Army Spec. Michelle E. Carville participated in the 33rd U.S. Army Annual Culinary Arts Competition at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va. This year's competition featured more than 160 military chefs from around the globe battling in more than 40 culinary categories. The competition is rated the largest

The two-week competition involved Army soldier-chefs, both active duty and reserve components, as well as members from other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The competitions allows service members to sharpen and broaden their cooking, baking, roasting, and pouching skills to stay on the cutting edge of culinary techniques. Their culinary skills ultimately benefit military service members eating in dining and mess hall facilities and battlefield kitchens serving soldiers in combat zones.

The goals of the competition are to continually raise the standards of culinary excellence and professionalism in the Army's food service training to the soldier and promote growth in the culinary profession with attention to modern culinary development. The competition also promotes camaraderie, motivation, and esprit de corps among the soldiers and other service members, and provides educational opportunities in the culinary arts.

Competitors are awarded certificates, medallions, engraved plaques, and trophies for their mastery of culinary art in their particular category. The winners received recognition for their efforts in culinary aspects of ability, practicality, nutrition, workmanship, economy, presentation, creativity, concept, skills, style, and techniques in food preparation and management. Carville, a food service specialist, is assigned at Fort Myer, Arlington, Va.

She is the daughter of Brian J. and Jenine E. Carville, of Lancaster. In 2001, the specialist graduated from Nashoba Regional High School, Bolton, and received a master's degree in 2006 from Johnson and Wales University, Providence, R.I.

Worcester Academy recently held its commencement exercises. Daniel Collins, of Sterling, gave the valedictorian address.

Local graduates include:

Berlin: Jennifer Zacharia.

Bolton: Jackelyn Lane and Colin Parker.

Boylston: Melissa Ciociolo and Andres Molina-Sujdak.

Sterling: Daniel Collins, Aaron Faucher and Stephanie Morrel.

Aaron Faucher, of Sterling, received the Neil W. Peters III Award.

Murphy Insurance Agency selected 11 local high school graduating seniors to receive scholarships from the agency, based on academic record, financial need and demonstration of Murphy Insurance's four core values of initiate, insight, innovate and integrity.

Among the recipients were Kevin Gebo, of Berlin, who graduated from Assabet and will be attending Wentworth College; and Lauren MacQueen, of Boylston, who graduated from Tahanto and will be attending Boston College.

On June 16, Kate Sheehan of Heifer International accepted the donation of $1,000 from the sixth-grade students at Clinton Middle School. Jessica Dolan presented the check to Sheehan. The sixth-grade students were involved in the Read To Feed program all year. The student who read the most books was Janny Zou, who read 50 books this year.

Last week, the grade 6 students attended Overlook Farm, an affiliate of Heifer International. They participated in the HOPE Project. Each class spent a day at the farm. They toured the farm, saw a variety of animals, visited the Global Village and prepared a native meal of a country represented in the Global Village. Students learned how to build and start a fire. They peeled vegetables and made a gourmet lunch for all to share. The field trip was selected because it was complementary to the social studies curriculum in grade six.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Members of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School's chapter of the National Honor Society volunteered to work at the Special Olympics competition held recently at Elliot Field at Fitchburg State College. Accompanied by their adviser, Eric Sanden (back row, far right), the students assisted event players and participants with a variety of duties throughout the daylong event. This is the second year the school has volunteered and NHS members plan to make it part of their annual community service projects. Students include (front row, seated) Kayla Boutell of Athol, Eric Gallotto and James Gibbs, both of Sterling, and Gregory Croteau of Westminster; (second row) Ka Thao of Fitchburg, Maddy Merchant of Gardner, Caitlin Cormier of Fitchburg, Sarah Bailey of Westminster and Pilly Diaz of Fitchburg; (back row), Rosie Yang of Fitchburg, Michelle Brisebois of Ashby, Joseph Flanagan of Sterling and Mr. Sanden. (2) Brett Rocheford, who won two TAMY awards for his work in Clinton High School's `Damn Yankees' shows off his awards, accompanied by Director Trish Aponte. The TAMY is given out to high school musical productions through Theatre at the Mount.