Edison Elementary’s pennies minus silver equal bucks for charity

Edison Elementary School students Gina Wallace, Tammy Power and Catherine Charles recently organized a penny drive with an unusual counting method and collected some $1,100 for Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

Each classroom of students in the third through eighth grades collected pennies and other coins for two weeks in May while competing for two titles: highest cash total and highest “penny point” total.

Mrs. Castle’s fifth-grade class claimed both titles, collecting more than $184 and earning a “penny point” total of some 16,000.

Students sought to fill their respective classroom’s jar with pennies. But in a novel twist, students also could bring silver coins — nickels, dimes and quarters — and drop them into a rival classroom’s jar, reducing that jar’s penny point count by the face value of the silver coins. Thus, a jar with 100 pennies could be reduced to a penny point count of 90 by the addition of a dime from a competing classroom.

Mrs. Kvistad’s class won the honor of lowest point total — minus 4,515 — from so many silver coins.

The accumulation of coins was counted and rolled by ASB officers, staff members and other volunteers. Horizon Bank offered to convert the coinage into a cashier’s check, which will be sent to Children’s Hospital.

Social studies teacher Ben Davidson said hard work by the students and staff made the drive so successful that it may become an annual event. john c 6/13/08



Students of the month

The Skagit-Mount Vernon Kiwanis have named three La Venture Middle School eighth-graders as students of the month for June.

Emma Eliason is the daughter of Leonard and Jill Eliason of Mount Vernon. Emma has earned a 4.0 GPA while participating in the school play, volleyball, soccer, Builders Club, SAC, Jazz Band and band. She also was active in the Relay For Life and her church confirmation class. Emma was recognized for always helping students who are struggling and being a leader in the classroom.

Zach Holloway is the son of Brent and Serena Holloway of Mount Vernon. Zach plays basketball, participates on a sprint car crew, collects pictures of race cars and is a hockey fan. He was honored for treating his peers and teachers with respect and for being an outstanding student and citizen.

Maddy Loy is the daughter of Scott and Nancy Loy of Mount Vernon. She participated in the school orchestra, the school play, cross country and volleyball teams, Peer Helpers, Builders Club and MESA. Maddy also is active in community volleyball and soccer, Relay For Life and church projects. She was selected for her willingness to help other students, for working hard in class and maintaining good grades. john c 6/17/08



SVC culinary students honored

Skagit Valley College sophomores Nazaré Edwards of Anacortes and Seth Tyson of Marysville were chosen to represent the state of Washington at the National Restaurant Association’s excellence awards conference May 17 in Chicago.

The association annually selects two students from each state who exhibit leadership, academic strength and a commitment to community service to attend the annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and Salute to Excellence Awards Gala. Edwards and Tyson are enrolled in the college’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program.

“Both Nazaré and Seth are wonderful students,” SVC chef instructor Dani Cox said. “I am proud to have them represent Washington at the national level.”

The Salute to Excellence brings promising restaurant, culinary and food service management students together with top educators and industry leaders.

Art student winners

Kylie Colwell of Sedro-Woolley High School, Debbie Keynote of Anacortes High School and Kristin Ceresola of Oak Harbor High School won top honors March 27 at the Tulip Festival Art Bash Show student competition sponsored by Art League North.



Colwell, a junior, won first place for her “Boy and Girl” painting done in acrylic. Keynote, also a junior, placed second for her depiction of a young boy called “Portrait in Chalk,” and Ceresola, a senior, took third place for her mixed media entry titled “Under Mount Vernon Skies.”

The students competed against entries from 10 area schools. Their work was on display throughout April.



SVC business management awards

Skagit Valley College faculty advisor Kathy Payant accepted the Passport Presidential Award from the National DECA Association on behalf of the college’s Business Management Program. The college was one of just two award recipients out of the 192 active Delta Epsilon Chi Association chapters worldwide to be honored April 15 at the DECA International Collegiate Competition in Atlanta.

SVC Business Management students Sheena Burns of Burlington, Leigh Anne Orcutt of Arlington, Marlee Powell of Mount Vernon, Erik Knutson of Stanwood and Derrick Gallard of Bellingham took first place in their respective events during the February state competition in Leavenworth. Five other students placed in the top three at state.

The 10 students competed against 1,200 business management, marketing, finance and culinary students from two- and four-year colleges at the international event. Burns placed in the top 10 in the final round of the retail management category.

SVC student Susan Gildow of Shoreline was a finalist after the first round of competition, and Awards of Excellence certificates were presented to Burns, Orcutt, Powell, Marissa Carr of Stanwood and Kirk Casorla of Concrete for high scores in their respective events.



MVHS grad to lead CWU procession

Mount Vernon High School graduate Justin Dahl has been named to a select group of Central Washington University juniors called the Silver Cortege. Dahl is majoring in Spanish.

The students, who are chosen for their academic excellence, will lead the procession of graduates into Central’s 117th Commencement on June 7 in Ellensburg.



Students of the month

The Anacortes Noon Kiwanis honored Anacortes High School senior Stephen Steen in May as the September Kiwanis Student of the Month in English.

Steen is the son of June Steen of Anacortes. He has been active in school sports including soccer, swimming and varsity cross country, serving as captain and being named Most Inspirational. Steen has been honored as a National Merit Commended Scholar, Kiwanis Student of the Month, and a top 10 Most Excellent Student. He has served on the Principal Selection Committee, the Christian Youth Leadership regional commission, and in numerous school organizations.

Steen plans to attend Western Washington University.

Sedro-Woolley High School has named the Department Students of the Month for April. They include: Zack Matthews, Career and Technical Education; Mackenzie Shipley, English; Colby Garza, Fine Arts; Jasmine Zell, Math; Eian Andrew, PE/Health; Ted Ware, Science; Danielle Huson, Social Studies. and Lia Dewit, World Language.