Elizabeth Belton was selected to participate in the National Community College Aerospace Scholars program offered by the National Aeronautical and Space Administration. Belton is one of 48 community college students selected nationally and is the only student in North Carolina to be awarded this opportunity.

Belton, a science student at Durham Technical Community College, plans to graduate in spring 2012 with a concentration in engineering. She seeks to attend either N.C. State University or California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif., and to major in aerospace engineering with minors in mathematics and journalism. Working as a NASA aerospace engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., is Belton's dream career. She also is interested in freelance writing. Belton is a member of Durham Tech's Gamma Beta Phi honor society and Math Team.

Students were selected by a NASA panel based on an application, letter of recommendation and project evaluation. For the project, students were required to design a robotic mission to Mars, which included submission of an abstract, a timeline and budget, a proposal and a line drawing of a rover. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and currently pursuing their undergraduate degree at community colleges and have an interest in mathematics, science, engineering or computer science. The NCAS program is funded by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and administered by the NASA Johnson Space Center.

Belton also was awarded N.C. Space Grant's 2011-12 Community College STEM Scholarship of $1,000. She was one of 15 recipients in the state to receive this scholarship.

Durham Regional Hospital operating room nurse Stella Lobo was named to the 2011-12 lists of Great 100 Nurses. The Great 100 awards acknowledge 100 N.C. nurses annually who demonstrate excellence in practice and commitment to their profession. The Great 100 Inc. recognizes the importance of nurses in diverse practice settings and looks for those who positively affect the image of nursing and nursing as a profession.

"This recognition is an example of the dedication and ability of our nurses," said Vicky Orto, chief nursing officer. "Stella is an excellent nurse who strives to provide the best care to every patient she encounters."

Lobo, a Durham resident, has been a nurse at Durham Regional since 2005. She has received many awards for excellence in nursing, including the Dr. Isaac Hall Manning Jr. Award for excellence in direct patient care. Lobo also is an active member of the Association of Peri Operative Registered Nurses Tarheel East Chapter.

"I feel very honored to receive this award," Lobo said. "I thank my operating room team for nominating me. I felt very humbled when I found out I had been chosen."