Congratulations

Sen. Kim Benefield recognized — Because of her wholehearted support of the first regional leadership program in east Alabama known as Vision 13, Sen. Benefield was presented a certificate of appreciation from Ron Sparks, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. Presenting the certificate is Larry Lee, director of the Center for Rural Alabama, which is a division of the Department of Agriculture & Industries.

Daniel Ledford of Cropwell, who attends Pell City High School, was recently named an All-American Scholar. He was nominated by Cherith Fluker. He is the son of Mark and Janet Shierling of Cropwell and Darryl and Carol Ledford of Oxford. He is the grandson of Bobby and Ethel Ledford of Bynum, Don and Oleine Finley of Anniston and Eloise Jones of Alpine.

Ashley Peak Raley received her education specialist degree in educational counseling from Georgia Southern University in June. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama and her master's degree from Georgia Southern University. She is employed with the Chatham County Board of Education in Savannah, Ga., and is the daughter of Ronald and Sissy Peak of Anniston.

Donovan Johnson, a 2004 graduate of Saks High School, was recently awarded a Health Sports Medicine Scholarship from the Eastern Illinois University Foundation. The award is presented to an EIU sophomore or junior majoring in Pre-Medicine or a similar field, who is a varsity athlete and who shows interest and aptitude for the field of sports medicine. Johnson is currently a senior at EIU. He is the son of Eric and Carolyn Johnson of Anniston.

Erica McBride-Price, a 1991 graduate of Anniston High School, was recently promoted to assistant principal of Nola Ryan Junior High School in Pearland, Texas. She is the daughter of Willie McBride Jr. and Patricia Akles, both of Anniston.

Calhoun County residents recently graduated from Samford University in Birmingham. Rachel Anne Kline of Anniston graduated with a bachelor of science in education degree, and Andrew McLeod Wells of Piedmont graduated with a bachelor of arts degree.

Andrew Arthur Easton of Jacksonville graduated in June from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. He was awarded a bachelor of arts degree with a major in music. He is the son of the Rev. Stanley E. Easton and Mrs. Tien-hen Ma.

Zackary Jones of Oxford was honored during the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry's 2008 awards convocation.

Jones, who graduated in May with a D.M.D. degree, was given the Alumni Award for Leadership by the Alumni Association of the UAB School of Dentistry. The honor goes to a graduating senior who displayed leadership in school affairs and is chosen by the upperclassmen of the student body.

Jones participated in the UAB-Japan dental student exchange program and was the 2007 winner of the Benjamin Ingram Rural Scholar Award.

Jones has accepted a position with the Indian Health Service in Wyoming.

Joel D. Lawrence of Las Vegas, son of Dorothy Burns of Slaton, Texas, and son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Georgia Moore of Anniston, was awarded a bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from the Thomas Edison State College and received the College's Arnold Fletcher Award for exceptional achievement in independent learning.

Petty Officer First Class Lawrence, who has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for more than 25 years, is the U.S. Coast Guard recruiter in charge for the state of Nevada.