The following students were honored at Apex Middle School for the character trait of courage: Charles Aycock, Justine Billings, Timothy Breaton, Brionna Brihm, Courtney Cunningham, Yomari Eskridge, Dalia Hercules, Alexus Hinton, Shelby Johnson, Zhyme'k Lassiter, Davis Maddox, Cameron Mason, Chai Noonsab, Alexandra Settle, Daniel Short, Hannah Siegel, Rebecca Stines, Connor Trevaskiss, Austin Williams and Nolan Williams.

CARY ACADEMY

Allen Yang won the 2011 Todd Fuller Contest this year at North Carolina State University, scoring 68.5 out of 70 points. His prize was a $500 scholarship. More than 100 high school seniors competed in this year's contest.

Richard Van Vliet participated in the University of North Carolina Wilmington Honor Band on Dec. 8-9.

Cary Academy students Murad Mansour, Megan Hutzenbuhler, Michael Averell and Serena Advani attended the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference on Dec. 1-3 in Philadelphia.

GREEN HOPE HIGH SCHOOL

The Green Hope High School Fine Arts Department will hold a fall drama showcase at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 14 in the Green Hope High School auditorium. For information, visit www. green hope fine arts .org .

HOLLY GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Holly Grove Middle School National Junior Honor Society and the girls and boys basketball teams will support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Basketball players will ask for pledges as they participate in a Foul Shot-a-Thon in early December and use the money raised to purchase toys. The school is an official Toys for Tots drop off location.

NJHS will be sponsoring a toy drive through Friday, Dec. 16.

HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Holly Springs High School will hold an open mic fundraiser from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 20 at All Aboard Pizza, 204 Village Walk Drive, Holly Springs. Ten percent of all sales will go to the Choral Booster Club.

HOPEWELL ACADEMY

An open house for prospective students in grades 4-12 will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at 101 Preston Executive Drive, Cary. To make a reservation, call 919-607-6339 or email info@hopewellacademy.org.

OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Oak Grove Elementary School asked artist Leni Newell, from Emerald Isle, to work with fifth-grade students to create five banners, each with an educational theme. The students learned silk painting techniques and the banners have been hung in the foyer of the school.

The program was supported by the Oak Grove PTA and by a grant from the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.

Additional support was provided by the North Carolina Arts Council.

PACIFIC INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE

The Pacific Intercultural Exchange program needs a few more local families to host foreign exchange students between the ages of 15 and 18. P.I.E. currently has programs ranging in length from one semester to a full academic year, where the students will attend local public and private high schools.

Families interested in learning more about student exchange or arranging for a meeting with a community representative may call P.I.E. at 1-866-546-1402.

WEST CARY MIDDLE SCHOOL

West Cary Middle School students Tiana Cypher and Michelle Lee earned seats in the Wake County-All County Band. The students auditioned for the honor and participated in clinics and a performance held Nov. 17-18 at Martin Magnet Middle School.

West Cary Middle School eighth-grade science teacher Heather Bickley has been selected the 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year.

Bickley has been teaching for six years, five of which have been at West Cary Middle School.

She has served as a Science Olympiad coach, Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader, member of the Positive Behavior Support Team, chairperson of the School Improvement Team, Eighth-Grade Team Leader and Leader of the Professional Learning Team.

Bickley is working on her National Boards Certification and will participate in the Wake County Public Schools' Teacher of the Year selection process.