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The Prince George's County branch of the NAACP has scheduled three more candidate forums before the statewide primary election on Sept. 14.

Most of the residents of Bowie are voting on races for the Board of Education, District 5 — which was rezoned this year, County Council District 4, General Assembly District 23 and Congressional District 5. Some areas of Glenn Dale and Mitchellville are voting for County Council 6; General Assembly District 24; and Congressional District 4.

The next forum is for candidates for delegates to the General Assembly in Districts 23, 24, 26, 27 and 47 and takes place at 6 p.m. Aug. 11 at Queen Anne Theater at Prince George's Community College, 301 Largo Road, Largo.

The first forum was scheduled for last night and featured candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Districts 4, 5 and 8.

The third forum features the county council and school board candidates (Districts 1 through 6) is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 16 in the Laurel High School auditorium, 8000 Cherry Lane, Laurel.

The final forum features council and school board candidates in Districts 7, 8 and 9 and state's attorney and takes place at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Ebenezer AME Church, 7707 Allenton Road, Fort Washington.

Bowie State social work program wins re-accreditation

The Council on Social Work Education in Alexandria, Va., recently reaffirmed accreditation for Bowie State University's College of Professional Studies, Department of Social Work, according to a university press release.

As of the fall of 2009, there were 178 students enrolled in the social work program, according to Tammi Thomas, director of university relations and marketing.

The accreditation process involved reviewing the department's academic programs, research and faculty development in relation to the council's standards of academic and professional competence.

Antoinette Coleman, dean of the College of Professional Studies, attributed the accreditation to the diverse curriculum and array of undergraduate students that it serves.

"In order to reflect societal demands, classes in writing, Spanish, and sign language have been added to the curriculum, ultimately providing students with multiple language options that would satisfy course requirements," Coleman said in the release.

Bowie State listed as resource for first-generation students

Bowie State University has been profiled in the "2011 College Access & Opportunity Guide," a college guidebook designed to help low-income, first-generation college-bound students.

Published by Sourcebooks, the guide was produced by the nonprofit Center for Student Opportunity in Bethesda.

"This provides a significant opportunity to showcase Bowie State University's quality programs, affordable cost, comprehensive financial aid, and scholarship opportunities to prospective parents and students, assisting them in realizing their dreams of obtaining a college education," said Don Kiah, Bowie State's assistant vice president for enrollment management, in a news release.

The partnership with the center and the profile in the guide "combined with the recent Wal-Mart Minority Student Success Award granted to the university, will significantly enhance our efforts to enroll, retain and graduate our students," said Monica Turner, director of Bowie State's TRIO-Student Support Services.

Candidate drops out of District 6 council race

Abdul-Raheem Abdullah (D) of District Heights, who had filed to run for Prince George's County Council's District 6 seat, said he dropped out of the race July 17 for personal reasons, after a friend who was a member of his campaign team was hospitalized and fell into a coma.

In an e-mail, Abdullah, 58, wrote, "I did my [best] to continue but I could not. I allowed this situation to really impact me to the place that my entire effort went into a coma. I no longer had the drive and enthusiasm any more to continue."

The Prince George's County Council District 6 seat is being vacated by Samuel Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville, who has served two terms on the council and cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Candidates also include Venus Bethea of Upper Marlboro, Derrick Leon Davis of Mitchellville, Leslie Johnson of Mitchellville, Mark Polk of Bowie and Arthur Turner of Kettering, all Democrats.

Bowie police offer free self-defense classes for women

The Bowie police department is again offering its series of five classes to teach girls and women 13 years old and older about how to defend themselves against rape.

The Saturday morning series is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 28, Sept. 4, Sept. 11, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 at Bowie City Hall.

The Tuesday evening series takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 at Bowie City Hall.

More than 120 women have taken the class since April 2009, according to police officials.

To register, call 301-575-2490.

Bowie-area student going to Florida A&M

James Dimetri Hughes of the Bowie area plans to attend Florida F&M University in Tallahassee in the fall. A graduate of Charles H. Flowers High School, he is majoring in business administration with a minor in music. He plays the saxophone, bass guitar and keyboards.

Hughes is the son of the late James Michael Hughes, a musician who died in 2008, and LaVellia Bridges. His grandmother is Nora Giordano. He is also the grandson of the late James Francis Hughes, a former Tuskegee Airman.

Bowie area student focused on digital media at DePaul

Timothy Norris Jr. of the Bowie area graduated in June from DePaul University in Chicago with a master of science degree from the College of Computing Digital Media.

Frostburg awards scholarship to Bowie student

Katelyn Price of Bowie received the Academic Distinction Scholarship from Frostburg State University in Allegany County, part of the University System of Maryland. She is the daughter of Keith Price and Robin Price and attended Bowie High School.

Bowie man finishes basic training in Texas

Air National Guard Airman Juan M. Rodriguez graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. He is the son of Jose Rodriguez of 10th Street in Bowie.

Rodriguez finished an eight-week program that included physical fitness, basic warfare principles, training in military discipline and Air Force core values. Airmen who complete the training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Rodriguez received an associate degree from Hallmark Institute of Aeronautics in San Antonio in 1996, according to a news release.

Central county students named to university's dean's list

University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne named the following students to its dean's list for the 2009-2010 academic year: Brittany Nolton of Cheverly; Derrick Burroughs, Vanessa Henry, Shavar Hicks, Candice Richardson and Bobby Falls of Capitol Heights; Ashley Brock, Brittany Jenkins, Gary Lewis and Mohamed Sackor of Landover; Henock Asfaw and Nicole Clarke of New Carrollton; Cherece Armwood, Kevin Campbell, Gabrielle Hall and Grace Morris of Largo; Emilia Ekoko, Victoria Ford and Mikala Williams of Mitchellville; Oladele Akanbi, George Kabasele, Husanatu Kargbo, Donica Malone, Justina Onumajuru, Yvonne Puplampu-Dove and Trevor Worthy of Lanham; and Charles Adegbesan II of Springdale.

Aide at Ernest Everett Just Middle honored for special education service

Conceda Carey of Upper Marlboro, an aide at Ernest Everett Just Middle School in Mitchellville, received the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee for Prince George's County Public Schools' extraordinary service award June 22.

Carey has worked at the school since 2005, after she retired in 2004 from her job as a computer specialist for the Department of Defense. She is married to Charles Carey and has one son, Dwayne, daughter-in-law Darnett and granddaughter Kayla.