Two teachers from South Central Elementary School have qualified for national board certification.

Lori Anthony, reading specialist, and Kelly Mezyk, elementary teacher, passed on their first try. The process can take up to three years to complete and requires each teacher to submit four portfolio entries and demonstrate content knowledge in response to six exercises developed for their certificate area.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards aims to improve teaching and student learning.

• The McDonald's in Canonsburg sponsored a benefit fundraiser Nov. 16 to help Jackie Gordon in her battle against leukemia. Jackie is a Canon-McMillan High School sophomore and employee of McDonald's.

Nearly $2,000 was raised for the family through an all-you-can-eat hotcakes breakfast that sold 160 tickets.

• Allison Paxton, a third-grader at South Central Elementary School, won the Brady's Smile mascot contest with her drawing of a rainbow ending in a cloud with a face and halo. Her drawing serves as the organization's new logo and has been posted at the Web site, www.bradyssmile.org.

Andrew Engel, a South Central second-grader, was the runner-up in the contest, which received more than 300 entries and more than 56,000 online votes.

Brady's Smile Inc. was founded by Annie and Matt Hinton, of Connecticut, in honor of their 2-year-old son, Brady Blaine Hinton, who was born with multiple health problems and died March 16, 2008.

The organization promotes, improves and sustains the health, emotional well-being and social development of children in need, including children suffering from illness or disability and children at risk.

Brady's Smile helps children in three hospitals, including Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where Brady received a kidney transplant.

Allison, the daughter of Tonya and John Paxton, and Andrew, the son of Linda and Mark Engel, will receive a prize and trophy from Brady's Smile.

The Trinity High School Marching Band captured the recent Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association Class AAA Championship at Gateway High School. The win is the eighth consecutive class championship earned by the band.