Rimersburg Elementary School won first place in the Equations competition held Feb. 20 at Clarion Elementary School. Front from left are Jordan Heeter and Michael Keefer. Back from left are Dakota Curran, Eric Seary, coach and instructor David Louder, Bailey Heeter and Brandon Spencer.

Slippery Rock University music students earned top honors March 13 to 15 at the 62nd annual Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival at Allegheny College in Meadville.

Students are sent to the festival based on their music faculty's recommendations, but then must audition for chairs within each of the band's instrument sections. This year's band was led by Col. Tim Foley, former conductor of the United States President's Own Marine Band.

First chair honors went to

Dawn Marks of Butler, who plays the cornet. Second chair honors went to

Sean Murphy of Cranberry Township, who plays tenor saxophone.

Stephanie Cicero, a percussionist from Butler, also was selected to participate, but no chairs are assigned for percussionists.———

Jessica Spafford of Chicora will appear in Ohio Wesleyan University's upcoming production of "Carousel."Spafford is a 2007 graduate of Karns City High School, where she performed in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat," "Les Miserables," and "Beauty and the Beast." She also performed in "The Ballad of Baby Doe" at the university. She is a vocal performance major.———

Rimersburg Elementary School won first place in the elementary Equations tournament held Feb. 20 at Clarion Elementary School.Competitors included Clarion Elementary School, Rimersburg Elementary School, North Clarion Elementary School, Cranberry Elementary School, and Clarion-Limestone Elementary School, Titusville Middle School, Hydetown Elementary School and Pleasantville Elementary School. Many students from Warren County's Learning Enrichment Center also competed.Research demonstrates equations develop skills far beyond drill and practice computation. It cultivates the critical problem-solving abilities needed to recognize and apply fundamental concepts.A total of 44 students competed individually and as part of teams. The competition involved three 30-minute rounds where the competitors could earn two to six points.Rimersburg's team won the first place trophy for the fifth and sixth grade division.Team members are

Jordan Heeter,

Michael Keefer,

Dakota Curran,

Eric Seary, coach and instructor

David Louder,

Bailey Heeter and

Brandon Spencer.