Cynthia Burgess, a junior at Westminster High School, is in Indianapolis where she is one of 46 students from 18 states selected to play in the 2012 Honor Orchestra of America. Concerts were scheduled for Friday and today alongside the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Cynthia plays several precussion instruments, as well as the violin and piano, played snare drum and crash cymbals in Indianapolis. At Westminster, she's a member of the wind ensemble, orchestra and jazz band as well as a member of the Peabody Youth Orchestra and the principle percussionist of the Maryland Senior All-State Band and Carroll All-County High School Band. She is planning to apply to schools to study classical percussion.
High schools across the county are hosting Unity Days to celebrate diversity and challenge their students to be tolerant and accepting of each other. While the day looks different at each school that hosts them, the goal is the same: create a positive, anti-bullying and welcoming environment for all students. Westminster High was the first to hold a student-led Unity Day in 2007, schools like Century and Liberty began hosting Unity Days, and North Carroll is having its first in April.
Glenn Ebersole enjoys running, and this summer, he'll be doing it to raise $40,000 for orphans in Africa. The volunteer youth pastor at the Faith Family Church in Finksburg will participate in the 2012 Comrades Marathon in South African to raise money to build a home for orphans of AIDS through the South African Children's Resiliency Project. The Resiliency Project's mission is to build and completely furnish three-bedroom homes and place six AIDS-affected orphans into each home and provide their needs until they become adults, according to
. Several members of Ebersole's church are trying to help him reach his goal. Sykesville resident Emma Jones, 13, and about eight girls from the youth group at Faith Family Church are creating duct tape pens to sell at local craft fairs.
Artwork created by clients of The Arc Carroll County are currently on display at the Carroll Arts Center. The Art of the Arc exhibit features 95 wall hangings, jewelry and pottery pieces created by 29 artists from the nonprofit, which supports people with developmental disabilities. The exhibit started Tuesday and runs until March 27 in the Tevis Gallery of the arts center. Being able to create the art and exhibit gives the artists a great sense of pride. It's also a source of income for the artists since they get 100 percent of what their pieces sell for.
