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When Hyattsville Middle School seventh-grader Jose Moran Colindres died from aplastic anemia over the winter break, the student body responded by raising funds to help Colindres' family.

Principal Gail Golden said students and staff donated more than $1,000 during lunch periods on Jan. 4 and 5 to help Colindres' parents with the cost of flying the student's body to Guatemala for burial.

Students also made cards and parents dropped off donations as well, Golden added.

"We try really hard here to support each other because we are part of a family, and this is part of what a family does," Golden said. "It also teaches the children we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers."

On Jan. 14, the school's Creative and Performing Arts Program presented its annual winter show, donating $987 in proceeds from the ticket sales to the same purpose.

UM sophomore wins honor from women's rights group

Odunola Ojewumi, a Beltsville resident and sophomore at the University of Maryland, College Park, has been awarded the 2010 Student Award for Health and Dignity by the group Americans for UNFPA.

Americans for UNFPA is based in New York and encourages support for the United Nations Population Fund, which promotes women's health care and women's rights in 150 countries.

Ojewumi, who has participated in several political campaigns advocating women's rights, was selected on Jan. 14 to receive the organization's fourth annual award. As the national winner, she will receive a $1,000 scholarship and will travel to one of UNFPA's field programs this summer to meet an international Heath and Dignity award winner.

Ojewumi is a 2008 graduate of High Point High School in Beltsville. She had a heart and kidney transplant at age 11, and in December organized a drive to donate stuffed animals and greeting cards to children awaiting transplants at Children's Hospitals in Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh.

Greenbelt Golden Age Club officers sworn in

The Golden Age Club elected its new officers in December, and they were sworn in on Jan. 6. The new officers are Cathy Brannan, president; Paul Sabol, first vice president; Bill Souser, second vice president; Bunny Fitzgerald, recording secretary; Suze Marley, correspondent secretary; and Paul Raul, treasurer.

The Golden Age Club meets from 11 a.m. to noon every Wednesday in the Community Center Multipurpose Room, room 201. Activities include speakers, special programs and field trips.

Holiday decorating contest winners announced

The Parks, Recreation, Education and Civic Affairs Dept. of Berwyn Heights recently announced the winners of the 2009 holiday decorating contest. The contest was judged by Del. Justin Ross (D-Dist. 22) of Greenbelt and his wife Nancy and children, Caroline, Andrew and Jackson.

Georgina and Robert Stark at 5713 Seminole St., won for best house; Norma and Juan Pineda at 8711 58th Ave. won for best yard; Dianna and Charles Hall at 8912 56th Ave. won for best overall; and Sarah Nourse and Neil Zsak at 5604 Seminole St. won for kids' choice.

Northwestern Evening High releases honor roll

Northwestern Evening High School in Hyattsville recently released its honor roll for the fall semester.

Students in the ninth grade making the honor roll are: Maria Yaneth Diaz, Miguel Angel Diaz and Anthony Rivas-Aragon.

Students in the 10th grade making the honor roll are: Almie Emely Barillas, Winnie Bryant, Shanica Shaniece Cobb, Theodore Fitzgerald Dyson, Jessica Mariche Garces, Perla Estefany Mazariegos, Shawn Craig Nichols, Lia Nichole Stokes and Geena Angela Trejo.

Students in the 11th grade making the honor roll are: Clayleah Marlene Barnes, Vianni Meliza Martinez, Jesus Christopher Martir, Yohanna Molina, Carl Allen Murphy Jr., Melanie Rachel Naulty, Annabell Ramirez and Jenice Liseth Rubio.

Students in the 12th grade making the honor roll are: Ayman Hossin Abdeldayem, Talisha Monae Anderson, Miguel Angel Carino-Huerta, Andre Clinton Carter, Gerardo Alexis Chavez, Possda Chhay, Kenia Isamar Cruz-Melgares, Tiyana Amoi Daley, Christopher Alan Duncan Jr., De'andre Christian Dunn, Shamsideen Adedamola Edu, Tania Libertad Figueroa Gomez, Michelle Christine Funderburk, Jacquelyn Baindu Gboyor, Osman Guzman-Del Cid, Jasmine Laroya Harvey, Kaneka Pearl Keene, Dalton Adave Lawrence Jr., Ari Deamonta' Lawrence, Nicole Lee Middleton, Erika Marixa Paredes, Jonathan Shane Pugh Jr., Steven Gregory Robinson, Elvis Romero-Saravia, Keierra Sinae Smith, Nicole Jennifer Suser, Sergio Tapia, Junior Jonathan Ticas, Andre' Cardell Tyson, Neris Cecilia Valladares, Tiara Renee Veney, Keyvon Antonio Wyatt, Cesar Zarate Basan and Norma Aracely Zuniga.

County residents

make dean's lists

Theresa Gazo of Beltsville has been named to the fall 2009 dean's list at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa.

Gazo, a senior majoring in communication disorders, received the honor by earning a grade-point average of 3.6 or greater during the semester. She is a graduate of Cedar Brook Academy in Clarksburg, a program that provides educational resources for home-schooled students.

Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college with about 1,700 full-time students. It was founded in 1848.

Mia Athey, a Hyattsville resident for 15 years, was named to the fall 2009 dean's list at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Athey graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg in 2009 and finished her first semester of college with a 3.94 grade point average.

Military news

Gregory J. Davis, a 2006 graduate of Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, recently completed the Marine Corps Enlisted Warehouse Basic Course. Davis, who is also the son of Hyattsville resident Angelia L. Davis, took the course in becoming a warehouse clerk. He joined the Marine Corps in June 2009.

US Army National Guard Pfc. Justin M. Reid, a 2003 graduate of High Point High School in Beltsville, has completed basic combat training at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga.

During nine weeks of training, Reid received instruction in areas including drill and ceremonies, weapons employment, first aid, basic combat and battlefield operations and tactics.

Reid also completed an advanced individual training course where he was trained to perform reconnaissance missions, locate and neutralize land minds and operate weapons and communication equipment.

Reid's parents are David and Deborah Reid of Adelphi.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael K. Burch, a 2005 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt High School, has deployed overseas to serve in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Burch, a communication systems operator, is assigned to the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base in southeast Oklahoma City. Burch has served in the military for two years and is the son of Anita M. Glaser of Cheverly and Michael J. Burch of Trappe.