Three Bowie schools receive new principals

Jane Spence, an assistant vice principal at Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, will take over as principal of Bowie High School, while Judith Bissett will become the first principal at the soon-to-be opened Northview Elementary.

Bissett was assistant principal at Mattaponi Elementary School in Upper Marlboro.

Spence replaces departing Bowie High School Principal John Birckhead, who retired this year.

Principal at Hyattsville Elementary School Brian Baudoin has also been announced as the new principal at Tulip Grove Elementary School. Baudoin replaces David Scuccimarra who was promoted to director of the county school system’s Region 1 office in Oxon Hill.

Bowie Eagle Scoutearns youth award

Just months after becoming one of the few Boy Scouts to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, 16-year-old Matthew Gilbert of Bowie has been named Youth of Year by his church.

A member of Boy Scout Troop 1657 of Glenarden, Gilbert was given the youth award last week by First Baptist Church of Glenarden, where his family worships.

Gilbert, who started his scouting career as a Cub Scout in 1997, earned the scouts’ highest honor in February after completing a project to assist the Historic Woodlawn Cemetery in southeast Washington, D.C. In addition to spending hours building and fixing the cemetery grounds, he helped find space, obtained computers and set up an executive office for the historic resting site.

Gilbert chose to help at Woodlawn for his service project in part to honor his great-great-grandmother, who is buried there. Gilbert will begin his junior year next fall at DuVal High School, where he is active in the Air Force J.R.O.T.C. program.

Outstanding teacher announced

The National Association of Special Education Teachers announces that it has selected Brandi Walker of Ernest Everett Just Middle School in Mitchellville as one of the winners of the 2007 Outstanding Special Education Teacher Award.

Catherine Boehme entered a nomination for the award.

‘‘Despite her being a novice,” Boehme said, ‘‘Brandi Walker has shown a lot of initiative as first-year special education teacher in a co-teaching setting at our middle school.”

In her nomination letter to the NASET, Boehme said Walker spearheaded an incentive program leading up to the Maryland School Assessments.

Ivy scholarships awarded

Over 1,000 residents gathered at Martin’s Crosswinds in Lanham on May 20 to congratulate 29 Prince George’s County students who received $1,000 and $500 scholarships at the 15th Annual Scholarship Fashion Show Luncheon sponsored by The Ivy Community Charities of Prince George’s County Inc., the philanthropic arm of the Iota Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

These scholarships were made possible with the support of a $10,000 grant from the Allstate Insurance Company and $2,000 in individual donations from four sorority members: Frances M. Plummer, Teresa C. Fomby, Denise Patterson McKenney and Carol Herring Reid.

The scholarship recipients and their high schools are: Kandice Alexander, Suitland; William Chin, Flowers; Yvette Chop, Flowers; Kimberly Crite, Suitland; Jessica Davis, Flowers; Kendra Davis, Suitland; Tamara Fingal, Flowers; Cameron Gachett, Flowers; Mark Goggin Jr., Bowie; Talisa Goss, Douglass; Breanna Gray, Elizabeth Seton; George Harris, Flowers; David Johnson, Bowie; Desmond Lewis, Largo; Duane McLarty Jr., Friendly; Jaleesa Newsome, Flowers; Melanie Patrick, Flowers; Zakiya Qualls, Northwestern; DaChana Robinson, High Point; John Scott, Surrattsville; Jonathan Senn Jr., Flowers; Samantha Southall, Flowers; Amber St. Louis, Friendly; Briana Strachan, Bowie; Xavier Summers, Flowers; Ashley Washington, Flowers; Lauren Waters, Grace Brethern; Donita West, Gywnn Park; Shantel Wilkerson, Suitland and Rebecca Senelus, a returning student at Bowie State University.

In addition, Maryland State Senator, C. Anthony Muse, presented a special 26th Legislative District of Maryland Senatorial Scholarship to LaShaun Reed, Oxon Hill.

Artists soughtfor directory

Bowie officials are looking for dancers, painters, musicians, gallery owners and others to help create a listing for area artists. The directory, being compiled by the town’s Arts Committee, will be published at a later date.

To be included, arts lovers should send their name, a description of their art and contact information including phone, e-mail and Web site to Bowie City Hall, 2614 Kenhill Drive. For more information, call 301-809-3030 or e-mail lstern@cityofbowie.org.