SCHOOLS

LEXINGTON 1’s Jim Harpe, coordinator of the district’s alternative program FOCUS, has announced his retirement. Harpe has served as the coordinator of FOCUS since 1996, and has 38 years of experience as an educator.

RICHLAND NORTHEAST HIGH INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE WORLD SCHOOL has been named a finalist for the 2013 Dick and Tunky Riley Award for School Improvement Council Excellence. It is one of five schools in the state to be named a finalist.

THE MEADOW GLEN MIDDLE ROBOTICS TEAM has won the Best Robot Design trophy at the FIRST LEGO League’s Lexington Regional Competition.

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL has received a Wildlife Federation grant. Lexington High School Science Teacher Amy Price applied for and received the grant of 50 trees from the National Wildlife Federation.

COMMUNITY

LEXINGTON COUNTY PLANNING/GIS MANAGER JACK MAGUIRE has been appointed as the County Government representative on the National Geospatial Advisory Committee. Maguire is one of 13 professionals who joined the group.

LEXINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF JAMES R. METTS has promoted Brannon Marthers of Lexington to the rank of master deputy, Joseph Andaloro of Columbia to serve as the resident deputy in the West Lexington community and Richard Dana Catoe of Lexington to serve as a full-time school resource officer at Chapin High School.

RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR MARIA YTURRIA has been named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Chapin American Legion Post No. 193.

THE LANCASTER COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE ARTS is sponsoring its 2nd annual Red Rose Photography Contest, which is open to all ages. There is no entry fee. Registration forms are due April 1 to the LCCA, 201 W. Gay St., Lancaster, SC 29720. Photographs should visually represent what makes the community special. Info: (803) 285-7451

YOUTH

THE “ART OF HEALING” STUDENT ART EXHIBITION will be on display at Lexington Medical Center beginning today. The work includes paintings, photographs and sculptures. For more information, visit blog.lexmed.com

YOUTH ART MONTH EXHIBITION featuring work by Lexington Middle School students will be on display through March 30 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at Tapp’s Art Center, 1644 Main St. Info: (803) 988-0013

MILITARY

NAVY CONSTRUCTIONMAN BENJAMIN D. THOMPSON has received the Rear Admiral Eugene J. Peltier Award for fiscal year 2012. He is the son of Marilyn A. Thompson of Lexington and Benjamin D. Thompson of Leesville.

MARINE CORPS PFC. CLARISSA K. HARVEY has graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. She is the daughter of Angelia and Curtis Harvey of Columbia.

NAVY SEAMAN NATHAN J. KRUEGER has graduated from basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. He is the brother of Katie M. Krueger of Columbia.

MARINE CORPS PVT. MATHEW D. BRANT has graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. He is the son of Pamela D. Williams of Camden and Anthony H. Brant of Ulmer.

MARINE CORPS PFC. HENRY L. GUMS has graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. He is the son of Susan and Chip Gums of Chapin.

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PFC. SHELTON T. SCOTT has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. He is the son of Jeff and Rita Scott and the grandson of Varnell Shelton, all of Blythewood.