MacKenzie Jackson set a bright yellow golf ball on the tee Tuesday and got ready to swing.

MacKenzie, 11, missed and hit all grass. She tried again, hitting the ball but sending it only a couple of feet.

Next it was Julian Cano’s turn. He hit it on the first try but sent the ball flying across the path, away from the green.

Julian and MacKenzie were among the Harris Elementary School fifth-graders who took a field trip to Cherry Hill Golf Course as part of a physical education unit on golf. Despite the gloomy day, drizzling rain and last-minute call to take the trip, the students separated off into groups to hit balls on a real golf course.

The students practiced their swing and hitting the balls in gym class but were excited to play on a real course. They also learned how to control their swings to better hit the ball.

“You can hit it farther,” Julian said.

“You actually get to whack the ball,” MacKenzie said.

The best and most fun part?

“You get to drive (in) a golf cart,” said Sarah Shaut, 10.

Recognitions

•Hickory Center Elementary music specialist Diane Barton and Summit Middle School band director Susan Jehl were named Music Educators of the Year by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.

•A team from Memorial Park Middle School was a first-place regional winner in the eCYBERMISSION competition. Each team member will receive a $3,000 U.S. savings bond and will be invited to Washington, D.C., in June to compete in this year’s National Judging and Educational Event.

•The following students were named winners of the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest: Grace Higbie, Leo Elementary; Andrew

Bernard, St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth School; Payton Head, St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth School; and Evan Raymer, St. Joseph-St. Elizabeth School.

•Alexandra Klaehn, sophomore at Concordia Lutheran High School, was named one of Indiana’s top two youth volunteers for 2009 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

•The following college students were named the outstanding accounting or finance students from their universities by Financial Executives International: Nathan Beron, Huntington University; Shane Baughman, Indiana Tech; Andrew Wartenbe, IPFW; Joel

Hawkins, Manchester College; Brok Lahrman, University of Saint Francis; and Lauren Hudson, Tri-State University.

Scholarships

•Samantha DePrez, Bishop Dwenger High School graduate, received the T-Comm faculty scholarship from Ball State University.

•Elise Remissong, Canterbury High School student, won a scholarship from The University of Findlay.