The 18-year-old senior at the School for the Creative and Performing Arts qualified in April at Cleveland State University at the world trials to represent the United States.

Last month, he won the national championship in the triple under, setting a national record with 228 triples.

"He was competing against some of the same students he had met in Cleveland," said coach Chris Emerson, a physical education teacher at North Avondale Montessori.

Marcus won the championship, participating with the Cincinnati Ropin' Rockets at the Jump Rope Nationals June 24-27 at Disney World, Orlando, Fla.

He and his teammates, Alyssa Mendlein, 13, an eighth-grader at Walnut Hills High, and partner Caitlin Janes, 14, a ninth-grader at Clark Montessori, won the Grand National Championship in double dutch three-person freestyle.

Other medal winners were Stewart Isaacs, 9, and Kathryn Hook, 10, silver medal in pairs freestyle. Stewart also won the silver medal one-minute speed and a silver in three-minute speed.

Stewart; Kathryn; Jillian Hassel, 10; and Brianna Isaacs, 11, won a silver medal in the four-person speed relay.

Tolerance program grant

A Van Gorden Elementary School teacher in Liberty Township has won a grant for a cultural diversity program she developed.

Teaching Tolerance, a nationally renowned education program, has given Jennifer Newman $1,000 to carry out the project, which will be a joint effort among teachers, students, parents and community members.

The project also will include such events as a multicultural fair with displays, speakers, artists, crafts and family projects.

Students will create squares for a family heritage quilt that will be displayed throughout the school and in the community.

POSITIVELY KIDS: Symphony awards stipends

The Hamilton Fairfield Symphony Orchestra recently recognized the potential of young musicians and encouraged them to continue their studies by awarding stipends for private music instruction.

Student winners included: Spencer Carron, Courtney Crutcher, Allison Gering, Alicia Harmon, Trevor Hobbs, Erika Howard, Dallas Jones, Hanna Kim, Peter Schmidt and Ben Vanderpool.

Eagle Scout rank achieved

Timothy Griffin, of Troop 483 sponsored by St. Dominic's Church, has earned the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America. For his community service project, he organized a carnival at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center by obtaining games and prizes, supervising the cleaning of the games and coordinating the day's activities.

A recent graduate of St. Xavier High, Tim will study engineering at Ohio State University next year. He is son of Judy and Dan Griffin of Delhi Township.

Community spirit recognized

Adrian Neal, a junior at Purcell Marian High School, has been honored for volunteer service with a state-level Certificate of Excellence from the 2004 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

Oratory awards given

Two students at Immaculate Conception Academy in Norwood won the top prizes at the regional American Legion High School Oratorical Contest.

Beth Lichter of Liberty Township won first place and advanced to the state competition, and Theresa King of Springdale won second place.

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