Local fourth- through eighth-grade students at Ellis Middle School, Banfield Elementary, Neveln Elementary, Southgate Elementary and Sumner Elementary will compete Dec. 5 to test their knowledge of the world’s geography and cultures. The students took a qualifying test the first week of November.

The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest and increase public awareness about geography. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee.

Contact David Wolff at 507-460-1600 or 507-1912 with questions. For specific times and locations, call the site coordinators: Ellis Middle School, Derik Gustafson, 460-1500; Banfield Elementary School, Karla Carroll, 460-1200; Neveln Elementary School, David Wolff, 460-1600; Southgate Elementary School, Sherrie Voigt, 460-1300; Sumner Elementary School, Megan Higgins, 460-1100.

CRC opens applications for scholarships

Cooperative Response Center Inc. will award up to six $1,000 scholarships to seniors attending high schools, both public and private, in Austin, as well as Dunlap, Tenn., and Abilene, Texas. High school senior sons and daughters of regular full- and part-time CRC employees are also eligible.

This is CRC’s fifth year funding scholarship programs for area students. Last year’s scholarship recipients from the Austin/Albert Lea area were Nathan Schwab, Jacob Thompson and Summer Swensrud.

“CRC is pleased to mark its fifth year providing scholarships to young adults in the communities in which we serve,” said Chris Holt, CRC’s president and CEO. “We hope the recipients of the scholarships are encouraged by this gift to complete their education while maintaining a strong commitment to their community.”

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2013. For more information, contact Julie Schramek at 507-437-2304 or info@crc.coop.

Austin native performs in Luther College opera

Thomas Gerber, a Luther College student from Austin, performed in Fall Opera Scenes at Luther’s Jenson Noble Hall of Music Nov. 16-17.

Gerber, son of Tim and Ellen Gerber, was selected for the role of Alidoro in “La Cenerentola” and Don Pasquale in “Don Pasquale.” He is majoring in music and graduated from Austin High School in 2008.

Youth retreat focuses on character-building

Students from Ellis and Southland Middle School’s eighth grade classes will go on a Youth Frontiers Courage Retreat Dec. 6 and 7 at Cornerstone Church. The retreat runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. both days.

The retreat offers “real life” application to integration, anti bullying, and Character Counts initiatives that are guideposts for good decision making for themselves and others.

Pacelli Honor Roll

A Tuesday morning brunch in St. Augustine’s Church recognized Pacelli students who made the first quarter honor roll.

High honors: Abigail Bollingberg, Kayla Christopherson, Dylan Deveza, Alia Dorsey, Dominic Gartner, Skylar Guzman, Mason Holtorf, Samuel Keenan, Myra Kraemer, Marissa McConnell, Shane DeSilva, Daisy Hernandez, Sahil Patel, Sonia Ramirez, Nathan Drees, Cole Ethen, Neftali Lopez, Vyvy Luong, Daniel Bollingberg, Deng Deng, Sarah Holtz, Braden Kocer, Bennett Kraemer, Jacob Kramer, YoungKung Baek, Jwokamer DeBock, Katherine Ethen, Tiffany Hoesing, Sarah Kahle, Maggie Leif, Annie Holtz, Kevin Juenger, Madeline Kraemer, Alena Kritzer, Yujin Lee, Cindy Li and Ann Rysavy.

Honors: Dongrin Deng, Ngor Deng, Leslie Fournier, Getsemani Ramirez, George Rinaldi, Katelyn Hansen, Issac Meyer, Jordan Cotter, Lauren Haedt, Hannah Nelson, Faby Rodriguez, Natalia Torres, Matt Kasel, Thomas Marx, Spencer Holtorf, Stephen Juenger, Thomas Mueller, Jade Williams and Luke Zhang.