SHARON BROTHERS, a veteran teacher of the Delphi Community School Corporation, was a panelist for a recent Educational Testing Service national standard setting for reading. She was chosen for this national panel when she was a first grade teacher and a Reading Recovery teacher at Camden Elementary School.

During her time at Camden, she was instrumental in beginning the Reading Recovery program and in assisting other teachers to collaborate and build a consistently strong reading program. Her efforts, along with those of the entire staff, led to 4-Star School status for two years and qualifying scores in English/Language Arts for two additional years.

Mrs. Brothers was also instrumental in bringing a variety of authors into the school to share their experiences with the students.

Her expertise, experience and success in teaching reading to young children led to her being chosen for the panel. She traveled to Princeton, New Jersey, several times to confer with other professionals from around the country.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI) has awarded SECURITY FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK $104,874.00 in grant funds for its Homeownership Opportunities Program (HOP).

"This program has proven to be a boost to our community by filling the gap for funding a home purchase," said Annette Russell, president and CEO of Security Federal. "In addition to providing the grant funds, we will also provide the education necessary to receive the certification needed to qualify for the program. Eligible first time homebuyers can receive down payment assistance up to $5,000. It is a grant, not a loan, that the buyer does not have to pay back if they live in the home for five years."

The funds ranked among the highest top 10 banks in Indiana. To obtain a grant, Security Federal Savings Bank submitted an application to the FHLBI. The application was evaluated on a competitive basis according to established criteria before qualifying for the award.

WAGONER MEDICAL CENTER LABORATORY has met all criteria for laboratory accreditation by COLA, a national healthcare accreditation organization. Accreditation is given only to laboratories that apply rigid standards of quality in day-today operations, demonstrate continued accuracy in the performance of proficiency testing, and pass a rigorous on-site laboratory survey.

COLA is a nonprofit, physician directed organization promoting quality and excellence in medicine and patient care through programs of voluntary education, achievement, and accreditation.

Wagoner Medical Center, Burlington and Kokomo, has been serving the communities' family health care needs since 1965. The Center's laboratory has been accredited by COLA for 12 years.

KRIS SEWARD, guidance director at Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School, was recognized by the Indian Trails Career Cooperative as the 2008 Outstanding Counselor in the cooperative of 11 school corporations.

She received the award for her extensive knowledge of "Career Cluster" and for her efforts in encouraging students to enroll in vocational education classes.

Indian Trails provides vocational services to the school corporations in the cooperative.

Seward was recognized at Indian Trails' annual awards dinner.

At the same dinner, Carroll Consolidated School Corporation presented a business partner award to TRENT STEPHAN of Stephan's IGA in Flora.

Stephan provides opportunities for students to work in the I.C.E. (Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education) program and employs a number of Carroll students in his business.

This is the second time Stephan has received the award from the Carroll school corporation.