Honors: The Deb and Chris Uschan family of Sun Prairie recently received the Media Promotion Award from the Arthritis Foundation for developing a family blog. In addition to keeping family and friends updated on their daughter’s illness, the family uses the blog to share their story, answer questions and spread awareness of arthritis.

Student honors: The C-SPAN Civics Bus visited Wisconsin in June to salute four Mount Horeb High School students for their participation in the StudentCam national video documentary competition. “The Climbing Climate” earned Caitlin Buhr and Mariah Standal a third-place prize. Mandy Goldberg and Kally Gagnon won honorable mention for “Poverty in America.” Both teams received a monetary award (see the winning videos at www.studentcam.org/).

Scholarships: Dena Wessel, a 2009 graduate of Madison West High School, has received a Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays national scholarship, one of just 16 awarded by PFLAG nationwide. Wessel was active in West’s Gay Straight Alliance and served in the Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools planning committee. She is also youth artistic director of Madison’s Proud Theater.

Peter Birke, a 2009 graduate of Madison Edgewood High School and son of Susan Vial and Dennis Birke, was selected from a field of 800 applicants nationwide to receive a $10,000 UCB Crohn’s Scholarship from UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company.

Tonia Ganshert, daughter of Michael and Stephanie Ganshert of New Glarus and a sophomore at Edgewood Collge, has been awarded a $2,500 Family Dollar Save and Make the Grade Scholarship.

Sun Prairie School District instructor Janice Mertes is one of 13 teachers nationwide to win a Liberty Mutual Learn Return scholarship. The award funds master’s degree programs for teachers that will directly benefit their students. Mertes plans to study education technologies, instructional design and technology administration.

Donation: Students at Madison’s Orchard Ridge Elementary School have raised nearly $800 in their Pennies for Peace program, which was founded by “Three Cups of Tea” author Greg Mortenson to help build and supply schools in the Third World (see www.penniesforpeace.org). The students’ money will go toward schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Class reunions: An All-Class Reunion for Verona Area High School alumni of the 1960s through the 1980s and hosted by the Class of 1979 will be Friday at Wildcat Lanes, 415 W. Verona Ave., beginning at 9 p.m. Families are welcome, and 1970’s attire is encouraged. The cost is $5 at the door. For information, call Lisa at 608-575-8764.

The Stoughton High School Classes of 1964 and 1965 will hold a reunion  July 17 at Deak’s Pub, 1017 Nygaard Lane, and a pig roast at Stoughton Country Club, 3165 Shadyside Drive, on July 18 at 6 p.m. Contact maahner@charter.net with questions.

Madison East High School’s Class of 1943 will hold a reunion at the Avenue Bar, 1128 E. Washington Ave., on July 20 at 12:30 p.m. Call 608-257-6877 for reservations.

Madison East’s football and baseball championship Class of 1969 will hold their 40th reunion July 24  at Pooley’s, 5441 High Crossing Blvd., beginning at 7 p.m. No invitations have been sent; please spread the word. For information, contact John Pogue at 608-221-0267 or Mark Habich at 608-833-6841.

The former Highlands Mendota Beach School (now Crestwood Elementary) will hold a 20th class reunion July 25 at Lakeview Park in Middleton from noon to 6 p.m. Bring a potluck dish and beverages; coffee and table service will be provided. For information, call Dorothy or Bill at 608-849-6637 or Bert Bonner at 608-222-1811.

The Middleton High School Class of 1964 will hold its 45th reunion on Aug. 1. Morning golf will be followed by a party at Middleton Sport Bowl, 6815 University Ave., starting at 6 p.m. Contact Mike Shaffer at 608-836-8200.

Scrapbook welcomes news of academic honors other than dean’s or honors lists, scholarships, class reunions, service club officers, honors to volunteers, military promotions and decorations and other special recognitions. Please type or write clearly, and include a phone number. Submissions must be received at least one full week prior to publication. All items received may not necessarily be used. Please send contributions to Scrapbook, Wisconsin State Journal, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708; or by e-mail to kcrary@madison.com.