The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8870 in Edmonds on Jan. 8 recognized two students for winning essays in a pair of national contests. An Edmonds School District teacher also was honored with the VFW’s National Citizenship Education Teacher Award.
Dean Celli, a sixth-grader at Madrona School, won the local Patriot’s Pen essay contest for middle-schoolers. This year’s theme asked, “When is the right time to honor our military heroes?”
Katerina Nguyen, a sophomore at Edmonds-Woodway High School, won the local Voice of Democracy Audio Essay contest for high-schoolers. Her essay addressed the theme: “Does America still have heroes?”
Both students received a $100 prize. Their entries are now being considered for state-level honors.
Peter Folta, a social studies teacher at Scriber Lake High School, was honored as a teacher of the year. Folta has taught for 10 years and was recognized for “his tireless efforts to ensure that his students develop a clear understanding and appreciation of American history,” according to a press release from the local VFW post.
EdCC worries about possible cuts
The president of Edmonds Community College joined others in higher education Jan. 18 to express concern over the governor’s proposed budget before the state Senate Ways and Means Committee in Olympia.
Jack Oharah told the committee that while Edmonds’ enrollment has increased 28 percent in full-time equivalent students, current and future cuts will reach 15 percent even after considering tuition increases.
“We can’t be expected to take additional cuts and continue to be part of the solution for more rapid economic recovery,” he said, as reported by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
The state board has said the additional proposed budget reduction of $43.5 million next year – which, when added to the previous cuts, equals a 15 percent cut for the system – is of deep concern at a time when colleges are serving 30,000 more students than two years ago.
The Edmonds Community College Board of Trustees will hear a budget update from Vice President of Finance Kevin McKay at a special study session at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28. No action will be taken.
Shoreline CC food drive tops goal
Shoreline Community College students topped their goal by collecting 26,233 pounds of nonperishable food items in a single day.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service fundraiser Jan. 18 surpassed their goal of 25,000 pounds.
Meadowdale auction tickets on sale
Tickets are now on sale for Meadowdale High School’s Drive2Win auction, to be held Feb. 6 at Harbor Square Athletic Club in Edmonds.
The event begins with a silent auction at 5:30 p.m., followed by a live auction and catered dinner at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the age 21-and-older event are $50 per person; visit www.gomavs.org.
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