The Archbishop McNicholas High School Dance Team won the state and national championship in Columbus on April 19 and 20. In the open division, the Dance Team finished first and advanced to finish first in the national competition on Sunday. The group performed its pirate routine in the open division, choreographed by director Brenda Elmore. They also placed third in the state and fifth nationally for their hip-hop routine.

Members of the McNicholas Dance Team are Willie Babani, Tori Bailey, Misha Beatty, Maggie Behan, Katie Brentlinger, Jenni Cornelius, Molly Dirr, Jessica Egred, Kayce Farwick, Azrielle Flynn, Alyssa Gabriele, Agi Hidalgo, Meghan Hoke, Alissa Huston, Monica Josshua, Jill Kent, Nicole Lunsford, Sara Maloney, Amanda Marcelli, Jessica McCall, Megan McMahon, Katie McPhillips, Jen Mitchell, Kelly Murphy, Tori Russ, Laura Sage, Jessica Scheidler, Katie Shepherd, Maggie Snyder, Chelsea Stegman, Laura Voet, Megan Whitesell, Natalie Witt and Tori Yontz.

Second grade teachers Kathy Baker and Kate Rohlfs at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Reading wanted students to realize there were many things they could do on their own to take care of the environment. Upon the establishment of the school’s Green Team this school year, more than 50 students from grades 2-4 have met monthly to learn and discuss ecological issues and take part in numerous projects promoting recycling and conservation of environmental resources. In addition to promoting use of reusable containers, recycling of aluminum cans and use of energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs, the group established participation in the Abitibi Paper Retriever program. To date the parish community has contributed more than 10,000 pounds of paper for recycling, which would have otherwise gone in landfills. Second-graders Kameron Horn and Austin Lawson of Reading have even launched their own website, http://recyclereading.blogspot.com/, where kids can learn more about how to take care of the earth.

For the 12th consecutive year, Lehman High School cheerleaders were invited to participate at the recent national level of competition held this year at the Navy Pier in Chicago. Following two rounds of competition, the team took first place in the High School Varsity Non-mount Division, defending their titles from both the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In addition to their division title, Lehman’s cheerleaders earned the highest score of all competing school teams, recreational cheer teams, all-star cheer teams from private gyms, college teams and all dance teams throughout the event, earning the grand champion award.

Amanda Kiefer, a senior at Lehman, recently competed in her fifth and final YMCA National Swim Meet in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was among approximately 1,600 swimmers from throughout the United States who competed for top honors. Her results for this year were the best to date, placing 43rd in the 200-yard backstroke, 66th in the 100-yard backstroke and 62nd in the 400-yard medley relay where she was joined by teammates Lauren Subler, Hanna Gaskins and Katelyn Pratt.

Badin High School freshman Nick Bolton and sophomore Allie Pickerill captured first place honors in two recent contests sponsored by the Hamilton Rotary Club. Bolton won first place for his essay in the annual Ed and Isabel Kezur Memorial Essay contest on the importance of racial harmony and tolerance of cultural differences. Pickerill was the first place winner in the annual Rotary Four-Way Speech competition, which applies the Rotary Four-Way test to leadership, service to others and life. Bolton is the son of Dan and Karen Bolton of Hamilton and a graduate of St. Bartholomew School. Pickerill is the daughter of Ted and Dawn Pickerill of Hamilton and a graduate of St. Peter in Chains School.

The St. Teresa of Avila Science Olympic Team placed second in the regional competition at Raymond Walters College this spring. The team is comprised of 15 students in grades 6, 7 and 8 who competed in 23 different science events. The team won medals in 16 of the events, and every team member won at least one medal. The members of the team are Melina Artmayer, Lauren Bihl, Ryan Bilh, John Cavanaugh, Tricia Cavanaugh, Alex Driehaus, Jason Geis, Blake Hughey, Hannah James, Vince Kampel, Jen Morand, Anne Pace, Nick Pflum, Lauren Seibert and Ben Weiner.

Four St. Gabriel Consolidated School students were recently honored for their winning submissions to the Youth Short Story contest sponsored by Sharonville Federated Woman’s Club. Fifth graders Morgan Everly, Austin Bullock and Lydia Holding were awarded first, second and third place respectively for their short stories, and Bianca Hughes received honorable mention.

The McAuley High School Vocal Ensemble and the LaSalle High School Vocal Ensemble recently returned from the Heritage Music Festival in Chicago. The singers won the Gold Award in Show Choir Division; the Overall Choral Award; the Silver Award in Mixed Choir Division; the Silver Award in Women’s Choir Division and in Men’s Choir Division; and Lauren Hadden and Monica Tenhover earned outstanding soloist award.