School notes for April 14, 2015

WHS has winners in solo and ensemble contest Washougal High School recently hosted the regional LCRMEA/WIAA solo and ensemble contest. The competition included vocal groups and soloists from Union, Evergreen, Heritage, Camas, Mountain View, Prairie and Washougal high schools. Sydney Valaer, a junior at WHS, took second alternate in soprano voice. Michael Stevens, freshman, took second alternate in tenor voice. Local student wins research symposium award Christopher Schiller of Camas was awarded a $300 prize for his research at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Student Research Symposium. Schiller is senior majoring in geology at SDSMT. SWCA offering scholarship The Southwest Washington Contractors Association is taking applicants for its annual scholarship. The SWCA awards scholarships to students studying construction management full time at four year colleges and universities, as well as those attending community colleges or vocational technical schools. A primary qualification is the individual has ties to, or a desire to work in, the Southwest Washington area. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 8. Application forms and more information can be found at www.swca.org/community/swca-scholarships. Awards will be announced Saturday, June 27. For more information, contact Darcy Altizer at darcy@swca.org. CHS Mock Trial team sets personal best at state meet Camas High School's Mock Trial team placed third in the state last month, the best result in team history. Leading the team were Nicole Buckley and Matthew Svilar, both nominated for Best Attorney along with first-year competitor Madi Vance. Buckley and Svilar are four-year Mock Trial veterans. "Their accomplishment represents four years of dedication and determination," stated a press release. Acacia Mays, Sayge Sword and Tiara Naidu received Best Witness nominations, and Chase Jackson earned Best Witness in the state competition. "This year's team overcame many challenges while remaining positive, dedicated and focused on doing their collective best," coach Jackie Hofer said. "Our coaching team is an example of the kind of collaboration we foster in Mock Trial. Team alumni Jacob Marsh and James Marsh joined the coaching team this year and provided the extra edge the team needed to succeed at this level." This year's tournament included 24 schools representing hundreds of students from around the state. "Our team's motto 'Team First, Self Less' recognizes our commitment to building up each other first and working to give our best for the team," Hofer said. "This is what brought us here." YouthBuild Vancouver accepting applications, hosting meeting Clark County residents who do not have a high school diploma and are interested in obtaining a GED and job-related skills, are invited to attend a YouthBuild Vancouver information session to learn more about the program. The information session will be held Tuesday, April 21 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Partners in Careers, 3210 N.E. 52nd St., Vancouver. To register for the free information session, call Dave Cole at 696-8417 or dave@swwpic.org. To participate in YouthBuild, an individual must be a Clark County resident between 17 to 24, a high school dropout in need of a diploma or GED, who is interested in gaining job skills and experience. Those enrolled in YouthBuild will have the opportunity to obtain their GED or high school diploma, gain two nationally-recognized construction certifications, participate in building a house for a family in need and receive services, including job, college and career preparation. The YouthBuild team is led by the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council and a collaboration of nonprofit organizations that include Partners in Careers, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, Vancouver Housing Authority and WorkSource. BPA offering grants in science and energy education to public entities The Bonneville Power Administration is offering grants in science and energy education to nonprofit organizations, schools and others in support of work to educate students in kindergarten through 12th grade about the energy systems of the Pacific Northwest. The goal of the program is to advance students' understanding, awareness and interest in the issues and science involved in energy generation and transmission in the region. Funded projects could focus on hydroelectricity, wind and other sources of electric power, methods of conserving electricity, studies of energy and environment, programs on engineering and technology skills relating to energy and others. The intent of the grants is to support science, technology, engineering and math education with specific emphasis on electric-utility issues. BPA anticipates making four to 10 grants ranging from $500 to $5,000. Funding can be awarded to school districts, government agencies and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. The recipients must be from, and funding used in, BPA service territory in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and parts of Montana, Nevada and Wyoming. Applications for project funding are due May 8 and funding will be awarded in June for projects taking place during the 2015-16 school year. For more information, visit: www.bpa.gov/goto/EducationGrants. Sing Fourth vocal competition auditions open to Clark County teens Registration is open for auditions for this year's Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition. Auditions will be granted to the first 45 Clark County high school students who register online or contact contest organizers at the Fort Vancouver National Trust, at 992-1804 or events@fortvan.org by Wednesday, May 13. Auditions begin at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 16. Contest information is available at www.fortvan.org/fourth. A panel of judges will select 10 finalists, who will compete in the Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition at the Vancouver Toyota main stage during Independence Day at Fort Vancouver. The Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition begins at noon on Saturday, July 4. The competition is open to high school students who are legal residents of Clark County and who have been enrolled in public school, private school or home schooled during the 2014-15 school year, including high school graduates from the Class of 2015. Contestants are asked to bring a karaoke-style CD of their musical accompaniment to the audition. Songs must be three minutes or shorter. Finalists will be expected to perform the same musical number in front of a panel of celebrity judges for the Sing Fourth competition. The first place winner receives a $1,000 scholarship, the second place winner receives a $500 scholarship and the third place winner receives a $250 scholarship. All three winners will also receive Beacock Music gift cards. All 10 finalists will receive a DVD of the Sing Fourth program.

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