Education Notebook, July 3-9, 2014

COX COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE

Cox Communications-Las Vegas has a new initiative to support diversity scholarships for higher education. It launched a five-year commitment to fund the scholarships with $175,000 at a Diversity Scholarship Breakfast held at TPC Summerlin June 20.

Sixteen college-bound high school graduates from ethnically diverse communities in Southern Nevada received scholarships. The scholarships required applicants to graduate with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average, provide demonstrated leadership and community service and submit an essay focused on a significant leader from their community. Eight branded scholarships were created in partnership with local diverse organizations: Cox and 100 Black Men Diversity Scholarship; Cox and Organization of Chinese Americans Diversity Scholarship; Cox and Fiesta Las Vegas Latino Parade and Festival Diversity Scholarship; Cox and Hawaiian Civic Club Diversity Scholarship; Cox and NAACP Las Vegas Diversity Scholarship; Cox and Puerto Rican Association Diversity Scholarship; Cox and The Gay & Lesbian Center Diversity Scholarship; and Cox and The Urban League Diversity Scholarship.

Scholarship winners are: Jana Burd, Valley High School; Abrielle Abott-Williams, Northwest Career & Technical Academy; Sun Park, Silverado High School; John Vincent Parin, Clark High School; Mayra Corona, East Career and Technical Academy; Isabella Munguia, Western High School; Nakoa Dudoit, Basic High School; Alicia Lealao, Chaparral High School; Keyah Hall, Mojave High School; Jai McClean, Chaparral High School; David Sanchez, Legacy High School; Vada Ortiz, Moapa Valley High School; Kahla Vitz, College of Southern Nevada High School; Roxanne Bader Reed, Del Sol High School; Perry Richardson, Coronado High School; and Emily Stanley, Sandy Valley High School.

During a separate distribution this year, Cox also provided $10,000 to scholarship funds managed by the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, The Martin Luther King Committee and the Urban Chamber of Commerce.

STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER POETRY COMPETITION

Clark County high school students are invited to submit original poems for the Vegas Valley Book Festival Spark! 2014 Poetry Writing & Recitation Competition, scheduled for Sept. 2. Modeled after the national Poetry Out Loud competition and the Scholastic Writing competition, the contest will give students the opportunity to recite their poetry during the Vegas Valley Book Festival on Oct. 18. First-place prize is $300, second place is $200 and third is $100.

Students will be asked to submit three original poems to be judged by a panel of poets, authors, educators and other community members. The top six will advance to the recitation round. The top three highest-scoring students in that round will determine first, second and third place.

For competition details, guidelines and a registration form, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org/spark-poetry-writing-recitation-competition.

UNITED WAY OF SOUTHERN NEVADA RECEIVES $16,000 GRANT

The United Way of Southern Nevada has received a $16,000 Lumina Foundation national grant to help increase postsecondary degree attainment in Southern Nevada.

ADELSON EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS GALA TO HOST ACTIVIST/WRITER AYAAN HIRSI ALI

The Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus plans to host activist, writer and politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali at its 10th annual In Pursuit of Excellence Gala, scheduled for Nov. 22 at The Venetian.

Hirsi Ali, the founder of the AHA Foundation, will be honored for her political activism and dedication to human rights. The foundation works to protect and defend the rights of women and girls in the United States from harmful traditional religious and cultural practices such as honor violence, forced marriages and female genital mutilation.

For more information, visit adelsoncampus.org.

HELEN MEYER COMMUNITY CENTER TO HOST SUMMER PROGRAMS

The Helen Meyer Community Center, 4525 New Forest Drive, plans to offer pre-kindergarten one-week summer programs for children 3 to 5 through Aug. 22.

Programs are scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. The cost is $65 per week.

Lessons planned include Spanish language, fun with numbers and letters, science, animal adventures, art, music, story book and crafts, sports, exercise and nutrition.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/3quf388 or call 702-455-7723.

YMCA PLANS SUMMER READING AND SCIENCE PROGRAMS

The YMCA of Southern Nevada is offering summer reading and science programs for campers at all four of its branches. Summer camp participants ages 5 to 11 will participate in an age-appropriate learning program.

Programs include Martha Speaks (ages 5 to 7), emphasizing vocabulary acquisition; Rock Star Readers (ages 8 and 9), to instill a love of reading in children and improve literacy skills; and Design Squad (ages 10 and 11), including designing an experiment.

For more information about the camp and financial assistance, visit lasvegasymca.org.

FREE SEMINAR TO HELP COLLEGE APPLICANTS

University Peak plans to offer a free one-hour seminar, 5 Ways to Stand Out on Your College Application, at 6:30 p.m. July 9 at the Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane.

Topics discussed will be the current state of competitive college admissions, what selective colleges look for and how to communicate your best qualities on your application.

A session is also planned for 6:30 p.m. July 10 at the Summerlin Library, 1771 Inner Circle Drive.

For more information, visit universitypeak.com.

NEVADA CONNECTIONS ACADEMY PLANS PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

Nevada Connections Academy, a virtual public charter school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, plans to host an information session regarding enrollment for the 2014-15 school year from 6:30 to 8 p.m. July 10 at Centennial Hills Community Center YMCA, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

THREE SQUARE OFFERS SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR KIDS

Three Square food bank and its program partners have launched this year’s installment of the Summer Food Service Program, which runs through Aug. 22. It ensures that children across the Las Vegas Valley have access to nutritious meals during their summer break when free and reduced meals are not available.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by Nevada’s Department of Agriculture. It is free for children 18 or younger and is offered Monday through Friday at more than 70 sites across the valley.

For a list of sites, visit whyhunger.org/findfood or threesquare.org or call 866-348-6479.

ADELSON CAMPUS TO HOST SUMMER PROGRAM FOR CHINESE STUDENTS

The Adelson Educational Campus, 9700 W. Hillpointe Road, plans to welcome 23 middle school students from Shenzen, China, and their chaperones July 13-26 for USA Ready Study, a summer enrichment program. The program was developed by Kay Lau & Associates of California with the goal of introducing Chinese students to the American educational system and culture.

During their time in the U.S., the students will live with American host families in the Summerlin area. The program started at the Adelson campus in 2012 with 18 students from Hangzhou, China.

The program has openings for host families with children of similar ages. For more information, contact Kay Lau at 310-278-2200 or visit usareadystudy.com.

STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM SEEKS HOST FAMILIES

The World Heritage Student Exchange Program is seeking local host families for high school exchange students from more than 30 countries, including Germany, Spain, Thailand, Denmark and France.

Couples, single parents and families with and without children are encouraged to apply to host a student for a semester or the entire school year. Each exchange student is fully insured, has personal spending money and expects to contribute to household responsibilities.

For more information, call 800-888-9040, email info@world-heritage.org or visit whhosts.com.

LIBRARY PROGRAM TO ENHANCE CHILDREN’S VOCABULARIES

Martha Speaks Mondays are slated at various libraries. Parents and children share books and activities that enhance a child’s vocabulary.

For more information, call 702-507-3630.

PARALYMPIC SPORTS CLUB LAS VEGAS PLANS ACTIVITIES

The Paralympic Sports Club Las Vegas plans to host sports activities for children through grade 12 with physical disabilities.

Wheelchair basketball is planned from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at the Minker Sports Complex, 275 N. Mojave Road. Swimming is planned from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays at Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road.

Project Dirt is planned for ages 18 or older July 19-20. Individuals with a developmental disability will participate in overnight tent camps that include arts and crafts, fishing and hiking. The cost is $25. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag and a toothbrush.

For more information, contact Jonathon Foster at 702-229-4796 or email jfoster@lasvegasnevada.gov.

ALL 4 KIDS TO BE OFFERED AT CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER

The program All 4 Kids: Healthy, Happy, Active, Fit is being offered by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension for children 3 to 5 through Aug. 18 at the Cambridge Community Center, 3930 Cambridge St.

The program encourages children and their parents to be healthy, active and fit by providing interactive experiences that promote healthful habits.

The program is free and is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Space is limited, and classes are taught in English and Spanish.

To sign up, call 702-948-5942 or email all_for_kids@unce.unr.edu.