William Schickel has spread his designs around the region: the Rotunda of Creation at Anderson and Fairfield locations of the Mercy Center for Health and Wellness; the Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University; Moeller High School's Holy Family Chapel, and the water fountain at the grotto on the Notre Dame University campus.

The highly acclaimed artist will receive the 2004 Exemplar Award from the Notre Dame Club of Cincinnati at 10 a.m. Jan. 4 at a communion breakfast at Ursuline Academy.

Schickel is a 1944 graduate of Notre Dame. His works involves stained glass, painting, sculpture, furniture and building design.

The Loveland resident has received the American Institute of Architecture Award for his renovation of the Abbey of Gethsemani near Louisville - the oldest Trappist monastery in the United States.

In Loveland, he converted an 1813 barn into a reverent worship space known as the Grailville Oratory.

Academic successes

Eighteen-year-old twins at Summit Country Day High School are among 3,300 students who have been identified by the College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program for college-level studies.

Seniors David and Andrew Raymer were among the 124,000 Hispanic students nationwide who entered the program by taking the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as high school juniors.

They became part of a select group of 3,300 based on their academic achievement.

The National Hispanic Recognition Program was established in 1983 to acknowledge academic achievement of Hispanic high school seniors.

"It is similar to the National Merit Scholarship program," said Jennifer Pierson, public relations coordinator at Summit. "It gives colleges a chance to see the Hispanic students who have made outstanding academic achievements."

David and Andrew are the sons of Joel and Ana Raymer of Sharonville.

Santas collect for tots

Santas along with spouses and helpers arrived in Symmes Township on three fire trucks last week, giving out treats and small holiday gift bags to each child.

But the Santas didn't just hand out presents. They collected more than 1,000 gifts and $288 for the United States Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program.

The Loveland-Symmes Fire Department donated an additional $500.

$500 donation

The Fairfield Harley Owners group donated $500 to the Fairfield Fraternal Order of Police for toys for children.

BEHIND THE BADGE

The Fort Mitchell Police Department won AAA's highest traffic safety award for its programs on seat belt use, a safe-driving program called Project Prom, a bicycle rodeo and a traffic-control program designed to get motorists to drive slower.

"They scored 97 percent on seat belt usage,'' said Sandra Guile, AAA public relations coordinator.

Police Spc. Roy Taylor of Fort Mitchell accepted the platinum award at a banquet last week.

Other winners included Springdale and Sharonville, gold award; Deer Park and Wyoming, silver; and the city of Cincinnati, bronze.

Jeffrey Witte, grant coordinator for Springdale, said it had 13 separate traffic programs and projects.

"We are proud to get the award because this is a very highly traveled area," Witte said.

Guile said the communities complete a checklist and describe the type of programs or safety-related activity they have enforced in the last year.

"It is important to note that this is not a competition, but more of a focus on the safety of the implemented program and its success in the community by reducing injuries and fatalities to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians,'' Guile said.

The AAA program is opened to all communities. Information is available at www.aaa.com.