Student Honors: Madison Memorial High School graduate Melissa Maysak, daughter of Donna Maysak of McFarland, was chosen winner of the Wisconsin/Upper Peninsula District 2009 Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Award. Nominated by the Madison Exchange Club, Melissa will receive a $500 scholarship and advance to national competition. The award recognizes students who have provided community service and overcome obstacles in pursuit of their high school diploma.

Three Waunakee High School students recently gained national recognition through achievement in the student organizations in which they’re involved. Eric Kulcyk, a member of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America, earned a first-place award in desktop application programming at the FBLA National Leadership Conference held in Anaheim, Calif.

And Eric, along with Jacob Schneider and Jacob Reilly, comprised the Waunakee engineering team that earned a second-place award at the National Leadership and Skills Conference and SkillsUSA Championships held in Kansas City, Mo. More than 5,000 students from across the nation competed in contests judged by over 500 industry professionals. 
Scholarships: CUNA Mutual Group recently awarded $1,000 scholarships to 25 Dane County high school seniors in their “Growing in the Right Direction” program. Awards are based on volunteerism, academic promise and enrollment at a Wisconsin degree-granting school.

Madison students are Breanne Butler of Abundant Life; Madeline Wells of East; Alexandra Martin of Edgewood; Deidre Green of LaFollette; Spencer O’Rourke of Memorial; Isaac Scott of West; Emma Urbas of Malcolm Shabazz; Mary Garcia of Dane County Transition School; Nikkie Kubly of Operation Fresh Start and Raquel Salazar-Foster of Omega School.
Students from the rest of Dane County are Jessica Bohms of Belleville; Katie Ehlen of Cambridge; Tara Bultman of Deerfield; Allison Brill of DeForest; Aryn Senger of Marshall; Seton Christenson of McFarland; Abigail Mindock of Middleton; Megan O’Connell of Monona Grove; Phillip Sutter of Mount Horeb; Alex Christensen of Oregon; Megan Huberty of Stoughton; Laura Konkol of Sun Prairie; Colby Holder of Verona; Meseret Muluken of Waunakee and Shelby Brockmann of Wisconsin Heights.

Class Reunions: The Verona High School Class of 1974 will hold its 35th reunion on Saturday and Sunday. Class members will gather at the Drafthouse, 1010 Enterprise Drive, Verona, at 7 p.m. on Friday. Saturday events include golf, followed by a gathering at Scatz, 2248 Deming  Way, Middleton. For more information, call Ron Marty at 608-845-9751 or Monica Pechan at 608-843-7237.

Alumni of Madison’s former Wisconsin High School Class of 1954 will celebrate their 55th reunion with the Class of 1952 on Sept. 11 to 13. Events include a Friday dinner at the Innkeeper in Waunakee, a Saturday dinner at the Radisson Hotel and an informal gathering Sunday morning at the Union Terrace. For details, contact Judy Emerson at 608-271-7782 or Jim Angevine at 608-273-3961.

The Montello High School Class of 1969 will hold its 40th reunion in conjunction with Montello’s annual “Over 50” reunion on Saturday, Sept. 26, at St. John’s Catholic Church hall. The social hour begins at 4;30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Reservations, due by Sept. 18, may be made by sending a check for $16.75 each, made out to the Over Fifty Club, to Florence Schieber, 568 Clemens Court, Portage, WI, 53901. Note if you are a member of the class of 1969.

Members of Madison Central High School Class of 1944 will observe their 65th reunion on Wednesday, Sept. 30, with a noon lunch at the Madison Elks Lodge, 711 Jenifer St. Call Jim Gill at 608-274-2158 with questions or reservations.
Publication Event: An open house to mark the publication of “The Daily Life of an Ordinary American Soldier During World War II: Letters of Wilbur C. Berget,” edited by Dr. Mark D. Van Ells, will be held on Sunday from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Wiota Lutheran Church.

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.