Sisters salutes...

• Quay and Dawn Richerson, of Sisters, announce with great pride the graduation of their daughter, Jordan Jean Richerson, from The University of Texas School of Nursing. Jordan was the SHS Class of 2011 valedictorian and graduated Magna Cum Laude from UT with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). She passed the National Council (of State Boards of Nursing) Licensure Examination on August 17.

Prior to attending UT, Jordan completed her undergraduate studies at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. While at Baylor, Jordan was the head coxswain for the Baylor Crew Team and was selected as the supplemental instructor for Anatomy and Physiology.

Jordan's dream is to become a midwife, giving care to mothers and babies in the USA and in developing countries around the world and she plans to spend the foreseeable future in the mountain town she loves!

"God spoke to me and called me to His Service. What form this service was to take the voice did not say."

- Florence Nightingale

• Principal Joe Hosang of Sisters High School announced that Johanna S. Geisen has been named a Commended Student in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporations (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal.

About 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2017 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, commended students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2017 competition by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

"The young men and women being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success," said a spokesperson for NMSC. "These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."

• A shout-out to the Sisters-Camp Sherman firemen from Chuck and Anne Kuzminski: "On Labor Day as we were heading toward Suttle Lake to camp, we experienced a medical emergency. With the firemen's help we were able to get to St. Charles and concentrate on the health issue while they volunteered to move our camper off the highway to the Sisters Fire Station.

"We thank the firemen for their kindness in going way beyond their duty. This is a reminder to us of what we miss moving to the Big City. Miss your wonderful community."