MASON, OH (FOX19) - Three Mars Hill Academy students participated in the Association of Classical Schools International, Ohio Valley Regional Spelling Bee for grades 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio.

Mars Hill sixth grade student Drew Deister of New Albany placed first overall, and will advance to the ACSI National Bee in Dallas, Texas on May 11. Sixth grader David Nwanko of Mason and fifth grader Kyle Chu of Cincinnati also participated in the regional bee.

“While it was exciting to win the bee, it really was a team effort,” said Deister.  “My classmates David and Kyle encouraged and supported me.  We studied the word lists and drilled each other, so they made it possible for me to win.”

Deister competed with forty district bee winners for the regional title.  Words Deister correctly spelled included narwhal, phillipic, lithophyte and anaerobic.  His winning word was eloquence.

SALEM TOWNSHIP, OH (FOX19) - The Little Miami Local Schools Board of Education recently earned regional recognition for its efforts to collaborate, to inform and to lead.

The Little Miami Board was awarded silver level recognition as an effective school board by the Ohio School Boards Association. Each year, the OSBA recognizes school boards’ efforts to meet 26 criteria for effectiveness, including establishing a collaborative relationship with staff, creating a strong external and internal communication structure and practicing fiscal accountability.

In submitting the nomination, Board President Stephanie Baxter Black highlighted Little Miami’s recent efforts to overhaul the district’s board policy manual and the effectiveness of the district’s weekly electronic newsletter as part of an overall communication plan.

Members of the Little Miami board accepted the award at the Southwest Region OSBA Spring Conference on March 12.

MASON, OH (FOX19) - Mason High School seniors Elizabeth Bransford and Brittany Dodson have been awarded National Silver Medal Scholastic Art and Writing Awards from the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

Bransford’s painting Rhythm of Nature is one of several of her works that qualified for nationals. Regionally, the painting won a Gold Key and was nominated for the American Visions Award – a best in show award. It was also featured on the 2012 Spring District Art Show invitations and posters. Bransford is taught by Audrey Gorman.

Dodson won two Silver Medals at nationals. Both of her pieces – also regional Gold Key winners -- are a collection of ceramic vessels. Her Red and Grey Dinner Setting features a number of beautiful plates and bowls. Her Variations Bowls is a group of two small, but finely crafted bowls. Dodson is taught by Karan Witham-Walsh.