David Castle of Hartwell and his friend Carl Howerton, of Marshfield, Mass., will ride their bikes more than 1,000 miles in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge to raise money for cancer research.

The two are to leave from Castle's home July 29. They plan to arrive 750 miles later at Stockbridge, Mass. They will bike another 100 miles to the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge starting line in Sturbridge, Mass., on Aug 6.

David Castle (left) of Hartwell and Carl Howerton of Marshfield, Mass., will participate in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. Provided

The duo will join 15 friends in Sturbridge and ride an additional 190 miles to the finish line in Provincetown, Mass., on Aug 8.

Castle's mother will fly from St. Petersburg, Fla., to Cincinnati and drive a support vehicle for the two bikers.

"The PMC means a lot to me personally," said Castle, 38. "I have lost family members to cancer, and I have found the PMC to be a top-notch event. It is a great way to honor loved ones and raise money for a terrific cause."

Castle and Howerton met 20 years ago while they were at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and have remained friends.

Both have lost family members to cancer.

"This ride will be a huge challenge," said Howerton, also 38. "We both believe so strongly in fighting cancer that we are willing to do it."

Castle said their goal is to raise $25,000 on this ride in celebration of the challenge's 25th anniversary event. Since 1980, the cycling tour has raised more than $102 million for cancer research.

Castle is president and CEO of Branford Chain Inc., an investment company in Blue Ash.

"We have been building up for this ride over the last five years. This one means a lot to us," Castle said.

For more information, visit Web site gothedistance.us.

Steiner wins scholarship

Barbara Steiner, a sophomore agribusiness and applied economics major at Ohio State University, has been awarded the Ohio Farm Bureau Scholarship. The honor is given on the basis of scholarship, leadership and potential contribution to the agricultural industry.

Steiner is a member of Collegiate 4-H, Agribusiness Club, Buckeye Dairy Club, Student Council and plays intramural sports.

The Mason High School graduate is the daughter of Annette and Joe Steiner of Mason.

St. X grad gets Boren

Adam Poulemanos, a sophomore at American University in Washington, D.C., has been awarded a David L. Boren Scholarship by the National Security Education Program. The nationally competitive scholarship for study abroad takes place in non-traditional locations that are central to U.S. national security interests. He will be studying Arabic language, Egyptian politics and foreign policy his junior year at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

As a condition of the scholarship, he will be required to use the skills he acquires in service to a national-security-related department for at least one year after he completes his education.

The St. Xavier High School graduate is the son of Linda and Steve Poulemanos of Hamilton.

Outstanding clinician

Anna Westrich was named the Outstanding Clinician of the 2004 graduate class at Ohio University. She received her undergraduate degree in speech language pathology and master's degree in hearing speech language sciences from OU.

The Ursuline Academy graduate is the daughter of Cathy and Paul Westrich of Loveland.

Multiple honors

Ashley Groeber, a sophomore at the University of Dayton, was named to the winter quarter dean's list and has accepted membership into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She also was inducted into Epsilon Delta Upsilon, the professional fraternity of students pursuing a career in education.

The Milford High School graduate is the daughter of Becky and Phil Groeber of Milford.

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