• Emily Bryant and Stephanie Hilscher were selected to participate in the Duke Hospital Junior Leader Program. They were selected based on outstanding volunteerism for Duke Hospital. Only 10 out of 200 student volunteers were selected.

• ADHS students, Mehr Sher Khan, Aurora Bravo and Jarin Tasnim, recently participated in Students Taking Action with Recognition at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn. These three juniors earned the gold medal in chapter service display. They organized a schoolwide campus clean up event and utilized community resources to organize a campaign for a "pollution revolution." They worked with David Lee of Bland Landscaping, a member of the ADHS Business Alliance to help them expand their project for the 2009-10 school year. Mehr is running for FCCLA State Officer in October to represent the Central B region that includes Wake, Nash, Vance and Johnston Counties.

• Golf team member Katherine Perry qualified to play in the Women's U.S. Open at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa., in July. She was one of the youngest players in this year's tournament.

• Athens Drive Freshman Hannah Marie Hunt of Cary has been awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest achievement in Girl Scouting. This award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments and a commitment to excellence, and helps girls build skills, explore careers, gain leadership skills and make a commitment to self-improvement. For her Girl Scout Silver Award project, Hannah performed four flute and piano concerts for area nursing homes. Hannah is the daughter of Charles and Martha Hunt. In addition to Girl Scouting, Hannah is a member of National Honor Society and the volleyball team.

CARY ACADEMY

• During the fall tailgate on Sept. 4, the Middle School Student Leadership and the Upper School Key Club combined to collect food and school supplies for the Backpack Buddies program. About 20 backpacks and 40 bags of food and school supplies were collected. That was enough to feed about 10 Backpack Buddies' children for one weekend.

• Cary Academy parents are invited to attend a presentation on a teaching technique called modeling that will be held in the lecture hall, starting at 8 a.m. on Monday. The showcase will begin with presentations from physics, English, history, chemistry and math teachers. Following the presentations, three or four classroom demonstrations will be held in several subjects. Physics instructor Matt Greenwolfe introduced modeling. This summer, chemistry teachers Katy Allen and Heidi Maloy attended a three-week modeling workshop at N.C. State University. And this fall, eight Upper School teachers enrolled in a modeling workshop instructed by Greenwolfe.

CARY HIGH SCHOOL

• The Cary High School Orchestra is in critical need of violins, violas, cellos and other stringed instruments. The school is accepting donations of used instruments. If interested, contact Marta Partridge at mpartridge@wcpss.net.

• The 30th anniversary reunion for the CHS Class of 1979 is scheduled for homecoming weekend, Oct. 9 and 10.

Information about the events planned can be found at caryhighclassof79.com/2.html. Class of '79 alumni can use the Web site to register for scheduled activities as well as pay for Saturday evening's dinner dance.

FUQUAY-VARINA HIGH SCHOOL

• The semi-annual Pork-and-Chicken BBQ, presented by the Fuquay-Varina High School Band Boosters, will be on Friday. The event is held at Sunset Plaza on Main Street in Fuquay-Varina, next to Fidelity Bank. All proceeds go to support the band programs at Fuquay-Varina High School. Serving begins at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $7.50 per plate.

HEARTWOOD MONTESSORI

• Heartwood Montessori is accepting applications for its preschool and elementary programs for the current year. Download an application on the Web site, heartwoodmontessori.com, or visit the school at 112 Byrum Street in Cary. For a tour, call 919-465-2113.

HOLLY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

• Two Holly Springs High School support organizations have joined forces to sponsor the first "Fall Fest" to be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at Devil's Ridge Golf Club. The Golden Hawks Club and PTSA are working together to host the event with proceeds benefiting the organizations' efforts of supporting Holly Springs High School students and staff. The event is planned as an adults-only casual night out with heavy hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, disc jockey, dancing and a reverse raffle with a grand prize of $2,500 cash. A limited number of tickets are available for $100 per couple from any PTSA or Golden Hawks Club board member. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact dhcox313@aol.com.

HOPEWELL ACADEMY

• Open house for prospective parents will beat 7 p.m. Monday. Register by calling 919-607-6339 or visit hopewellacademy.org.

• The annual Hopewell Academy Silent Auction will be from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 at Gregory's Restaurant in Cary. Suggested ticket donation is $25 per person.

PENNY ROAD ELEMENTARY

• Volunteers are needed to read to kindergarten and first-grade students for the Breakfast with Books program, which will begin in October. For information, contact Penny Road Elementary at 919-387-2136.

• Feed the Bin will take place on Thursday. Feed the Bin is a school recycling program sponsored by Wake County Environmental Services through a partnership with the Wake County Public School System.

REEDY CREEK MIDDLE

• Shop at Barnes & Noble to support Reedy Creek Middle on Tuesday and next Wednesday. A percentage of your purchase from the café, music and books floor will be donated to the school. Just tell the cashier you are supporting Reedy Creek. Events are planned at Barnes & Noble in Cary to recognize the school's arts and academics.

ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL

• Cross-country, a new extracurricular club for St. Michael middle school students, kicked-off its first season with two eighth graders, C. S. Scott and Savannah Lips, winning first place in the boys' and girls' races. St. Michael's first cross-country meet included runners from The Franciscan School and Our Lady of Lourdes. It was held at Blue Jay Point in Raleigh.