February 19, 2009

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Local students receive academic honors

Northeastern University recently announced students named to the dean’s list for the fall semester including Leah Tsao, majoring in environmental science; Teryn Kogura majoring in liberal arts and Benjamin Englert, majoring in computer science.

Terremce Reilly II, received faculty honors at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. with a grade point of at least 3.667 and no individual letter grade below a B.

Presentation High students get new service trips

There’s a lot going on at Presentation High School recently with two seniors winning the second annual Social Issues Documentary Festival, and two new service trips for freshman and sophomores. Other news includes the schools Lantern League, a women’s giving circle sponsored the school, awarding $118,000 to programs that support women and girls.

Seniors Hayley Foster and Rebekah Phillips were winners at the SI DocFest, which was created by Presentation alumnae Monica Alba ’05 and Loreli Alba ’08, and allows high school students to create documentaries centered on social issues that affect their communities.

At the screening, which was held in downtown San Jose in February at the Camera 12 Cinemas, 13 semi-finalist documentaries were viewed, with topics ranging from local youth groups to camps for individuals with muscular dystrophy. The semi-finalists were selected from a pool nearly 100 submissions.

The Foster and Phillips video “Stopping the Cycle” earned a first-place prize of $10,000, which will be divided among the filmmakers in the form of scholarships, the high school and The Support Network.

During the Frosh Day of Service, a group of students took public transportation to Sacred Heart Community Service, where they spent the morning helping clients get food and clothing. Then the students shopped for lunch at Zanotto’s Downtown Market with a budget of 75 cents per person – the equivalent of a real food-stamp allowance. The group of nearly a dozen people sat in St. James Park and shared the lunch that money could afford: a package of flour tortillas, a jar of mixed peanut butter and jelly and four oranges. That afternoon, students shopped for dinner and then cooked tacos for residents at Casa De Clara, a Catholic Worker home for homeless women and children.

During the Sophomore Service Trip, students explored about the lack of affordable, fresh food to residents in West Oakland, which results in higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and alcoholism. Students volunteered with organizations devoted to “food justice:” People’s Grocery, the City Slickers Secret Garden, The Garden Project, and Oakland Based Urban Gardens. They also participated in native seed planting at the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve.

The group most enjoyed working with second-graders at the Lafayette School, where the after-school OBUGS program allows students to grow their own vegetables and cook their own soup.

In January, members of the Lantern League voted to distribute their money among five organizations: The Support Network, a Santa Clara County organization devoted to ending domestic violence ($20,000); Catholic Charities’ Young Women Empowerment Program ($6,500); SafeHouse San Francisco, a residential community for homeless women who have been working in prostitution ($15,000); Our Lady of Grace Nativity School in San Jose, which provides a quality Catholic education to at-risk middle-school youth ($15,000); and Maitri, a Bay Area organization helping South Asian women facing domestic violence ($2,500).

The other half of the grant money ($59,000) will fund two full scholarships to Presentation High School, one partial scholarship, and a fund for economically disadvantaged students to support their involvement in school activities.

Founded in 2006 by Delaney and Presentation Principal Mary Miller, this giving circle was formed with the idea that even people who aren’t individually wealthy can combine their contributions to make a difference in their communities.

A recruitment social will be held on Thursday, April 30. Visit www.lantern-league.org for more information.

Two Branham students win photography awards

Two students from Branham High School won awards in the seventh annual Pro Image Student Photography Contest.

Students from more than 20 high schools from the Bay area and Sacramento entered 506 entries to win a $200 best of show scholarship” as well as other competitive awards. This year’s best of show winner, “Paparazzi,” was awarded to Lynn Albert of Branham High School. Kate Smith, also from Branham, won a first prize for her print titled “Charred,” and Drew Osumi of Valley Christian High School won a first-place award for his photograph “The Little Details.”

Other first-place winners included Sophy Bun of Del Mar High School for her print titled “Self-Portrait.”

“We wanted to put together an event that we could give back to our students. We have been photographing them for years and it was our turn to see their work. “Every year we are pleasantly surprised at the quality of work we receive,” said Kim Brady.

“With school budget cuts, it is sad to see many photography programs in high schools are disappearing. We have so many gifted students that may never find their talent,” said Kim Brady, director of operations for the Pro Image San Jose studio. “With each year’s success, we look forward to next year entries. We hope to provide young student photographers an opportunity to showcase their talents.”

Seeking School News

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