Madeline McSayles, a Head Start teacher at the Theodore M. Berry Children and Family Learning Center in the West End, is balancing her life as a mother, teacher, wife and student.

She has done this while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average and being selected to receive the Outstanding Student of the Year Award from the University of Cincinnati's College of Applied Science this year.

"It is nice to receive that kind of honor, especially since it is a lot of hard work involved,'' McSayles said. "I did it for three years along with a job, four children in four different schools and a husband.''

She received an associate's degree in early childhood care and education this summer.

Madeline McSayles (from right), Kellie Anita Stripling and James Dugar are all Head Start teachers who were recently honored. The Enquirer/TONY JONES

"It was not easy for her,'' said her husband, Jarrod, a pipe fitter who works nights. "I try to give her all the help I can.''

The couple has four children: Jenae, 15; Jocelyn, 12; Jayla, 11, and Joshua, 9.

Two other Head Start teachers also had outstanding recognitions last week: James Dugar, who teaches at Creative Experiences Head Start in Bond Hill, and Kellie Anita Stripling, who also teaches at a Head Start program in Bond Hill, were inducted into an honor society for two-year colleges, the Beta Gamma Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

Sycamore teen honored

April Wang, a 17-year-old senior at Sycamore High School, has documented her own journey of self-discovery in a portfolio entitled "Who Am I?"

For her portfolio, she has been chosen among 16 students from around the country as a 2004 Davidson Fellow. That honor carries with it a $25,000 scholarship.

Her portfolio includes fiction, nonfiction, and poetic works based on her life.

"We had several themes on which to write,'' April said. "I chose individuality.''

She said her portfolio emphasizes the importance of following your heart and exploring all the opportunities that life presents in order to discover individuality.

This she does through different characters.

Many Chinese orphans who are adopted by American families know her as the comfortable volunteer who helped them adjust to a new country. April has been volunteering to work with the children since she was in the seventh grade.

"This really has been fun for me,'' April said. "Some of them cannot speak any English. I enjoyed seeing them become comfortable and make adjustments. I am going to volunteer again this year.''

April was a finalist in the 2004 Ernest Hemingway Writing Awards for high school journalists.

She is the daughter of A.J and Mei Wang of Montgomery.

She plans to major in literature.

The Davidson Institute for Talent Development, based in Reno, Nev., was established in 2001 and recognizes students who have made significant achievements in science, technology, mathematics, music, literature or philosophy.

School-supply drive

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, in partnership with Meijer stores, is conducting a School Buddies Supply Drive to give local children in need basic supplies they need to start the school year.

The drive runs through Labor Day weekend.

All Meijer stores have displays with cards worth $5 that customers can buy and use to purchase school supplies, which will be donated after being scanned at the cash registers.

Other donations can be made at U.S. Bank branches in all Meijer stores.

The goal is to distribute school supply packages to 2,500 children in need, said Julie Rack, director of development for the society.

"We are not asking for ourselves, but for the thousands of children who without these packets will not even have paper upon which to do their homework," Rack said.

Anyone who would like to donate can also call 562-8841, ext. 25.

Goodwill gets jobs grant

Goodwill Industries has received two grants from the U.S. Department of Labor totaling $594,440 to be used to connect homeless veterans to jobs.

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati, made the announcement last week at the Goodwill Industries office, 10600 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn.

The grants will provide homeless veterans with job training and placement assistance in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Since 1993, 2,600 veterans have been enrolled in the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program through Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries.

More than 2,000 veterans have been helped with housing needs and 1,747 have been placed into community jobs through Goodwill's programs.