Biloxi High School senior Amber Jones has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President's Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of time to serve their communities and their country, was presented by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program recognizes young people across America for outstanding community service activities.

Nearly 250,000 young people across the country have been considered for these awards since the program began in 1995.

"The recipients of these awards vividly demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities," said Arthur F. Ryan, chairman of Prudential Financial. "They truly deserve all the praise and encouragement we can give them."

"NASSP is proud to honor them as they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation's schools today," said Gerald Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Program applications were distributed last September through all public and private middle and high schools, Girl Scout councils, 4-H organizations, American Red Cross Chapters, YMCAs, and Volunteer Centers. After local honorees were named, state-level judges selected state honorees, distinguished finalists and certificate of excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

Biloxi Public Schools campus police officers will be awarded medals this morning for their work in helping evacuate residents during Hurricane Gustav.

Bob Laird, director of Safe and Orderly Schools for the Mississippi Department of Education, will present the medals to Chief Paul Cannette, and Officers Daisy Watson and Niles Dunnings during a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the district administrative office at 160 St. Peter Avenue.

As Gustav threatened, the officers used school buses to transport residents to the skate park on DeBuys Road, where Cannette was tapped by the department of education to serve as primary safety officer.

CSI-Biloxi, the forensic science unit that is being funded by Biloxi First, kicked off Monday at Gorenflo Elementary. The dates for the unit are March 2, 9, 16, 30 and April 6.

The 5th and 6th grade CREATE students from Beauvoir, Jeff Davis, Gorenflo, North Bay and Popps Ferry will be participating in this exciting unit with over 25 experiments in forensic science (using the scientific method)! Participating in the program are 69 students, 12 parent volunteers and three CREATE teachers (Cathi Brennan of North Bay, Nancy Lamey of Gorenflo and Popp’s Ferry, and Kim Clemon of Beauvoir and Jeff Davis.)

"Cabaret," Biloxi High School’s show choir, captured awards in the Purvis High School Invitational Show choir competition on Feb. 28.

In the preliminary round the group placed second overall and garnered the most outstanding soloist award with Brittni Campbell's rendition of "His Eye Is on The Sparrow."

In the finals round, the choir captured the first runner-up trophy, with Wayne County named grand champions. Brittni Campbell once again crushed the competition and walked away with "Best Soloist of the Day".

There will be a performance of this award-winning show this Friday, in the lecture hall during Activity Period. Tickets are $3 and may be purchased during lunchtime.

Sam Morgan has been selected for the Clarion Ledger All-State Soccer Team. Additionally, Sam, Kendall Holloway, Kayleigh Clark, Brittany Lang and Caitlin Andrews have been chosen for the All-District Soccer Team. The soccer team, incidentally, finished its season with a 15-4-2 record and as district champions for the second consecutive year.

The Mississippi High School Coaches Association has selected two Biloxi seniors to represent the south squad in the state softball all star game in June. Brooke Wilson was selected to the south's slow-pitch team and Mariah Partman was selected to south's fast-pitch team. They are the first players from Biloxi ever selected to participate in these statewide all-star games.