North County School News, May 28

ESCONDIDO

Academy students win yearbook award

Classical Academy High School journalism students recently won the Pacemaker award, presented by the National Scholastic Press Association, for their 2019 yearbook, “Make Yourself.” The Pacemaker is the pre-eminent award for secondary school journalists. It is typically announced at the annual NSPA conference, but because of COVID-19 quarantine measures, the award was announced via livestream.

CARLSBAD

PacRidge students enjoy ‘buddy system’

Middle school students at the Pacific Ridge School were paired with the special education program in the Encinitas school district for The Buddy Project, a new part of the school’s service learning program. The students visited La Costa Heights Elementary several times each month. Each Pacific Ridge student teamed with a younger buddy with whom they continued to work each week, forging a bond and helping the buddy improve social skills. The visits usually began outdoors at recess, playing games or enjoying a snack together, and then moved inside to continue playing or doing adaptive physical education. Many of the elementary-age buddies are nonverbal, so PRS students learned various ways to communicate, interact and have fun. This partnership began in the upper school service learning program several years ago and now has shifted into the middle school. When schools closed because of COVID-19, the group continued to meet virtually. The program will resume once students are allowed to return to campus. The group is eager to meet with their buddies again. Visit www.pacificridge.org.

NORTH COUNTY

ALNC donation will help feed students

The nonprofit Assistance League of North Coast recently presented a check for $1,000 to Vista Teen Outreach, along with hygiene packages for teens. Vista Teen Outreach provides access to campus food pantries filled with food and hygiene kits for any student in need. The group is run by volunteers and has collection sites throughout Vista. T.J. Crossman Auto Repair on Melrose is one of the donation locations and served as the meeting place for the check presentation and kit donation. ALNC members Karen Quimby, Mary Kloberdanz and Sondra Peppe helped connect with Vista Teen Outreach as a way to help students in need. This donation will help serve students at six Vista schools, with each school serving 33 families. Visit www.alnc.org.

Conservation group wins educational grant

The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy was recently approved for a $10,000 SDG&E Environmental Champions Grant for its “Through-the-Lens” program. The new program will teach students in grades 6-8 about wildlife through camera-trap photos taken in the river valley. Through in-classroom teachings and processing of the photos, students become citizen scientists and stewards of the land. The program was developed by the conservancy’s education manager, Ana Lutz-Johnson, and board member Shelley Glenn Lee. The data gathered will contribute to land-management plans that aim to maintain and increase habitat connectivity and adapt to regional climate-change effects. This $10,000 investment will allow the project to maintain low costs. The conservancy’s mission is to protect and preserve the San Dieguito River Valley; complete the planned 70-mile Coast-to-Crest Trail that will connect Volcan Mountain near Julian to North Beach in Del Mar; and to educate its members and the public about the resources in the San Dieguito River Valley. Visit sdrvc.org.

College graduates

California State University, Stanislaus: Arturo Marfil, San Diego, Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice; Carolina Mauricio, San Marcos, magna cum laude, Bachelor of Arts in sociology.

Boise State University, Boise, Idaho: James Bieber, Cardiff, B.S., kinesiology; Malia Howard, Oceanside, B.A., English teaching; Spencer Harrington, Poway, B.B.A., business administration, B.B.A., supply chain management; Louis Cramer, Fallbrook, B.S., psychology; Amber Williams, Encinitas, B.S., nursing; Andrew Brion, Vista, B.S., civil engineering; Zachary Marcin, Encinitas, B.A., environmental studies; Michael Eppel, San Marcos, B.S. materials science and engineering; Matthew Duniphan, Escondido, M.B.A., business administration; Paige Payne, Valley Center, B.S., respiratory care, registered respiratory therapist; Suzanne Shelton, Fallbrook, B.S., respiratory care, registered respiratory therapist; Brittany Barner, Fallbrook, B.S., social science; Frank Blondino, San Marcos, M.B.A., business administration; Julia Thomas, Fallbrook, B.A., media arts; Sydney Corley, Escondido, B.A., secondary education in history, social sciences; Lester Baldevarona, Fallbrook, B.S. nursing.

OCEANSIDE

Video challenge offered to students

The Oceanside Unified School District presents a “What Goes Where” Video Challenge: Students are asked to create a video and be entered for the chance to win up to $600! Green Oceanside’s “What Goes Where” Video Challenge is open to all district students interested in creating an educational video that teaches the community what items go in the recycling bin, and what items go in the landfill bin. Check out the video requirements at https://bit.ly/2yDzZ4V. The contest ends June 12. Email submissions to GreenOceanside@oceansideca.org.

MiraCosta students awarded scholarships

Three MiraCosta College students have been named winners of the national Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which pays up to $40,000 annually for up to three years, while they earn their bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university. Khadijah Bint Sadiq Abdulmateen, Ava Davari, and Licol Zeinfeld are among the 50 recipients selected this year, and among nine chosen from California. Abdulmateen is an Honors Navigator in the Honors Program and the president of the Black Student Union. A communications major, she plans to work in public relations, focusing on youth development. Davari is vice president of scholarship at
Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Chi Lambda chapter at MiraCosta and a member of the Honors Scholar Program. She plans to become a registered nurse and eventually a pediatric nurse practitioner in oncology. Licol Zeinfeld is executive vice president of the MiraCosta College Associated Student Government. Her goal is to continue pursuing and creating opportunities where technology, art and education intersect. The Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is reserved for top community college students, chosen based on exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service to others and leadership.

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