Race Fans for a Cure, a national charity to benefit cancer research, visited the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta on Friday and Saturday.

Money raised goes to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Dallas, which was established in 1982.

"I have not been affected by cancer nor any of my relatives, but this is a program I support,'' said Andrea Brenton, who visited from Dearborn, Mich., to participate in the Race Fans for a Cure. "The racetrack is a good place to reach women with information about breast cancer because a lot of them are race fans. But we also get a lot of men visiting the display.''

Charlie Gaupel (left) of Latonia gives a donation to Monene Kamm at the Race Fans for a Cure booth at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. The money is used for breast cancer research. Kamm is clinical research coordinator for the Barrett Cancer Center. The Enquirer/PATRICK REDDY

Race Fans for a Cure has distributed more than 100,000 breast self-exam cards while raising more than $475,000 for the Komen Foundation.

Each year, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,000 die.

2 professors cited

Two area college professors have received the Crosby Medal from the American Society for Quality for their contributions to quality management in their book The Management and Control of Quality.

They are William M. Lindsay, professor emeritus of management at Northern Kentucky University, and James R. Evans, professor of quantitative analysis and operations management at the University of Cincinnati.

The Society presents the medal to individuals who have written a distinguished book that contributes to the principles, methods or techniques of quality management.

"It is a great honor for our book to be nominated and selected,'' said Lindsay of Crestview Hills. "We first published it in 1989 and have five renewed editions.''

Academic All-Stars

Nine Northern Kentucky students were among 84 seniors who received Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships worth $1,500 each a year.

Recipients included Brian Sullivan, Beechwood High School; Adam Pfendt, Boone County High School; Tim Miller and Brian O'Connor, Dixie Heights; Katey Greis, Highlands; Samantha Schalk, Newport Central Catholic; Kristen Frommeyer, Notre Dame Academy; Adam Cahill, St. Henry District; and Katherine Schroer of Fort Thomas, St. Ursula Academy.

The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority administers the Byrd Scholarship, a federally-funded program.

The scholarships are named for Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, who authored the legislation that established the program in 1985.

The scholarships are also available to Kentuckians who earn a GED. Those scholarships will be awarded later this year.

The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority also administers the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship. That program lets students earn money for college by making good grades in high school.