The Ohio Department of Natural Resources updated a searchable, online database that is to make it easier for teachers to introduce students to environmental issues.

Ohio educators may select interactive, state-approved lessons from Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Project WILD and Windows on the Wild based on specific areas of study (science or social studies) and/or grade levels.

The comprehensive environmental education programs, which are sponsored by ODNR Divisions of Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation, Water and Wildlife, are aligned with Ohio Academic Content Standards for social studies and science.

"Interaction with nature, be it through structured curriculum or free play, enhances young people's cognitive flexibility, sharpens critical thinking, hones problem-solving skills and develops the imagination," says ODNR Director Sean Logan, citing research by The Trust for Public Land and others. "The ODNR database is making it easier for educators to bring conservation issues into the classroom by providing valuable, interdisciplinary learning opportunities that are suitable for their students."

In 2007, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency helped fund the alignment of the curriculum with Ohio's social studies content standards. The programs already had received the Ohio Environmental Education Fund Outstanding Project Award for aligning the student activities with the Ohio Department of Education's standards for science education.

Coordinators for the programs are to continue work to correlate the activities to the Ohio Academic Content Standards for English-language arts and technology.

Teachers looking for more information about Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Project WILD and Windows on the Wild or the searchable database may visit www.dnr.state.oh.us/

education/correlations.

KANSAS-The Lakota High School National Honor Society is hosting a blood drive 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 26.

People wishing to donate may make appointments by calling (419) 986-5161. Walk-ins are welcome.

NEW RIEGEL-The annual kindergarten screening clinic at New Riegel Elementary School is April 17.

The clinic is for those children who are entering kindergarten for the 2009-10 school year. Children must be 5 years old by Aug. 1 to attend.

Parents should pre-register their children by calling (419) 595-2265.

FOSTORIA-The kick-off for 2009-10 registrations for St. Wendelin Schools is Feb. 1 at the St. Wendelin annual open house, which is 10 a.m.-noon at St. Wendelin Elementary and 12:30-3 p.m. at St. Wendelin Junior High and High School.

Students who are registered by Feb. 1 are entered into two drawings for $100 off of their tuition for 2009-10. The first drawing is Feb. 1, with the second drawing March 9.

Anyone wanting to shadow students for a day may call Cathy Krupp at St. Wendelin Elementary, (419) 435-1809, or Debbie Miller at the high school and junior high, (419) 435-8144.

Sentinel Career Center is to host an open house 5-7:30 p.m. Feb. 2. Area students and parents may visit Sentinel and discover the opportunities for developing career and employment skills that are offered in its 16 career programs.

The theme for the event is "Sentinel Career Center-A World of Opportunities." Local business, industry and college professionals are to be on hand to share information about job trends, employment skills and training options, as well as post-high school educational programs, courses and college credits available to Sentinel students.

Open house activities include displays and demonstrations by program students and instructors. Each program is to offer door prizes.

Sentinel's newly formed student council is sponsoring a spaghetti dinner 4:30-6:30 p.m. that evening. The cost is $6 for dine in or carryout. Tickets may be purchased in the school office or by calling (419) 448-1212. Proceeds are to benefit Sentinel's youth organizations.

Applications are being accepted for the 2009-10 school year. Current sophomores may apply for enrollment to the two-year programs, while sophomores and juniors may apply to careers in education and freshmen may apply to cosmetology, which is a three-year program.

Agriculture science is a four-year program open to students in grades 9-12. Students should contact their school counselors or Sentinel at (419) 448-1212 to obtain an application form or more information.

FOSTORIA-Lakota Junior High School's students of the month for December are Tyler Aldrich, Jessica Gilts, Bailee Milligan and Kevin Woodruff.

Aldrich, an eighth-grader, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Aldrich of Fremont. Gilts, also an eighth-grader, is the daughter of Norm Gilts and Mr. and Mrs. Roger Geyman.

Milligan, a seventh-grader, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Milligan of Bradner. Woodruff, also a seventh-grader, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Woodruff of Risingsun.

Sentinel Career Center would like to recognize seniors Thomas Ballash, Gregory Reinhart and Matthew Wertz as Students of the Month for December 2008.

Selection was based on performance in their career programs, citizenship and involvement in youth group activities. These students represented Sentinel Career Center and their career programs at the weekly meetings of the Tiffin Kiwanis and Tiffin Rotary organizations.

Matthew Wertz, Kiwanis student of the month, attends New Riegel High School, and is the son of Bill and Darlene Wertz, New Riegel. Matthew is enrolled in the Collision Repair Technology program and is a member of SkillsUSA.

He received honor roll and perfect attendance awards and served as a student ambassador. Matthew plans to attend Wyotech, majoring in collision repair technology, and to pursue a career in collision repair and as an insurance adjuster.

Thomas Ballash, Hopewell-Loudon High School senior in the Food Service program, is a Rotary student of the month.

Thomas, the son of Robin and John Curtin, Tiffin, is a member of FCCLA and FFA. He has also received student of the quarter and honor roll awards, and plans to continue working at Kelbley Tire following graduation.

Gregory Reinhart, Rotary student of the month, attends Mohawk High School, and is enrolled in Sentinel's Precision Machining program.

He is the son of Allen and Suzanne Reinhart, Tiffin, and is a member of SkillsUSA, National Honor Society, and Mohawk FFA, currently serving as chapter president.

Gregory has received honor roll and FFA state degree awards. He plans to attend The Ohio State University and major in crop science.

FINDLAY-Several local students were invited to compete for scholarships at the University of Findlay. Those competing in Scholarship Competition Day were Paige Krupp, a student at Calvert High School and the daughter of Peter Krupp and Annette Krupp, Tiffin; Rachel Conley, a student at Mohawk High School and the daughter of Linda and Justin Conley, Carey;

Kelly Racette, a student at Calvert and the daughter of Raymond and Debra Racette, Tiffin; Mariah Hohman, a student at New Riegel High School and the daughter of Valerie and John Hohman, Tiffin; Nouran Salem, a student at Hopewell-Loudon High School and the daughter of Hala and Mohamed Salem, Findlay and Josh Saum, a student at Columbian High School and the son of Jackie and Matthew Saum, Tiffin.

Tiffin University ranks No. 15 of 44 colleges and universities that offer courses and programs online, according to the 2009 rankings published by Online Education Database, online at oedb.org. This year marks OEDb's third annual rankings.

OEDb ranks institutions based on the following metrics: acceptance rate, financial aid, graduation rate, peer Web citations, retention rate, scholarly citations, student-faculty ratio and years accredited.

OEDb recognizes the growing popularity of online education due to its flexible and affordable nature. To foster transparency and the overall reputation of online education, OEDb's rankings aim to compare schools objectively and quantifiably and identify the top accredited online colleges.

"Tiffin University is extremely proud of the quality of our online programs," TU President Paul Marion said. "We have dedicated professional instructors. Most have terminal degrees and professional experience in their disciplines. Online students of Tiffin University learn from someone who knows the book and also has experience in applying the learning to real-world experiences."

TU offers courses on a learning platform in partnership with eCollege, a leader in online education. TU has the capability to put each online student in touch with faculty members in real time through Class Live Pro, a synchronous learning tool that is embedded in all of its online courses.

OEDb is an independent for-profit organization located in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit oedb.org/rankings.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP-Owens Community College Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses are closed Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There are no classes, and the college offices are closed for business.

Classes are to resume and administrative offices are open again Tuesday.

COLUMBUS-Local students graduating from Ohio State University are Andrew Ensign, Clyde, bachelor of science in business administration; Nathan Stickney, Clyde, bachelor of arts; Samuel Waugaman, Clyde, bachelor of arts, cum laude; Brandon Frankart, Bloomville, bachelor of science in agriculture, cum laude; Zachary Baker, Fostoria, bachelor of science in agriculture, cum laude; Rachel Good, Old Fort, bachelor of science in business administration; Kathryn Cahill, Tiffin, bachelor of arts, magna cum laude; Sarah Krupp, Tiffin, bachelor of arts, cum laude;

Jacquelyn Risner, Carey, bachelor of science in pharmacy science, magna cum laude; Anna Gile, Upper Sandusky, bachelor of arts and Erin Bates, Sycamore, master of education.

COLUMBUS-Students on the honor roll at Ohio State University are Brian Gable, Shane Meyer, Mary Stephens, Morganne Swartz, Stephanie Webber and Haley Wright, Clyde; Alicia Hill, Alvada;

Zachary Baker, Meaghan Dandurand, Nicole Dull, Rachel Duque, Christopher Gerritsen, Joshua Greer, Andrew Harman, Amanda Hipsher, Megan James, William Kentris, Jay McAllister, Broderic Noel, Nicholas Peiffer, David Simonis, James Stone and Ashley Waltermeyer, Fostoria;

Lindsey Danhoff, Attica; Melia Reinhart and Aaron Siebenaller, Bascom; Reuben Auck, Bloomville; Jenna Branski and Daniel Stover, Green Springs; Abby Yoakum, Kansas; Shawn Kessler, Bethany Mack and Ashley Schalk, New Riegel; Anthony King, Republic; Joshua Coger, Brady Decker, Seth deVlugt, John Fruth, Craig Gibson, Marliese Gibson, Anne Herron, Angela Hitchcock, Max Lammlein, Theresa Lucius, Megan McClung, Scott Perry, Aleah Perry, Stephanie Reed, Suzanne Reineke, Melissa Reinhart, Tyler Sampson, Lindsey Smith, Joseph Wade, David Weber and Abbey Wise, Tiffin; Paul Anderson, Samantha Dible, Torri Kitzler, Anna Niederkohr, Jacquelyn Risner, Lauren Schalk, Zachary Smith and Amber Williams, Carey; Morgan Dunnam, Abby Elsmore, Kyle Fout, Lauren Frobose, Melissa Gallant, Sing-Kwong Kwok, Jennifer Maltsbarger, Sarah McNamee, Kristine Niederkohr, Derek Rhoades, Clay Richey, Meredith Shick, Rachel Thiel, Andrew Thomson and Kayla Weaver, Upper Sandusky and Natalie Burks and Chad Snyder, Sycamore.

Cadet Austin H. Young made the dean's list for the fall semester at the Military College of South Carolina (The Citadel) in Charleston, S.C. In doing so, he has completed the requirements for and received his degree of bachelor of arts in criminal justice.

While at The Citadel, he attained the rank of captain after being named the Fourth Battalion's operations officer his senior year.

He was elected to be the honor representative of Tango Company this year. During his junior year, he was a platoon sergeant and the regulation and discipline sergeant of Tango Company. He was a chapel honor guard for one year.

Young plans to return to The Citadel in May to participate in commencement. He is the son of Dr. Wade and Cynthia Young of Fremont and grandson of Claude and Carolyn Young of Green Springs and Glen and Nancy Haas of Fremont. He graduated from Fremont Ross High School in 2005.