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Visitation Academy fourth-grader Evyn Banawoye of Frederick, is one of 11 Maryland fourth-graders to be selected as regional winners of the Maryland Municipal League's 2011 11th annual "If I were Mayor, I would..." essay contest.

The contest challenges fourth graders across Maryland to share their thoughts on how they would lead local municipal government as mayor. The winners will be recognized by Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, receive a Governor's Citation, an award plaque and $100 cash in a public ceremony on Friday, May 20, at the Maryland State House. Following the ceremony, the students along with their parents and teachers, will enjoy a boat ride on the Harbor Queen.

In her essay, Evyn wrote, "I would treat my citizens as I would love to be treated." Other common themes included environmental initiatives, citizen recognition and safety.

Baylee Smith, a fourth-grader at Mount Airy Elementary School, was the other local winner.

"This contest is a fun, yet important way to bring together students from all over Maryland to not only share their creative ideas as mayor, but also help them learn more about the importance of municipalities and inspire them to become our next generation of local leadership," said Scott A. Hancock, executive director of the Maryland Municipal League, in a press release. "This year's theme was especially important as MML worked together with the 428th Session of the General Assembly to successfully reinstate 25 percent of municipal Highway User Revenues in the [fiscal] 2012 budget."

The contest was sponsored by Maryland Municipal League in partnership with the Maryland Mayors' Association, Local Government Insurance Trust, and Injured Workers' Insurance Fund. Essays are judged based on: essay relation to contest topic; displayed knowledge about municipal government and the role of a mayor; creativity; and proper use of grammar. For more information, visit www.mdmunicipal.org.

Resident earns McDaniel College's two top honors

Frederick resident Rachel L. Smith swept the academic awards at McDaniel College's May 21 Commencement ceremony.

The classical studies major received the Argonaut Award for her 4.15 GPA, the highest grade-point average among 417 graduates in the class of 2011, and the Edith Farr Ridington Phi Beta Kappa Writing Award for the most well written paper.

Smith graduated summa cum laude with honors in her self-designed major. She received the Maria Leonard Senior Book Award and was among the first juniors ever inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at McDaniel.

She is the daughter of Elizabeth and Bradford Smith of Frederick. she is a graduate of St. John's Catholic Prep.

A student of both Latin and Greek, Smith has been reading Plato's "Apology" in the original Greek with her advisor Dr. Donna Evergates, during the spring 2011 semester. For her paper, "Friendship and Advice Giving in the Letters of Seneca and Pliny," Smith read the letters in the original Latin and all translations are her own.

The Argonaut Award was named for the College's original honor society founded in 1935 and superseded by formation of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter in 1980.

Two Frederick natives honored

- Brittany Wilkerson, daughter of Ken and Star Wilkerson of Frederick, received the Outstanding Exercise Science Major Award at the 2011 Spring Honors Convocation at Salisbury University.

The Outstanding Exercise Science Major Award is presented to full time exercise science majors with either junior or senior standing. The recipient must complete a minimum of 20 credit hours of exercise science courses and have a minimum 3.2 GPA with a 3.5 or higher GPA in exercise science classes. The student must demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in extracurricular experience within the exercise science field.

Wilkerson is a senior majoring in exercise science. She is president of the Exercise Science Club. She is a 2007 graduate of Linganore High School.

- Danielle Brunner, daughter of Steve and Peggy Brunner of Frederick, received the Eugene D. Farace Outstanding Senior in Geography Award at the 2011 Spring Honors Convocation at Salisbury University.

The Eugene D. Farace Outstanding Senior Award is presented to a graduating geography major who has achieved at least a 3.5 grade point average in geography, has given exceptional service to the department and has developed well-defined professional goals.

Brunner is a senior majoring in environmental issues and geography. She is a 2007 graduate of Frederick High School.

On campus

- Frederick resident Rebecca Dettor was named to the dean's list at Messiah College in Pennsylvania for the spring 2011 semester. She is a junior majoring in marketing.

- Several Frederick residents were named to the dean's list for the spring 2011 semester at York College of Pennsylvania. They include William Fleming a senior graphic design major, Lauren Kula a sophomore nursing major, Eileen Reavey a junior self-designed major, Kathryn Hearn a senior mathematics major, Julie Norris a senior marketing major and Kacie Rentz a senior early childhood education major.

- The following Frederick residents were named to the dean's list at St. Mary's College of Maryland for the spring 2011 semester: Kelly Blackburn, Allyson Bloom, Kathleen Morrison, Allison Conner, Elizabeth Davies, Jillian Jespersen, Jennifer Kunze, Sarah Shipley, Caitlin Slife and Katherine Serfling.

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