Two Gainesville high students were honored for their work at the Congressional Art Show's closing reception at Gainesville College.

Thuy Hanh Tran placed first for her drawing of two boys playing. The drawing will be displayed for one year in the Congressional Tunnel in Washington, D.C., and she will receive scholarship money.

David Patterson received an honorable mention for his drawing of an old man

Riverside Military Academy congratulates Cadet Major Andrew M. Olson, a senior, for being elected Vice President to the National Honor Society at Riverside for the 2010-11 academic year.

Cadets at the Academy earn membership in the National Honor Society by demonstrating the four qualities held in high esteem by the Society: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Candidates pledge to uphold these qualities and to be loyal to their school.

Olson, from Gainesville, is the son of Richard Olson and Terri Olson.

Nine nurse educators received their degrees Dec. 11 from North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, and two already have accepted job offers.

The group has taught and mentored hundreds of undergraduate students at North Georgia, Brenau University, Emory University, Kennesaw State University, and North Georgia Technical College.

Carrie Snead of Alpharetta earned both her associate's and bachelor's degrees in nursing at North Georgia and has been working full-time as a registered nurse in an Atlanta-area hospital while earning her master's in nursing education.

Pam Noonan of Buford, who earned her associate's degree in nursing in 1976, already has been hired as a clinical nurse educator in the labor and delivery department at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

Others who received their master's degrees were Anne Jest, Stone Mountain; Janita Mastin, Cumming; Sue McGill, Alpharetta; Kim Naab, Woodstock; Suzan Paxton, Lake Geneva, Wisc.; Maryanne Russell, Hiawassee; and Brittany Smith, Toccoa.

The group is the fourth to graduate from the nursing education program that started in 2006.

On Dec. 11, 23 Gainesville High School Band students participated in the annual GMEA District Honor Band auditions at White County High School. The event drew nearly 900 students from North Georgia competing for spots in the District IX Honor Band. Five students from GHS were selected into the District Honor Band. They are:

Brenda Rodriguez, clarinet; Chris Kelley, trumpet; Evan Trotter, trumpet; Dillon King, tuba and Morgan Mercer, percussion.

The following students scored high enough to move on to audition for the All-State Band: Chris Kelley, Patrick Kelley, Dillon King and Morgan Mercer.