Neighbors (5/2)

Seton Catholic science teacher invited to ASU summer institute

Seton Catholic High School has announced that bioscience teacher Barb Olivieri has been invited to participate in Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute Summer Research Experience Program. During this program, teachers and students will be paired with Biodesign Institute researchers who will be mentoring both teachers and students in an extensive six-week laboratory science experience.

Olivieri has been with Seton Catholic for over seven years. Prior to that she taught at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Tempe.

McDaniel to research in Thailand

Ahwatukee Foothills resident Katrina McDaniel has been selected to conduct research under the International Research Experience for Undergraduates (IREU) from May 24 to Aug. 3 at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi and the National Metals and Materials Technology Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

The all-expenses paid research program is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation and directed by Professor Supapan Seraphin, Department of Materials Science Engineering, University of Arizona.

McDaniel will be joined by five undergraduate students from across the nation to participate in collaborative research projects relating to understanding the relationships between the structure, processing and properties of technologically important materials. The six participants will also attend workshops on science and engineering ethics, Thai culture and language.

She is a 2005 graduate of Mountain Pointe High School and is currently a junior at the University of Arizona pursuing a degree in materials science engineering.

Nowicki, Shockley planning June wedding

Donna and Seymour Nowicki of Yardley, Pa., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jill Heather Nowicki, to J. Ramsey Shockley, son of Mary Montague of Chandler and Edwin and Cassandra Shockley of Gold Canyon.

The bride-to-be is a graduate of Ewing High School in Ewing, N.J. She graduated with honors from Penn State University with a degree in hotel, restaurant and institutional management and a minor in Spanish. She received her master's degree in human services administration from Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., where she is employed as the assistant director of event operations.

The bridegroom-to-be is a graduate of Mountain Pointe High School. He attended Mt. Hood College and Portland State University before earning his commercial pilot's license in Chandler. He is currently employed as a professional pilot with AirNet Express, a "time-critical" air shipment and aviation services company. 

A June 2008 destination wedding is being planned.

Troop leaders receive awards

Nancy McMurray and Elida Desmond, troop leaders in the Fiesta Neighborhood in Ahwatukee Foothills, received an appreciation pin at the Arizona Cactus Pine Girl Scout Annual Council meeting April 26.

McMurray supports an orphanage in Nogales, Mexico, by organizing clothing, toy and personal care item drives at Christmas. In addition, she has managed a traditional Fiesta Girl Scout project by collecting and distributing more than 1,000 Easter baskets for underprivileged students at the Fowler School in Phoenix.

Desmond has organized and led the Juliette Low celebration for several years, which honors the Girl Scout founder's birthday. She requested canned food donations as part of the event and personally delivered several hundred pounds of donations to local food banks. She also organizes the neighborhood bridging event and is a tremendous support for new leaders.