Wuzzz Up?

The North Modesto Kiwanis Club Al Barr Memorial Scholarship Committee has awarded scholarships to nine 2011 Al Barr Scholars. The students and their colleges are:

• Tani Bland of San Ramon, who will enroll at the Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, $250.

• Jordi Camps of Modesto, a California State University, Long Beach, junior, $750.

• Analissa Fazio of San Ramon, who will enroll at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, $500.

• Sandi Lavito of Turlock, a California State University, Stanislaus, junior, $500.

• Emily Neilson of Walnut Creek, who will enroll at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, $1,000.

• Giano Pecchenino of Riverbank, who will enroll at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, $500.

• Fernando Pimentel of Hughson, who will enroll at California State University, Sacramento, $500.

• Gilberto Ruiz-Ortega of Modesto, who will enroll at Woodbury University, Burbank, $500.

• Molly Zuhlke of Turlock, who will enroll at California Baptist University, Riverside, $500.

Al Barr Scholarships, now in their 11th year, are designed to support students who seek careers in graphic design or fine arts and enroll at a four-year college or university as a graphic communications or art major. The scholarship program was established by the North Modesto Kiwanis Club.

Barr, who died in 2000, was one of the first graphic designers in Modesto. He started his business, Al Barr Design, in 1974 after a 12-year career as a graphic artist at The Bee and the Pasadena Star News.

Al Barr Design won numerous local and national design and advertising awards. Barr was also an award-winning watercolor painter, and his work appeared in galleries and art shows throughout Northern California.

An active community member, Barr was a past president and North Modesto Kiwanis Club member for almost 30 years. He served on the city of Modesto Public Art Committee and was a portfolio advisor to Modesto Junior College graphic design students.

For further information on the scholarship program, contact Ron Wilkinson at (209) 668-7627.

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Congressman Jerry McNerney presented three students from the 11th Congressional District with the Congressional Gold Award, the nation's highest award for young people. Christine Langford of Ripon, Jonathan Menor of Stockton and Claire Williams of Pleasanton attended a ceremony in Washington, D.C., recently during which McNerney presented them with their awards.

"I'm thrilled to honor Christine, Jonathan and Claire for their Congressional Gold Medal Awards," said McNerney. "They each dedicated many hours to volunteering in the community and striving for personal development and physical fitness. I'm proud to recognize them for this special achievement."

The Congressional Award is the United States Congress' award for young Americans. The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds, who work to earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each level involves setting goals in four program areas: volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.

In order to earn the Congressional Award Gold Medal, each individual must complete a minimum of 400 hours of voluntary public service, 200 hours of personal development activities, 200 hours of physical fitness and four consecutive days and nights of an exploration or expedition.

Christine Langford volunteered more than 200 hours at a preschool and another 200 hours at a local hospital. She also learned to play the piano, improved her basketball skills and twice traveled to Guatemala.

Jonathan Menor dedicated more than 400 hours to volunteering at a local Boys and Girls Club. He also interned at a local business, trained for a 5K run and traveled to Japan for two weeks.

Claire Williams completed more than 600 hours of public service. She worked with students in need of literacy tutoring, served meals to the hungry and helped with events for foster care children. Claire also improved her piano and tennis skills and traveled to Italy.

Any young person between the ages of 14-23 may register for the Congressional Award program by calling (202) 226-0130 or logging on to the Web site: http://congressionalaward.org.

The Wuzzz Up column honors area youths' achievements. E-mail teens@modbee.com.