Education Notebook, Sept. 18-24, 2014

THE MEADOWS SCHOOL OFFERS 50/50 SCHOLARSHIPS

The Meadows School Founders’ 50/50 Scholarship is open to eighth-grade students across the Las Vegas Valley and will cover half of their tuition expenses over the span of four years as they attend The Meadows Upper School, 8601 Scholar Lane.

Tuition to the Upper School for the current school year is $23,100. For more information, visit themeadowsschool.org.

KEEP LAS VEGAS BEAUTIFUL RECEIVES $20,000 GRANT

Keep Las Vegas Beautiful has been awarded a $20,000 Keep America Beautiful/Lowe’s Community Improvement grant to support its mission to engage individuals in building and sustaining vibrant communities. The grant will be used to provide three at-risk schools with an outdoor garden classroom.

For more information, visit kab.org.

MCDONALD’S TO AWARD GRANTS TO AREA TEACHERS

McDonald’s is currently leading the Make Activities Count Grants program, which has local franchise owners awarding up to $30,000 to fund educational initiatives in Southern Nevada during the 2014-15 school year.

Applications from all Southern Nevada kindergarten through eighth-grade educators are being accepted through Oct. 1. Teachers can apply to receive up to a $500 grant to support unique and interesting learning experiences such as science experiments, music appreciation and health initiatives.

To apply, visit tinyurl.com/p54v96q.

GOODIE TWO SHOES FITS 50,000TH CHILD WITH FOOTWEAR

The Goodie Two Shoes Foundation was set to outfit its 50,000th child during a shoe distribution Sept. 12 at Lowman Elementary School, 4225 N. Lamont St. The foundation was set to provide more than 400 disadvantaged children with shoes at the event.

For more information, visit goodietwoshoes.org.

NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER ED RECEIVES NASA GRANT

The Nevada System of Higher Education was awarded $500,000 through the Nevada NASA Space Grant Consortium for the creation of a new program that will change how Nevada’s community college students learn, all the while planting the seed for an education system that will help staff Nevada’s future space- and science-related industries.

Titled A Community College Partnership Creating a Community of Practice Model to Engage and Retain Minority Students, the program will create a community of practice at each campus involved in the program: the College of Southern Nevada, Western Nevada College, Great Basin College and Truckee Meadows Community College.

Starting in spring 2015, students will receive significant participant (scholarship) support, individualized degree planning and weekly interdisciplinary biological and physical science study and inquiry as they work toward associate of science degrees. This program will support faculty as they present science content in ways that impact student persistence and graduation attainment.

COLLEGE FAIR SET FOR SEPT. 20 AT DOOLITTLE COMMUNITY CENTER

A college fair for students interested in attending a historically black university is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Doolittle Community Center, 1950 N. J St.

The fair is being presented by the United College Action Network in partnership with Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly. Students who will be graduating in 2015 are encouraged to bring several copies of their school transcript and ACT or SAT score, two letters of recommendation (if available) and a personal essay (optional), as they will be able to complete college applications and apply for scholarships during the event.

Representatives from more than 40 colleges and universities are expected to attend, including officials from Grambling State University, Howard University and Morehouse College.

Students are asked to preregister at gotocollegefairs.com/Nevada. For more information, visit ucangotocollege.org.

PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION TO HONOR LEADERS AT EDUCATION HERO AWARD DINNER

The Public Education Foundation plans to host its 18th Annual Education Hero Award Dinner Sept. 20 at the Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter, 3752 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The event honors leaders who have made outstanding contributions to education and the community. This year’s dinner is set to honor Kris Engelstad McGarry and the Engelstad Family Foundation, Clint Holmes and Dorothy Eisenberg.

Tickets are $750, and corporate sponsorships are available. All proceeds support the foundation’s programs and initatives.

Seating is limited. For reservations, call 702-799-1042 or visit thepef.org.

NEVADA ARTS COUNCIL TO COMPILE ARTS ROSTER

The Nevada Arts Council’s 2015–18 Artists in Schools + Communities Roster is designed as an online resource for schools, organizations and communities to broaden and diversify participation in the arts by engaging artists in educational and community cultural residencies and programs. Roster artists visit host schools and organizations to share their expertise and encourage active learning in the arts.

Two tracks are offered, an education track for arts-based learning experiences in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 settings and a community track for arts-based learning experiences in community settings. Artists may apply in one or both tracks. A panel of artists, educators, presenters and community members will review eligible applications in early fall. The deadline is Sept. 30.

Selected artists will represent a range of art forms and have experience in collaborating with schools and communities to conduct arts learning and cultural experiences. When accepted to the roster, artists and ensembles are promoted by the council to communities around the state for potential workshop, performance and residency opportunities.

For more information, call Maryjane Dorofachuk at 702-486-3738 or visit nac.nevadaculture.org.

NEVADA STATE COLLEGE SEEKS STORIES FOR STUDENT-RUN LITERARY JOURNAL

Nevada State College and its Humanities Department are looking for stories to be printed in the student-run literary journal, 300 Days of Sun. It is a print journal featuring poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and visual art.

It is seeking submissions for its second issue through Sept. 30. The book is slated to be printed in December. Copies of the journal will be available for purchase online and through the Nevada State College Bookstore.

Faculty adviser Dr. Gregory Robinson, chairman of the Humanities Department, said the department is looking for original, unpublished work in English with the theme of Las Vegas. All submissions should involve the theme in some way.

Authors should consider this theme liberally, writing about the desert, Southern Nevada and culture outside the Strip.

For more information or to submit, visit https://300daysofsun.submittable.com/submit.

SOLAR FESTIVAL SET FOR OCT. 11 AT LIFELONG LEARNING CENTER

The Conservation District of Southern Nevada plans to host the third annual Solarbration Solar Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road. The purpose of the free festival is to blend art, technology and outreach to promote renewable energy, inspire conservation and support sustainable communities. Solar-powered art, demonstrations, information on sustainable energy and live music are planned.

For more information, visit solarbration.org.

WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL TO HOST 50TH REUNION

Western High School’s class of 1964 plans to host its 50th reunion, the Warrior Dinner and Dancing Party, at 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Aliante, 7300 Aliante Parkway.

The class is one of the four founding classes of Western, 4601 W. Bonanza Road. A meet-and-greet event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Aces & Ales, 2801 N. Tenaya Way.

A block of rooms at the Aliante will be reserved for out-of-town attendees. For more information, call Connie Arnoldsen Davis at 702-450-9192, Lynda Craner Carson at 702-878-6186 or email dancinglit@aol.com.

UNLV FOUNDATION DINNER SET FOR OCT. 13 AT BELLAGIO

The UNLV Foundation Annual Dinner is planned for Oct. 13 at the Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, to honor Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson and the late philanthropist Kitty Rodman.

The event began in 1989 as a way to celebrate individuals and organizations that advance UNLV’s mission through their private support.

The keynote speech at the event is scheduled to be given by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

For more more information, visit unlv.edu/foundation.

CITY MISSION COLLECTING JEANS FOR TEENS IN NEED

City Mission of Las Vegas is collecting jeans for teens in need through its new program, The Kid’s Closet, at 2214 N. Pecos Road. The closet is open from 7 to 11 a.m. Fridays. It needs donations of new or gently used clothing, underwear, socks and shoes for teens, hygiene products, snacks, backpacks and school supplies and food gift cards (any fast food).

For more information, call 702-384-1930.

AYUSA INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING FOR FAMILIES FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Nonprofit Ayusa International is searching for families to host international students for the 2014-15 school year.

Host families provide three meals a day and a bedroom (either private or shared). Each exchange student is supported by a professionally trained local representative from Ayusa who works closely with the family, student and local school throughout the program.

Exchange students are 15 to 18 years old and come from more than 60 countries. All students are fully insured, bring their own spending money and are proficient in English.

For more information, visit ayusa.org or call 888-552-9872.

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.

CAREER AND COLLEGE FAIR SET FOR TEENS

The Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane, plans a free teen career and college fair from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29.

Representatives from schools and other organizations are scheduled to be on hand to answer questions. Tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before the event.

For more information, call 702-507-6041 or visit lvccld.org.