Members of the Mount Notre Dame High School varsity dance team placed in the top 10 among 56 teams at the Universal Dance Association National Championship competition.

The dance team brought home two trophies from the competition at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. The team placed eighth in the nation with its pom routine and ninth with its high kick routine, making it to the finals in both categories.

The Dance Association nationals are considered the Division I of dance competition in which teams travel from across the United States to perform.

Lauded for composure

Brian Rhett is being lauded for having a cool head in a difficult situation.

The 15-year-old Lakota Ridge Junior School eighth-grader did not panic last week when bus driver Martine Weitzel had a medical emergency. Instead, he stayed calm and used the driver's radio to call the transportation department for help.

"If it were not for Brian, something very tragic could have happened,'' said Mike Rosenberger, Lakota's director of transportation. "We're very proud of him.''

After getting on the bus Feb. 5, Brian noticed Weitzel looked like she was having a bad day. After she said she was OK, Brian and his friends went to their seats.

But Weitzel wasn't all right. She pulled the bus over and called out to Brian.

"At first I thought I was in trouble. She looked distressed,'' Brian said. "She told me to pick up the radio and call base. They kept asking where we were.''

Within minutes another bus arrived and an ambulance was called. Brian and the other four students who got on with him guided the substitute driver on the rest of the route.

"Brian is a fun-loving kid. We're proud of the way he reacted to this,'' said Principal Ed Rudder.

Brian's mother, Pamela Rhett, also said she was proud of her son.

"He stepped up to the challenge. I was really impressed,'' Rhett said. "I thought, 'Wow, he's growing up.' "

Weitzel was back on the job this week. "Brian did very good. He's my hero,'' Weitzel said.

Chamber adds directors

The Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce has added six businesspeople to its board of directors.

They are Lucretia Askew, owner and CEO of Diversitech Inc.; Darius Bobo, a loan organizer at Fifth Third Bank; Todd Hardy, a vice president at Huntington Bank; Karen Hite, CEO of NewHites Marketing and Administrative Solutions; Lisa Rowell, director of business development and marketing for Infrastructure Services Inc., and Terrell Taylor Jr., assistant vice president and sector manager for the retail community bank of PNC Bank.

Lighting the way for play

Patrick McGilly, a freshman theater major accepted into the honors program at Denison University in Granville, was the sole set designer and light board operator in the University's production of Spinning Into Butter.

The Seven Hills High School graduate is the son of Paula and Thomas McGilly of Lebanon.

4.0's at Bowling Green State

These students have earned 4.0 grade point averages and were named to the fall term dean's lists at Bowling Green State University:

Justin Davis, a sophomore majoring in management information systems. The Moeller High School graduate is the son of Teresa and Gregory Davis of West Chester Township.

Alexis Plunkett, a junior criminal justice major. The Lakota East High School graduate is the daughter of Lois and Don Atwood and Pam and Michael Plunkett, all of West Chester Township.

Presidential Scholarship

Megan Post, a senior basketball player at Roger Bacon High School, has received an academic Presidential Scholarship to attend Ashland University.

A member of the National Honor Society, Megan is the daughter of Julie and Christopher Post of Pleasant Run.

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