Teresa Christy of Butler, a financial planner for Prudential Insurance, received a Prudential CARES Volunteer Grants Award of $1,000 for Victim Outreach Intervention Center (VOICe).Christy dedicated 180 hours to VOICe in 2004, assisting the organization in raising funds and with education initiatives. She also participated in the rebuilding of a transitional home for abused women. Christy established the home’s computer room and worked to teach residents computer skills.

The National Paralyzed Veterans of America appointed <B>James Riemer</B> of Butler to its eight-member finance committee recently.That committee oversees a budget of $84 million for the PVA, which is based in Washington, D.C. His term will run until 2008.He also has been elected by the Keystone PVA to be on the national organization’s board of directors.Riemer is the treasurer of the Keystone Paralyzed Veterans of America, based in Pittsburgh. A member of the regional group since 1994, he has served on its board of directors since 2000.A veteran of the Navy, Riemer served from 1972 to 1978.

<B>Kathe Santillo</B>, a library media specialist at Butler High School, has been selected as one of 100 state-level Keystones Technology Integrators for 2005.Santillo was chosen based on her methods for using technology to improve student performance.

The following participants received prizes for their costumes at the recent Saxonburg Halloween Parade.<B>Infant to Kindergarten</B>First — Parker Bowser, WorthingtonSecond — Aleah Young, ButlerThird — Morgan Bruni, Saxonburg<B>Grades 1 to 3</B>First — Paul Kasunic, ButlerSecond — Micah Keller, CabotThird — Maggie Blair, Saxonburg<B>Grades 4 to 6</B>First — Sammy Ohl, SaxonburgSecond — Michael Kasunic, ButlerThird — Nathan Poeppel, Saxonburg<B>Grades 7 to 12</B>First — Nick Planas, ButlerSecond — Cameron Laugherty, ValenciaThird — Nick Kasunic, Butler<B>Families and Groups</B>First — Andrew and Alex Olczak, SaxonburgDylan and Jenna Plutyk, SaxonburgSecond — Nathan and Madeline Anesin, SaxonburgCarly Wehner and Sarah Wehner, SaxonburgThird — Jarod and Emma Check, Sarver

A fourth-grader at Mars Elementary School is the winner of the second annual holiday card contest sponsored by Mars National Bank.<B>Lori Lehman</B>, 9, had her card creation was selected from those submitted by children in kindergarten through the fourth grade from Seneca Valley, Mars, Knoch, Hampton and Pine-Richland school districts who participated in the contest to draw or paint their favorite holiday scene.For her selection, she was given a $105 passbook savings account and Mars Elementary School was given $500 for its art education department from the bankThe winning design will be used as this season’s Mars National Bank holiday card.