recognized organization the specializes in teaching success workshops. Marc Fry of Green Bay, Timothy Krueger of Ashwaubenon. and Denise Naparalla of Pulaski, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in August. Five new faculty members have been named Teaching Scholars and seven veteran faculty members have been selected to a new Teaching Scholars II program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The program, beginning its fifth year, offers an opportunity to the University's newest faculty members who want to spend a year studying teaching and learning in order to hone their teaching skills. A grant from the UW System Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID) supported the start-up. So far, 34 new faculty members have completed the program A pilot Teaching Scholars II program began this year with the aid of another OPID grant. It is for already-tenured faculty members who want to continue scholarly inquiry into teaching and learning, and develop a new teaching strategy in their classrooms. Members of the 2004-2005 Teaching Scholars "class" and their teaching units are: Scott Ashmann, education, Craig Hanke, human biology and biology, John Plier, communication and the arts and music, Bryan Vescio, humanistic studies and English, David Voelker, humanistic studies and history. Teaching Scholars II for 2004-2005 and their units are: Clifford Abbott, information and computing science and communication, Scott Furlong, public and environmental affairs and political science, Aeron Haynie, humanistic studies, English and women's studies, Catherine Henze, humanistic studies, and women's studies, Jennifer Mokren, communication and the arts and art, Illene Noppe, human development and psychology, Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, urban and regional studies and psychology. Stephanie Wavrunek of Oneida received a M.A degree from Ball State University during the 2004 summer semester. Charles Peterson, professor of art at St. Norbert College, was selected as the 2004 recipient of the Outstanding Art Educator, Higher Education Division Award. He was recognized for his service to the Wisconsin Art Education Association and to art education in Wisconsin. He will be recognized at the WAEA fall conference on Oct. 28. Peterson will retire in May after 36 years of teaching at St. Norbert College. Autumn Tapley, a junior at Preble High School, was one of four Wisconsin high school students awarded a $500 college scholarship at the Business World program sponsored by the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Business World awards four program participants matching $500 scholarships for post-secondary education through a competitive merit-based process. Most of the major higher education institutions in the state will match the $500 scholarship if the recipient chooses to attend their respective school. The scholarship program is an extension of Business World and its basic objective, which is to encourage education, training, and career awareness. The program encourages talented high school students to pursue post-secondary education in Wisconsin.