LINCOLN Roger Doud of Grand Island Northwest High School has been awarded the 2007-08 Statewide Counseling Excellence Award by the Chancellor of the Nebraska State College System, the Board of Trustees and other system representatives.

Doud, who has served as guidance counselor at Northwest for 12 years, is the third high school guidance counselor to receive the statewide honor. Doud is also a student at Wayne State College earning his master's degree in school administration.

The Statewide Counseling Excellence Award includes a plaque and a trip to the annual Great Plains Association for College Admission Counseling Conference held in Overland Park, Kan. in April.

Doud and his wife, Shelly, have two sons.

Colorado firefighter receives honors

Jim Cravener with North-West Fire Protection District in Fairplay, Colo., was voted "Best Firefighter" in the Flume's 2008 People's Choice Awards.

Cravener's been with North-West for about six years. He started as a volunteer before he became a full-time firefighter.

Cravener is the grandson of Myron and Betty Duncan of Grand Island.