Honorary degree for ag teacher
Lebanon High School agriculture teacher Mike Wilson, right, received an Honorary American FFA Degree before nearly 70,000 Oregon-based attendees at the 95th annual National FFA Convention & Expo, held Oct. 26-29 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Wilson also teaches and manages the Lebanon chapter of the Future Farmers of America at the school’s Land Lab.
According to a social media post by school staff, “Mr. Wilson has helped create a high-quality agricultural education program at LHS which inspires and motivates LHS students to strive for success.”
The honorary degree celebrates teachers who have created high-quality agricultural education programs that inspire and motivate students to strive for success.
Quiltmakers honor veterans
Members of the Salem Star Valor Quilters of Oregon presented four quilts to local veterans on Oct. 8 at the Sweet Home Senior Center. The group, which is part of the national Quilts of Valor organization, aims to “cover every service member and veteran touched by war with a comforting and healing quilt.” Sherry Kudna, a 1984 Sweet Home High School graduate and a 
member of the group, made the quilts, which were presented to Jennifer Behrens, recently retired after 20 years in the Navy; Robert E. Morris Jr., a veteran of Vietnam; Walter Rash, a Korean War veteran; and John W. Welty, who served in the Navy in the late 1950s during the Cold War. For more information on Salem Star Valor Quilters, including how to qualify for a quilt, call (503) 899-3210.
Game on
The Lebanon Public Library recently installed a Nintendo Switch gaming system to encourage teens to use the library as a safe place to hang out, Library Assistant Julie Tibbetts said. The system was purchased through a grant from the Braemer Charitable Trust and Trust Management Services. Youth between 10 and 18 years old will be able to use the system for free when a Children’s Services librarian is at the desk.
Runner earns ELCA’s first state win
Daisy Lalonde of East Linn Christian finished first in the OSAA Class 3A/2A/1A girls cross country state championship race at Lane Community College in Eugene on Nov. 4, running a time of 18:43.7. With the first place finish, Lalonde became the first runner from ELCA to win a state championship.
Lebanon High alum named Pacific Conference Freshman of the Year
Lebanon High School alum Caleb Christner was named Freshman of the Year and to the All-Conference second team by the California Pacific Conference last week.
Playing for Park University of Gilbert, Ariz., Christner scored 17 goals and 35 points, leading the team in goals. He was among the top scorers in the NAIA, finishing 11th nationally in goals and 23rd in points. He was third in the league in scoring.
Christner leads the Buccaneers program in hat tricks with his three goals against California State University Maritime, and four in the last match of the season against Providence Christian College.
The Park University Gilbert concluded its 2022 men’s season with a massive 15-1 win over the Providence Christian College Sea Beggars. The Buccaneers finished (8-7-4, 5-5-3). The Buccaneers started playing soccer in 2018.
Adding to his list, Christner was also named the California Pacific Conference Player of the Week following one of his two hat-trick matches back in September.
