Jonathan Miner, a professor of political science at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, has been named a 2009-10 Academic Fellow for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

As a fellow, Miner will travel to Israel for lectures by academics, diplomats and military officials from India, Israel, Jordan, Turkey and the United States. Fellows also will visit military, police and immigration facilities throughout Israel to learn about terrorism and how democratic states can combat it. The program begins Saturday and ends June 10.

"I want to get an understanding of how international states cooperate," Miner said in a news release. "To see the meetings with different diplomats from different states, and get a better understanding of how political cooperation works."

South Hall Middle School sixth-grader Ian Cundiff won first place for his performance of Attila the Hun at the National Day of History state competition held April 25 at Macon State College. South Hall Middle teacher Kelly Schollaert was named Georgia's National History Day Merritt Teacher at the event.

Cundiff moves on to the National History Day contest to be held at the University of Maryland June 14-18.

Joshua Cofield of Gainesville has been awarded a National Leadership Scholarship from the Gainesville Chick-fil-A restaurant in Gainesville.

Cofield is the 11th member from that franchise location to receive this honor and is a student at Gainesville State College.

Jenna Sicard, a senior at Gainesville High School, recently received the 2009 Sam Walton Community Scholarship funded by the Walmart Foundation. Sicard plans to attend Georgia Souther University in Statesboro this fall, majoring in computer engineering.

The Johnson High School Georgia Career Student Association recently attended the state conference April 1-4 at Jekyll Island.

First place winners were Will Little, extemporaneous speaking; Naara Martinez, fashion design; Kayla Mabrey, career exploration manual/ninth and 10th grade; Jareth Munoz, word processing/ninth and 10th grade; and Gerardo Flowers, most improved young man.

Second place winners were Diana Castaneda, school project; Cody Collins, natural resource management; Jesus Delgado, Mathematical Application /11th and 12th; Jackie Zelaya, most improved young lady; and Cristal Vera, construction technology.

Third place winners were Alex Diaz, Ubaldo DeLeon and Alejandra Vazquez, creative problem solving; David Umana, woodworking; Elizabeth Rodriguez, entrepreneurship; Paty Contreras, job interview; and Michael Ramirez and Adam Reimers, video production.

The chapter was awarded as State Superior Chapter of the Year and won the Battle of the Chapter trophy.

Kathy Strickland is the adviser.

John Castleberry of Gainesville recently graduated from Furman University in Greenville, S.C.