Sam Chavaria, a member of the senior class at Cazenovia High School, has been recognized as a scholar finalist in the National Hispanic Recognition Program, according to high school principal Dan Nolan.

The National Hispanic Recognition Program is a college bound program that provides national recognition of the exceptional academic achievement of Hispanic high school seniors and identifies academically well prepared Hispanic high school seniors for post secondary institutions.

Students enter the program by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as high school juniors and by identifying themselves as Hispanic. From over 175,000 students nationwide, the 4,000 highest scoring students are initially identified as semifinalists. Based on further evidence of their academic achievement a select group of 3,000 students are recognized as program finalists.

The names of all finalists are listed on a roster of outstanding Hispanic students which has been released to colleges and universities to encourage them to seek out these talented Hispanic students as potential candidates for admission.

Founded in 1900, the College Board is a non-profit membership association of schools, colleges, and other educational organizations working together to help students succeed in the transition from school to college through development of standards of excellence.

Student to Compete in Special Olympics World Games

Diane Budnar, a student at Cazenovia High School, has been selected to represent New York State at the 2000-01 Special Olympic World Games which will be held in Anchorage, Alaska in March 2001.

Diane, 17, is no stranger to competition having previously won gold medals in downhill skiing during the past two New York State Winter Special Olympics. The opportunity, however, to participate in the World Winter Games, is certainly the highlight of her athletic career thus far. The trip to Alaska will represent Diane's first experience in international competition.

More than 2,700 athletes representing 80 countries will be competing in Alaska. Both Diane and her mother said they are excited about going to the games and the chance to meet people from so many different countries. Diane began skiing at the age of 10. Through the years, with the help of her coach Jerry Bruno, Diane improved tremendously. She won her first gold medal in the winter games in Ellenville in 1999. She earned her second gold medal the following winter in Schenectady.

In addition to the competition in Alaska, Diane will also be competing this winter in the New York Winter Special Olympics which will be held in Syracuse this year.