Airyn Banda has been named store manager of the Maurices store in Lawrence. Banda will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the store, including sales performance, visual presentation and personnel recruitment and training.

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Scott Rice Office Works, an office furniture store, recently relocated to 1201 Wakarusa Drive, Suite B-1. It previously was at 1040 Vt. The company merged with Color Art of Kansas City this year and now offers additional services such as audio visual and technology solutions and facility management services.

Honors and awards

Jeff Pierce, clinical coordinator of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital pharmacy, and Karen Finkbiner, LMH Oncology Center pharmacist, presented award-winning posters at the Kansas Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists spring meeting. Each year, KSHP plays host to a meeting for about 150 pharmacists in Kansas and Missouri. KSHP offers two awards at the meeting: research and innovative practice. Pierce and Finkbiner received the research award, and Finkbiner received the innovative practice award.

Finkbiner and Pierce both worked on the research poster. The poster documented the hospital’s look into adopting a less expensive drug to treat nausea and vomiting. The poster included information about their research, trial and findings.

Pierce also received the innovative practice award for a poster titled “Evidence of the Value of a Pharmacist: A Multi-institutional Summary of Five Specific Pharmacist Interventions.” The poster presented data that showed the benefits of clinical pharmacy in an institution. It was his third innovative practice award.

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The Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau announces the winners of its photo contest that was sponsored to celebrate National Tourism Week, May 8-16.

The photo contest, which was open to area youths, amateur and professional photographers, looked to local artists to capture the most enticing elements about Lawrence on film. Residents submitted 38 entries in six different categories. Categories included, Let it Snow, Ashes to Immortality, City of the Arts, People of Lawrence and Sporting Lawrence. Photos were evaluated for originality, artistry, impact and content relative to visitors.

The division winners were: Rebecca Dreyfus, Ashes to Immortality; Lakeshia Atkins, People of Lawrence; Sam Nitcher, City of the Arts; Taylor Inverarity, People of Lawrence; Jill Jevens, Let it Snow; Amanda Burgen, From Ashes to Immortality.

The grand prize winner, Amanda Burgen, submitted a photograph of the Douglas County Courthouse. Her photo will also be in the 2004-2005 Lawrence Visitors Guide, which will be published in early August.

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The Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau honored outstanding Lawrence hotel employees May 13 during an open house at the Lawrence Visitor Information Center. The outstanding employees were nominated by their property’s general manager for their commitment to providing outstanding customer service. This year’s Outstanding Hotel Employee is Rita Koehn, a breakfast room attendant at Days Inn. Other nominees who received recognition were: Gregory Steen, guest service agent, Lawrence Holidome; Reginald Stewart, guest services representative, Super 8 Motel; Phyllis Holloway, breakfast bar hostess, Holiday Inn Express; Sabrina Daukei, front desk clerk, Baymont Inn & Suites; Ryan Lane, front desk clerk, Ramada Inn.

Coming events

Cottonwood Inc. will sponsor its annual Mini Masters miniature golf tournament at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at the Twin Oaks Golf Complex located near Kansas Highway 10 and County Road 1057.

The tournament offers the Lawrence community the opportunity to play a free round of golf and meet individuals with disabilities who receive services from Cottonwood, Inc. Cottonwood Foundation board member Dr. Jim Otten and his wife, Vickie, will play host to an ice cream social after the tournament. For more information, contact Peggy Wallert at 840-1605. Cottonwood Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides employment, residential and support services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

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Consumer Credit Counseling Services will present “Discover More Dollars” from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Topeka Public Library, 1515 SW 10th St. in Topeka. The free workshop will cover topics such as financial goal setting, developing a realistic budget, cutting costs, evaluating spending habits and starting a savings plan. The class is sponsored by Intrust Bank. To make reservations or for more information, call (785) 234-0217, extension 368 or (800) 383-0217, extension 368.

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Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. will present its three-part home maintenance series in June. Each class will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Buchanan Center, 1195 SW Buchanan in Topeka.

The agency will present “Weed & Seed,” a lesson on lawn care and landscaping, on Wednesday. “Pipes and Circuits,” simple plumbing and electrical repair techniques, will be presented June 16. “Paint and Paper,” set for June 23, will cover the dos and don’ts of painting and inexpensive decorating tips.

The cost of the series is $25 per household. To register or for more information, call (785) 234-0217 or (800) 383-0217.

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Several Lawrence companies will be recognized by Lt. Governor John Moore at the Kansas Business Appreciation Month Awards program at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel, 6100 College Blvd., Overland Park. The Chiropractic Experience, EMR Inc., Griffin Technologies, People’s Bank, Pinnacle Technology, Sauer-Danfoss, and The World Company will be honored for their outstanding work. Kansas Business Appreciation Month pays tribute to Kansas businesses of all sizes for the contributions they make to their communities and to the state.

In addition to the state festivities, the Kansas Business Appreciation Month will be celebrated in Lawrence. “Hot Dogs -N- Thanks” will be provided to business park employees in Douglas County during the month of June. The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Board, in partnership with Douglas County Development Inc., the City of Lawrence and Douglas County, will be sponsoring a hot dog cookout at various business parks in recognition of the contribution that local business employees make to the economy. The cookouts are co-sponsored by Berry Plastics.

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The Kansas Department of Commerce will play host to ceremonies in June to celebrate Kansas Business Appreciation Month.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will present the 2004 Governor’s Exporter of the Year award June 8 at the annual Kansas Cavalry Encampment at Washburn University in Topeka. The finalists for the award are: BG Products Inc., Wichita; CareFore Medical Inc., Olathe; Marcus Food Co., Wichita; Tramco Inc., Wichita; and Vita Craf Corp., Shawnee.

For more information about the month’s activities, call Kristy Druse at (785) 296-3805 or e-mail kdruse@kansascommerce.com.