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Education Notebook: School news and events for Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2016

Academy job fairs: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas is set to host job fairs to fill nearly 75 positions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 30, Feb. 20 and April 9 at 1051 Sandy Ridge Ave. The kindergartern through 12th grade public charter school is seeking teachers, administrators and support staff members. The academy recently announced it will be opening new campuses in the Centennial Hills area and Nellis Air Force Base for the 2016-17 school year. Applicants are asked to bring resumes, transcripts, credentials and any other supporting documents. Visit caslv.org.

Junior League scholarships: The Junior League of Las Vegas is planning to award four college scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each, eligible for renewal for up to three additional years. Interested applicants should be young women, passionate about community service; current high school seniors or current college students; planning to be fully enrolled in a Southern Nevada college in the fall; and in need of financial assistance with their education. The deadline to apply is Feb. 14. Visit jllv.org/scholarships.

Coral Academy open houses: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas is set to host a series of open houses for prospective families for the 2016-17 school year. The schedule is as follows: grades 3 through 5, 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at 2150 Windmill Parkway; grades kindergarten through 2, 11 a.m. Feb. 6 at 8185 Tamarus St. Families are encouraged to apply. CASLV selects its students by a random lottery system. Parents are notified via mail of the results within five business days. Applications are due by noon Feb. 28. Those received after that date will be subject to an additional lottery, if applicable. The lottery is planned for Feb. 29. Visit coralacademylv.org/admission/admissionprocess.aspx.

Cox Diversity Scholarships: Graduating high school students in Southern Nevada can apply for one of 10 Cox Diversity Scholarships being awarded in amounts of $3,500 each by Cox Communications-Las Vegas. The competitive scholarships require applicants to be on track 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 respective diverse communities. The deadline is Feb. 12. Applications and submission instructions are available online from The Public Education Foundation at ccpef.org.

Summer internships: Qualifying high school students can apply online for paid summer internships through Clark County’s Summer Business Institute Program. To be eligible to apply for the 2016 program, students must be sophomores, juniors or seniors with a minimum 2.0 grade point average. The program offers eight-week internships in fields ranging from law and medicine to architecture and education. Teen participants gain work experience and on-the-job business mentoring as part of the program. County staff will select about 95 Clark County students for the program, which runs from mid-June through mid-August. Participants are paid $8.25 an hour to work eight-hour days Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, interns attend seminars and workshops to receive training on topics such as life skills and personal finance and to participate in a civic engagement project. Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. Feb. 19. Applications are available at ClarkCountyNV.gov/human-resources.

PBS Kids Writers Contest: Vegas PBS announces the annual PBS Kids Writers Contest, which is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, interactive learning. Submissions will be judged for originality, creative expression, storytelling technique, illustrations and overall impression. Vegas PBS will honor the top three winners in each grade level at an award ceremony in which the awardees will learn their placements. Prizes include trophies, framed enlargements of their work and additional reading and writing resources. First-place winners will also receive free tuition to attend the Southern Nevada Writing Project’s summer writing camp. Stories are due at 5 p.m. March 18. All entries must include a signed entry form and be mailed or delivered to Vegas PBS Ready To Learn, 3050 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89121. Visit VegasPBS.org/writers-contest.

Grants, scholarships applications: The Rogers Foundation is accepting applications for $300,000 in new grants. The three grants, each for $100,000, will be open for submissions until March 25. The Rogers Foundation designed each grant to uplift Clark County School District children in three areas: Gift of Imagination, Gift of Knowledge, and Gift of Assurance. Recipients will be announced at the end of May. In addition to the grants, the Rogers Foundation is accepting applications for college scholarships, available to local high school seniors. The scholarship deadline is Feb. 1. Eleven scholarships will be given away, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, and the money is valid toward educational costs at any college or university in the United States. Additionally, the Rogers Foundation is giving out 15 full-ride scholarships to Kentucky Wesleyan College. To learn more about the grants or scholarships, visit therogers.foundation.

School of Nursing recognized: The UNLV School of Nursing earned a spot among the country’s top 10 percent of online graduate nursing programs according to the 2016 U.S. News & World Report of best online graduate degree programs. The school’s Masters of Science in Nursing program ranked 13th out of 149 surveyed programs that offer curriculums entirely online. The UNLV School of Nursing has appeared among the list’s top 10 percent since 2014. U.S. News ranked online nursing programs in five areas: student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer reputation, student services and technology, and admissions selectivity.

UNLV construction receives donation: The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation has committed $2.5 million toward construction of Hospitality Hall, a modern academic facility at the UNLV Harrah Hotel College. Momentum from donors has kept construction plans on track, with groundbreaking scheduled for March 2016 and an expected move-in date of fall 2017.

Heart of Education Awards: The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and The Rogers Foundation are planning the inaugural Heart of Education Awards to highlight deserving teachers in the Clark County School District. The awards focus on educators with at least three years of experience in the district who go above and beyond the classroom. Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 29. Nominations must have a name, contact information, a 500-word statement of commitment and a 200-word letter of recommendation. A celebratory evening with a red carpet, swag bags and entertainment is planned May 7 at The Smith Center. To nominate, visit theheartofeducation.org.

Contest for free tuition: The Nevada State Treasurer’s Office has announced a Nevada Prepaid Tuition Account Giveaway, set to run through Jan. 31. Anyone who purchases a Nevada Prepaid Tuition Plan before 5 p.m. Jan. 31 will be entered to win a one-year University Plan Account. Two winners will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible applicants. The drawing will be held in early February, and winners will be notified by Feb. 12. For the official rules of the Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program Giveaway and more information on the college savings programs offered through the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office, visit NV529.org.

New veterans’ scholarship: WGU Nevada has launched a new scholarship program to help veterans and their spouses go back to school and earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The WGU Nevada Salute To Veterans Scholarship, valued at up to $2,500 per student, will be applied at the rate of $625 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU Nevada’s tuition of about $3,000 per term for most programs. WGU Nevada will award at least five scholarships to new students throughout the state. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31 at nevada.wgu.edu/veterans. Additional military scholarships are available for active-duty personnel and their families at nevada.wgu.edu/militaryappreciation.

Black History Month Essay & Art Contest: The deadline for the 37th contest for grades kindergarten through high school is 5 p.m. Feb. 5. Youth in grades kindergarten through third are encouraged to enter the creative expressions art contest. Older youths are encouraged to enter the essay contest, which is divided into three divisions: Elementary School (150 words), Middle School (250 words) and High School (400 words). The topic is, “How can we eliminate racism in the world?” First-, second- and third-place winners in each division will recite their essays or present their drawings at a banquet event in their honor at 6 p.m. Feb. 19. Essays may be turned in at the East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., or emailed to cfranklin@lasvegasnevada.gov. For more information, call 702-229-1515.

Stupak College Fair: The fair for ages 13 or older, is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Stupak Community Center, 251 Boston Ave. It is free and open to the public. Junior high and high school students and their parents can gather information from college vendors and trade schools to plan for future education. Call 702-229-2488.

Ward 1 Jobs for Nevada’s Graduate Youth Career Empowerment Summit: The event is planned from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at Clark High School, 4291 Pennwood Ave. It is free and open to high school students. Attendees can participate in interactive workshops, raffle prizes, open interviews, job placement and internship opportunities. Breakfast and lunch will be included. Attendees should bring resumes. Professional attire is preferred. Call JAG Specialist Sherrie Smith 702-799-2589, extension 4004 or CCSD School Police Officer Robert Mayer at 702-366-5244.

Writing for Design: Local business writer Richard R. Becker, president of Copywrite, Ink. and an IABC-accredited business communicator, is set to teach Writing For Design at the College of Southern Nevada as part of the Graphics Communication Program. The class is planned from noon to 3:40 p.m. Tuesdays at the Cheyenne campus, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Students can become familiar with message development, product differentiation, and brand voice while developing a clear understanding of how words and design can converge for better communication. Students can search for the class via its online portal My CSN at tinyurl.com/csnwritingdesign or by calling 702-650-2276. The class is listed at GRC 198B-2002, Special Topics, Class 35048.

PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Program: Vegas PBS announced the fourth annual PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Program for kindergarten through 12th-grade educators who use technology and digital media to support student learning. Through Feb. 8, educators can apply to the PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators program by completing a profile, answering two essay questions and submitting a 60- to 120-second video showcasing their use of digital technology and tools in their classroom. All educators who meet the requirements and submit their application will be accepted and rewarded with year-long professional development opportunities. A panel of judges will select 54 educators, one from each U.S. state and territory, as Lead Innovators, to be announced in March. The online application is available at pbslearningmedia.org/digitalinnovators.

USA Sevens Adopt-A-Country program: For the sixth year, USA Sevens Rugby and the Clark County School District are partnering for the annual USA Sevens Adopt-A-Country program in an effort to build a curriculum of international education, tolerance and ambassadorship promoted through rugby. Sixteen Clark County School District elementary and middle schools adopt one of the teams participating in the 2016 USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament, set for March 4-6 at Sam Boyd Stadium, to incorporate hands-on lessons and values designed around the school’s adopted country. Throughout the 2015-16 school year, each of the schools incorporates key aspects from the adopted country into the classroom curriculum. In addition to the classroom and physical activities, each student is encouraged to learn more about the adopted country through a series of creative contests, including a T-shirt design contest and critical thinking essay competition. USA Sevens will select the top three submissions and create T-shirts for each student in the three schools from the winning design. The essay contest challenges students to connect on a personal level by comparing and contrasting their typical day with the typical day of someone their age in the adopted country. One winner from each school will be selected to represent the adopted nation and class in the 2016 USA Sevens Parade of Nations Ceremony at the Fremont Street Experience, planned from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 3.

Foundation scholarship applications available: The Public Education Foundation has launched the 22nd year of its Scholarship Program and is urging high school seniors to start the application process. The Foundation expects to award nearly $1 million in scholarships this academic year to students who will pursue a post-secondary education. Most scholarship application deadlines are Feb. 16. The scholarships are provided by community leaders, businesses, organizations, individuals and families and range from $500 to $5,000 annually. Some are renewable. Visit thepef.org.

Coral Academy accepting applications: Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas is accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year. The academy selects its students by a random lottery system. Parents are notified via mail of the results within five business days. Applications are due by noon Feb. 28. Those received after that date will be subject to an additional lottery, if applicable. The lottery will be held Feb. 29. Students whose parents have completed an application form electronically via the school website will be eligible to be entered in the lottery. The academy does not base admission on intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, or discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or disability. Visit coralacademylv.org/admission/admissionprocess.aspx.

Latin Chamber scholarship: In collaboration with the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, WGU Nevada is encouraging professionals to embark on continuing education by offering more than $30,000 in scholarships to members of the chamber through its Las Vegas Otto Merida Scholarship program. The scholarships, valued at up to $3,200 per student, will be applied at the rate of $800 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships are available to new students looking to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any of WGU Nevada’s more than 50 degree programs in information technology, business, teacher education, or health care. Potential awardees must be a member of the chamber, or belong to a member company, which comprises more than 800 members. The WGU Nevada Otto Merida Scholarship was created in honor of the founder and chief executive officer of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. Visit nevada.wgu.edu/LVLCC.

 

Host families sought for exchange students: International Experience USA, a nonprofit high school student exchange organization approved by the U.S. Department of State, is seeking host families in the Las Vegas Valley to provide room and board, help with transportation and provide emotional support to exchange students. The students provide their own insurance and personal spending money. Visit ie-usa.org or contact Carol Myint at 507-301-3615 or c.myint@international-experience.net.

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